IMPRESS Medical Student Scholarship

IMProving REpresentation in Surgery Sub-internship

Goals and Objectives

• Increase recruitment of diverse trainees into general surgery residency
• Provide education and clinical experience in a surgical subspecialty
• Cultivate mentorship between students from diverse backgrounds and Harbor-UCLA residents and faculty
• Foster opportunities for collaboration with other institutions where the visiting trainees are based

Overview

The goal of the scholarship is to bring fourth-year medical students from diverse backgrounds to Harbor-UCLA for a 3-week sub-internship in one of five clinical divisions: trauma, colorectal, SICU, cardiothoracic surgery and surgical oncology.

• All students will be matched with faculty and resident mentors who share similar clinical interests.
• All students are expected to meet with their resident and faculty mentors during their three-week sub-internship.
• The choice of subspecialty elective will be made based on the applicant’s preference and availability of that elective.
• Students will be awarded a $2000 stipend to assist with travel and housing costs; check will be given upon completion of sub-internship.

There will be a total of 6 scholarships offered per academic year.

Scholarship Criteria

• Student must be in good academic standing
• Student must be enrolled in their fourth or final year M.D. or D.O. degree program during their elective rotation at Harbor-UCLA – (i.e., current 3rd year medical students (rising 4th year students))
• Student must be attending a school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or Education Department of the American Osteopathic Association

Preference will be given to students attending medical schools outside of Los Angeles area.

Application Timeframe

2026 application submissions will be accepted from March 1, 2026 through May 1, 2026.

Award winners will be notified of decisions by May 15, 2026.

Application Instructions

1. Complete the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) application through the David Geffen School of Medicine; must designate a preferred sub-internship at Harbor UCLA
   (https://medschool.ucla.edu/education/md-education/visiting-students/vslo). Scholarship applications will not be considered if there is not a completed VSLO application. VSLO applications typically open in mid-March.
2. Personal statement: Describe how you believe your background and experiences would contribute to representation and the mission of Harbor-UCLA of advancing diversity, inclusion, and health equity (500 words max).

Questions? Send an email to Dr. Kathryn Chen: kchen6@dhs.lacounty.gov

Eduardo Baluyot Biala, Jr.
University of Hawaii
Sub-Internship: Colorectal Surgery

Brisa Escobedo
Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV
Sub-Internship: Surgical Oncology

Jennifer Pinal
University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
Sub-Internship: SICU

Jasmine Regalado
University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
Sub-Internship: Trauma