The Dr. John Fortuna Scholarship

For Medical Students

The Dr. John Fortuna Scholarship aims to empower the next generation of compassionate healers by awarding $1,000 to an exceptional medical student pursuing their MD, DO, DC, ND, or OD degree. Established to honor the life and career of pioneering chiropractor Dr. John Fortuna, this scholarship commemorates over 20 years of outstanding patient care across Ohio. By awarding this merit-based scholarship each year, we hope to continue Dr. Fortuna’s legacy of leading with empathy, integrity, and commitment to understanding the whole patient. If you share these values and face financial barriers in medical school, we encourage you to apply for the Dr. John Fortuna Scholarship today.

Scholarship Overview

The Dr. John Fortuna Scholarship is a one-time financial award of $1,000 to help an exemplary medical student fund their education and training to become a future doctor. An annual scholarship will be granted based on the merit of the applicant, including: • Academic excellence – Minimum 3.0 GPA • Demonstrated financial need • Service, leadership, passion for patient-centered care • Quality of personal essay submission The ideal recipient exhibits compassion, strong interpersonal skills, integrity, and a dedication to understanding and healing the whole patient with an integrative approach. They see the inherent value in blending empirical diagnosis with humanistic, empathetic care. The scholarship is open to students currently enrolled in an accredited MD, DO, DC, ND or OD program in the United States. All applications are thoroughly reviewed by a committee consisting of the Fortuna family, doctors/clinic staff affiliated with Dr. Fortuna, and medical professionals. Funds may be used flexibly toward the recipient’s tuition, books, boards prep, supplies and exam fees. Payment will be made directly to the bursar’s office at their university.

Criteria

To apply for the Dr. John Fortuna Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Currently enrolled in an accredited MD, DO, DC, ND, or OD degree program
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Demonstrated financial need
  • Strong interpersonal skills and service/leadership experience
  • 500-1000 word personal essay submission

Essay Prompt:

“Describe how you would incorporate empathy, compassion, integrity, and patient-centered care into your future medical practice. Share any personal experiences that have shaped your commitment to understanding the whole patient.”

Your essay should address specific ways you envision leading with warmth, kindness and humanity as a future physician along with real life examples that reinforce these values. The review committee aims to gauge applicants’ authentic passion for connecting with patients on a human level.

Outstanding prospective doctors who lead with their hearts and commit to healing from a place of service are ideal for this scholarship. Please detail any extracurricular activities, research, mentoring, or patient interactions that exhibit your well-rounded dedication to patient-centered medicine.

Amount

One time award of $1,000

Deadline

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is September 15, 2024.

Winner Announced

The winner for the scholarship will be announced October 15, 2024.

How to Apply

To apply for the Dr. John Fortuna Scholarship, please submit the following documents to [email protected]:

  1. Personal essay (500-1000 words) addressing the prompt: “Describe how you would incorporate empathy, compassion, integrity, and patient-centered care into your future medical practice. Share any personal experiences that have shaped your commitment to understanding the whole patient.”
  2. A copy of your professional resume/CV detailing your academic achievements, leadership experience, service activities, honors, and involvement in the medical field.
  3. One (1) letter of recommendation from a professor, advisor, supervisor, or mentor who can speak to your strengths as a future physician and commitment to compassionate patient care.
  4. An unofficial transcript from your medical school showing courses taken, grades received, and cumulative GPA.

Please direct any questions about eligibility, required documents, timeline etc. to [email protected]. We are happy to assist qualified applicants in preparing compelling applications that capture their passion for patient-centered medicine.

Along with the essay, please provide the following information:

  • Full Name
  • Phone Number
  • Address
  • Email Address
  • Name of High School and Graduation Date
  • The University that you are currently enrolled in.
  • Personal Bio
  • GPA