Brown Medical Alumni Association Grant

A BMAA Grant is available to medical student groups that are officially recognized by the Medical Student Senate. These funds will be distributed through the Medical Student Senate. Groups must apply, stating their intentions for the funds, amount requested, history of funding or previous activities, student group leaders, and a brief description of the group.

Applications for funding must be received by February 1 and should be sent to Ruth Nolan, administrative coordinator,  or faxed to 401 709-5809. All applications will be reviewed by the BMAA's Secretary/Treasurer. Groups will be made aware of the decision by February 15.

BMAA Grant funding can be distributed to more than one student group. Student groups who receive funding should acknowledge the receipt of a BMAA Grant. A sign posted at an event or notice to participants will suffice. In addition, the BMAA requests that photos demonstrating the use of the funds be submitted following the completion of the intended purpose.

2013 BMAA Grant Recipients

Beyond 222 Health Disparities Curricular Reform Group

• Description of group: The aim of this group is for medical students of all years to advocate within the Medical School for a more comprehensive, mandatory preclinical curriculum on health disparities. Members of the group will design, organize, and implement at least two curricular sessions for all incoming first-year students; train second-year teaching assistants to lead small group discussions; and organize journal club sessions on health disparities led by faculty members or experts in the field.
• Intention for funds: Cover the cost of food for the TA training sessions and journal club sessions.
• Amount granted: $200

Brown Agriculture, Nutrition, and Community Health

• Description of group: BrANCH was founded in the spring of 2010 in an effort to combat childhood obesity in  Rhode Island by creating an engaging nutrition education program. At Blackstone Academy Charter School in Pawtucket, members teach weekly nutrition classes to a group of 20 high school students and work with them to maintain a vegetable garden on the school’s campus.
• Intention for funds: Purchase portable kitchen equipment to enhance the culinary aspect of the healthy-eating and food-preparation curriculum.
• Amount granted: $200

Clínica Esperanza Student Clinic

• Description of group: Clínica Esperanza Student Clinic is a student-run, faculty-supervised clinic of Alpert Medical School based at Clínica Esperanza in Providence. The first clinic was held in September 2011 and has proved to benefit the community by providing care to those who currently do not have access and providing opportunity for students to apply skills learned in the classroom.
• Intention for funds: Buy additional Hemoglobin A1C kits to allow the clinic to diagnose diabetes without waiting for lab results, resulting in immediate patient education and health intervention.
• Amount granted: $200

Environmental Change and Health Interest Group

• Description of group: This group will bring awareness and promote discussion of the relationship between environmental change and human health to Alpert Medical School. According to the Lancet Commission, climate change is the biggest threat to global health in the 21^st century. Organizers hope is this group will lead to a preclinical elective next fall and increase the incorporation of environmental health topics into the medical curriculum at Brown.
• Intention for funds: Bring speakers to AMS such as Dr. Alan Woolf, director of the Environmental Health Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital, and provide lunch during noontime talks.
• Amount granted: $200

Healing through Harmony (HtH)

• Description of group: Healing through Harmony is comprised of 30 medical student musicians who perform solo and ensemble concerts for patients and medical staff in Brown-affiliated hospitals.
• Intention for funds: Purchase small musical instruments such as bells, drums, and castanets for interactive concerts with patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, as well as to buy supplies like music stands and sheet music, paper handouts, and refreshments.
• Amount granted: $200

Invigorating Science Education in Rhode Island

• Description of group: The Warren Alpert chapter of this nationally recognized group is comprised of AMS students, Brown graduate and undergraduate students, and community volunteers and is the parent chapter of a national organization, the Providence Alliance of Clinical Educators (www.pacescience.org). They work to create lesson plans that illustrate scientific concepts through storytelling. So far their 25 lessons are used in all 50 states as well as Canada and Haiti.
• Intention for funds: Fund quality artwork needed to illustrate the lessons.
• Amount granted: $200

Latino Medical Student Association

• Description of group: A national student group that represents students pursuing health professions. They strive to create a network for medical students, physicians, and leaders in the community who serve Latino populations.
• Intention for funds: Help sponsor a children’s health fair, “Healthy Kids, Happy Community/Niños Saludables, Comunidad Feliz,” to be held on May 11, 2013, at Baldwin Elementary in Pawtucket, which neighbors an underserved population.
• Amount granted: $200

The Pathways Mentorship Group

• Description of group: Started in 2013, this group seeks to pair medical and undergraduate (PLME) student mentors with Rhode Island high school students interested in careers in health care. Brown student members serve as teachers and mentors in monthly sessions at Alpert Medical School that feature case studies, health care simulations, career advice panels, and valuable mentor/mentee sessions aimed at supporting and guiding local students in their preparation for future educational and professional endeavors. (http://students.brown.edu/the_pathways)
• Intention for funds: Purchase supplies such as paper, printed materials, markers, and pens as well as healthy snacks for the monthly meetings
• Amount granted: $200

Student National Medical Association

• Description of group: This national student-run organization is committed to supporting present and future underrepresented minority medical students. They are dedicated to raising awareness of the health needs of underserved communities and communities of color.  
• Intention for funds: Provide lunch at a “Meet the Cadaver” event, where 100 college and high school students gather at the Medical School and are introduced to the major organs of the body and taught the basics of taking body vitals.
• Amount granted: $200 

 Providence Storytellers Project

•  Description of group: Based loosely on the world-renowned Human Library Project, this group aims to engage diverse community members of Providence in meaningful dialogue to challenge stereotypes, reduce stigma, humanize the “other,” forge new partnerships, and transform perspectives through active listening to the narratives of others. 
• Intention for funds: Support a series of events at which storytellers and listeners meet, share a meal, and engage in dialogue. 
• Amount granted: $200