The Odland Scholars program was created to support the careers of talented young physicians with a record of academic excellence and intellectual curiosity as well as supporting the goal of diversity within the Medical School student body and faculty. This scholarship program for UW medical students is supported by a gift by the Herzog Foundation in honor of Dr. George Odland, former Head of the Division of Dermatology at the University of Washington, School of Medicine.

Applicant Information 

Applicants must complete the UW School of Medicine’s need-based scholarship application to be considered for this scholarship opportunity. Scholarships are awarded on a yearly basis and all students need to reapply each year.

The Odland Scholars program accepts applications from students during their 3rd and 4th years of medical school, and those selected during their 3rd year are welcome to apply again for their 4th year. While Dr. Odland was a career dermatologist and the program is administered by the Division of Dermatology, students of all clinical interests are welcome to apply and selected scholars are encouraged to pursue the career path of their choice. 

Contact

Diane Noecker
Director, UW School of Medicine Financial Aid

New Scholars

Amanda GalambasAmanda Galambas

MS3

Clinical/Research Interests:
My clinical interests include orthopedics, specifically pediatrics and trauma. My research interests include patient safety screening programs and improving efficiency in workflows.

Career Goals/Plans:
​​​​​​​I plan to apply to orthopedic surgery residencies this coming year. I aspire to provide thorough, evidence-based, and compassionate care to my patients. I am hopeful that I will one day be able to offer the type of mentorship to other women interested in surgery, as mentorship has played a huge role in my decision to follow my future career path. I am eager to explore academic medicine and would love to be involved in training the generations of doctors that will come after me.

 

William FrenchWilliam French

MS3

Clinical/Research Interests:
I am most interested in mitigating disparities between rural and urban healthcare. The focus of my recent research has been on exploring ways in which telehealth can be more effectively utilized in rural communities to improve healthcare access.

Career Plans/Goals:
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​I am from a medically underserved community in Central Montana and plan to practice in a similar community upon completion of residency. I will continue advocating for expanded educational opportunities for rural students and plan to remain involved in medical education over the course of my career.

 

Ermyas KahsaiErmyas Kahsai 

MS3

Clinical/research interests
Orthopaedics, Trauma, biomechanics

Career Plans/Goals:
​​​​​​​I plan to apply into a career of surgery, and hopefully work for a hospital that is able to serve a wide variety of community members, including those who are historically underserved. I have been fortunate to have mentors and help guide me to where I am today, so I hope to be able to pay this forward in the future whether it be the new generation of physicians or my future patients.

 

Sarah SmithSarah Smith

MS3

Clinical/research interests
I am passionate about autoimmune processes and the interplay between dermatology and rheumatology, fostering therapeutic relationships between provider and patient, mental wellbeing, and improving healthcare access for marginalized communities.

Career plans/goals
I will be applying to residency this fall with plans to pursue a career in general dermatology, with a possible focus on rheumatic skin diseases.  

 

Michael YeradiMichael Yeradi

MS3