American Society of Nephrology Program for Medical Students and Residents
The goal of the ASN Program for Medical Students and Residents is to stimulate interest in nephrology as a career choice and is targeted towards residents and students who have an interest in nephrology but have not yet committed to applying for fellowship.
This program will provide $800 in travel support to the ASN Annual Meeting at Kidney Week, held November 1-4, 2012 in San Diego, CA, for qualified residents and third- and fourth-year medical students. Meeting registration for participating residents and students will be provided, as well as complimentary ASN e-Membership.
Schedule of Events
Program highlights include a welcome reception, panel discussion, breakfast, and other activities geared towards residents and students. Events start at approximately 5:00 p.m EDT on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 with an opening panel discussion. Kidney Week ends on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Participants are expected to attend all program events and all of the Annual Meeting.
Eligibility and Requirements
The nominating institution is asked to provide mentorship in advance of and during the meeting. This can include discussing the schedule and highlighting specific events, walking through the poster hall, attending sessions with the participant, and so forth. The goal is to have ASN and the local institution partner in stimulating interest in nephrology.
In order to be eligible for this program, residents and students must be:
Enrolled in an ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine, Pathology, or Pediatric residency or be an MS3 or MS4 enrolled in an ACGME-accredited program.
Considered excellent candidates by program directors or school faculty in internal medicine and nephrology.
Interested in pursuing nephrology as a specialty, but not yet decided.
Be able to attend the entire meeting and all program events.
For interested residents and students that do not meet the above requirements, please contact ASN at grants@asn-online.org.
Once a medical student or resident is accepted to the program, he/she will automatically be registered for the ASN Annual Meeting. Each participant is responsible for making his or her own hotel and travel arrangements and it is recommended that these arrangements be made after being approved for the program. ASN will have room blocks at affordable hotels available for reservations from residents and students.
Nomination Process
Nephrology Training Program Directors can nominate residents and/or students through the online ASN Medical Students and Residents Nomination Form (requires log-in).
For institutions without a nephrology fellowship program, a renal faculty member or school faculty/advisor may nominate instead. Please email grants@asn-online.org for more information.
TPDs (or renal faculty member/other faculty or advisor, for institutions without nephrology fellowships) may nominate a maximum of two residents and/or students. For larger institutions that wish to nominate additional students or residents, please contact grants@asn-online.org. These nominees will be placed on a waitlist and considered if space permits.
Once submitted as a nominee, nominated medical students or residents will be emailed a link for completing the application.
Residents are required to provide the following documentation:
A letter of recommendation from the nephrology training program director or faculty member at the resident's institution that includes:
A statement that the resident is currently undecided on a fellowship but is considering nephrology.
A statement of commitment from the nephrology program director to provide mentorship during Kidney Week. A brief description of this mentorship should be also provided. An example of such commitment would be faculty from the resident's institution committing to spend an hour visiting posters with the resident and outlining a recommended itinerary for the meeting.
If the resident's institution does not have nephrology TPD, the renal faculty member/or school faculty/advisor who completed the nomination may write the letter instead.
A letter from the resident's residency program director confirming the resident will be allotted time to attend the entire program and Annual Meeting (5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 31 to 12:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, November 4).
Medical Students will be required to provide the following documentation:
A letter of recommendation from the nephrology training program director or renal faculty/other school faculty/advisor at the student's institution with a statement of commitment of mentorship during Kidney Week (either by the TPD or other nephrology faculty member). A brief description of this mentorship should also be provided.
An example of such commitment would be faculty from the student's institution committing to spend an hour visiting posters with the student and outlining a recommended itinerary for the meeting.
If the student's institution does not have nephrology TPD, the renal faculty member who completed the nomination may write the letter instead.
A letter of support from the student's medical school (Dean of Students or faculty advisor), including confirmation that the student is enrolled in medical school and will be allotted time to attend the entire program and Annual Meeting (5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 31 to 12:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, November 4).
Please ensure that letters of support follow the above guidelines. Letters should be on institutional letterhead and signed.
Application Instructions
Once nominated, students and residents will be emailed a link to complete the program application. If the applicant already has an ASN login ID, he or she may login to proceed to the next step. Otherwise, the applicant must create an ASN online account. The account must be created using the email address to which the initial nomination email was sent.
After logging in, the applicant will need to complete the following information:
Upload letter from TPD or renal faculty member/other school faculty/advisor (see details above).
This must be the TPD or faculty member that completed the nomination form.
Upload letter from residency program director (residents) or medical school dean or advisor (students) (see details above).
Fill in Educational Information, including residency or school year.
Complete five short essays (maximum 200 words each).
List positions held in or since medical school
List any honors or awards
Describe future career plans
Describe reasons for interest in nephrology
List research experience, if any
Check box assuring that he or she has been given time off to attend the entire program.
If authors of letters would prefer to submit blindly, please send as attachments to grants@asn-online.org. Applicants can submit placeholder documents in order to complete the application.
Deadline: All online applications must be completed no later than Friday, July 27, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. EDT.
Questions? Email grants@asn-online.org.
