Observership Grant

The SOCS Observership Grant awards up to $2,000 USD grants to dermatology residents, medical students (2nd-4th year), and junior faculty to enable study with a SOCS mentor identified by the applicant. Grants are intended for travel, room and board as needed to establish and facilitate the mentoring relationship. 

Timeline

Purpose

• To empower young physicians and scientists to develop additional academic or research skills, thereby advancing their careers as future leaders in the field of dermatology specializing in skin of color.
• Facilitate skill development and knowledge transfer between the mentor and mentee.
• Provide a travel stipend to support a 1-4 week rotation.

Membership

This program is reserved for Skin of Color Society members and pending members with a complete membership application. Apply for membership here. Non-members should submit a complete membership application by Thursday, October 31 to meet eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individuals who maintain active membership in SOCS with up-to-date dues payment.
  AND

• Are either dermatology fellows, young dermatologists who have completed their residency within the last 4 years, or 2nd-4th year medical students.

• Applicants must disclose if they are already participating in a paid research fellowship at a specified location. Failure to disclose may impact application acceptance.

• Applicants must demonstrate that the rotation they are applying for is unique to their existing research year. These cases will be reviewed by the Mentorship Committee on an individual basis.

• Applicants must identify their observership mentor and location in the application form.

• Returning Applicants: Each student is eligible to receive one grant within a four-year period.

Application Requirements

• Completed application form

• Budget outlining travel, lodging, food, and other expenses to be incurred (up to a maximum of $2,000USD)

• Statement of purpose and connection to SOC dermatology (up to 1 page)

• Curriculum vitae

• Two letters of recommendation

  • A letter from the proposed mentor to include a statement of willingness to provide the time necessary for this mentorship, any significant and pertinent details of the planned mentorship, and a specific mention of whether the time frame and budget are appropriate for the proposed mentorship. Mentor must be a member of SOCS.

  • A letter from the residency program director, department chair or a faculty member attesting to the applicant’s character and potential to benefit from the mentorship.

• Disclosure if currently participating in a research year or fellowship at the specified observership location. Failure to disclose may impact application acceptance.

Accepted applications:

• Confirmation, including rotation dates, from both the student and the mentor is required for the disbursement of funds. Failure to disclose may impact application acceptance.

Participation in the program involves:

• Providing a 6-month update to the SOCS Mentorship Committee upon request regarding the status of the observership.

• Completing a short survey after the observership.

• Submitting a one-page summary of the experience written by the mentee, accompanied by a photograph of the mentee and mentor together.

• Observership must be completed between March of the year the grant is received and February of the following year.

This program is being supported by: