Foundation Scholarships

Congratulations Alliance Medical Education Scholarship recipients!

The Alliance Medical Education Scholarship (AMES) Fund was established in April 2000 to financially assist deserving medical students enrolled in an accredited Pennsylvania allopathic or osteopathic medical school. The Fund is supported by Alliance fundraising events, and general and memorial contributions. Since 2003, the fund has provided 155 scholarships amounting to $381,000.

In 2019, the AMES Fund awarded scholarships to five deserving medical students. In their applications for scholarship, they were asked to describe their vision for the future of Pennsylvania medicine. An excerpt from each essay is included with their names below.

Benjamin J. Carnahan

Class of 2020, Penn State University College of Medicine

The Barbara Prendergast Award of the AMES Fund – $2,500

Carnahan also received an AMES scholarship in 2018, for a total of $5,000 from the AMES Fund.

“We, as physicians, want to provide the best care for our patients and by taking the time to view the individual situation that each patient is in, we are better suited to provide this great level of care. This is truly the art of ‘personalized medicine,’ and is an art that would improve the lives of our patients.”

Matthew M. Duda

Class of 2021, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania

The Robert and Arlene Oyler Award of the AMES Fund – $3,000

“My vision for Pennsylvania medicine includes developing a statewide pain contract policy to address the opioid epidemic and connect errors from the past, leveraging genomic data to personalize health care in the present, and developing a statewide program to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds aspiring to careers in medicine and sustain positive reform in the future.”

Jacob A. Jerome

Class of 2021, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

AMES Fund Scholarship – $2,500

“My vision for the future of Pennsylvania medicine is one that supports and promotes accessible, high-quality education for all medical professionals about how to discuss end-of-life care. … I believe Pennsylvania can become the keystone state in preparing citizens and medical professionals for end-of-life, extending our high-quality medical care and the well-being, respect and dignity of patients up to the most pivotal moment in their lives. As a long-term Pennsylvania resident with every intention of practicing here, I am incredibly excited and honored to be a part of this future.”

Amelia M. Mackarey

Class of 2020, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

The Dr. William J. West Jr. Award of the AMES Fund – $3,000

In memory of Dr. William B. West and in honor of Dr. William J. West and Joyce West, medical and Alliance leaders

“My vision of the future of Pennsylvania medicine makes me happy because I believe that we can make each other happy. We can recognize each other’s needs; we can celebrate each other’s joys; we can support each other’s dreams. We can listen to what our patients say, and just as importantly, what they don’t say. We can address their concerns, and then take it one step further, and address the concerns they are too afraid to state. I am so grateful for the lessons of my medical journey so far and I am confident that they will continue to impact and inspire me, my peers, and our patients in the future as we work to invigorate and improve the future of Pennsylvania medicine.”

Zachary M. Weisner

Class of 2021, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

The Dauphin County Medical Society Alliance Award of the AMES Fund – $2,500

In honor of Mrs. Shirley Roth

“My fundamental belief is that medicine is developed to help people lead healthy lives and carry out a meaningful life. Through preventative medicine, clinical research, physician wellness, and stable political practices, I believe we can create a more effective and efficient platform. We have the tools, all we need is the means to do so.”

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Condolences

The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society extends sincere condolences to family members and friends of William J. West, MD, who passed away on Oct. 30, 2019.

“The West Family’s contributions have improved the health and welfare of Pennsylvania residents for more than three generations,” said Alliance Co-President Donna Baver-Rovito. “Thank you for sharing your family’s legacy with the next generation.”

The Dr. William J. West Jr. Award of the AMES Fund was established in memory of Dr. William B. West and in honor of Dr. William J. West and Joyce West, medical and Alliance leaders.