As part of a statewide strategy to support future leaders in health care, the California Medical Association (CMA), in partnership with the San Francisco Medical Society (SFMS), has established a new scholarship that will be awarded annually to an outstanding University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) medical student with an interest in health policy.

More than 30 people attended a scholarship kickoff reception held in early June. At the reception, CMA President Paul R. Phinney, M.D., presented a $10,000 check to the Vice Chancellor Medical Affairs, UCSF Professor, School of Medicine, Sam Hawgood. The reception was hosted by Stephen Follansbee, M.D., and Richard Wolitz, M.D. In addition to CMA’s contribution, the reception netted $41,000. The goal is to raise $125,000 to endow the scholarship permanently.

Endowing the CMA Scholarship at UCSF will ensure that generations of medical students will recognize CMA and SFMS as organizations invested in their future.

A group of key UCSF-affiliated CMA/SFMS members have already endorsed and financially supported this initiative, Steve Fugaro, M.D., Gordon Fung, M.D., Man-Kit Leung, M.D., John Maa, M.D., Adam Schickedanz, M.D., Shannon Udovic-Constant, M.D., and Hugh Vincent, M.D.

Please join these ambassadors by giving what you can to support today’s UCSF students. With your help, today’s students will become the well-connected leaders who shape the health policies of the future.

Donations can be made online or by mail (checks may be made out to "UCSF Foundation" with "CMA Scholarship" in the notes section; mail checks to UCSF, Box 0248, San Francisco, CA 94143-0248.)

Contact: Betsy Cardis, (415) 476-5077 or bcardis@support.ucsf.edu.