TCMS Medical Student Scholarships

TCMS Medical Student Scholarships

Funder: Tulsa County Medical Society Foundation (TCMS Foundation)

Status: Active and accepting applications

Geographic Scope: Tulsa County, Oklahoma area

Overview:
The TCMS Foundation awards annual cash scholarships to medical students. These are non-repayable grants established in 1964 from proceeds of a community-wide polio immunization program. To date, over $1,565,000 in scholarships has been awarded to 1,351 medical students. The Foundation distributes approximately 5% of its scholarship fund market value annually.

Award Details

Total Annual Awards: $45,000 distributed among multiple named scholarships:
• TCMS President's Leadership Award
• TCMS Foundation Community Service Award
• OU Dean's Leadership Award
• OSU Dean's Leadership Award
• Charles James Bate Memorial Award
• The Betty Louise Conrad Memorial Scholarship Award
• The Mona Whitmire Scholarship for Medical Students Award
• Leadership Fund (assists students attending AMA/OSMA/AOA/OOA meetings)
• Tulsa Surgical Society Scholarship Awards (for students interested in surgical specialties)

Number of Recipients: Approximately 9 scholarships awarded annually

Eligibility Requirements

• Academic Standing: Must be in good standing
• Year of Study: Must be enrolled in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year (sophomore, junior, or senior) in the 2025-2026 academic year
• Institution: Must be enrolled at one of:
- OU School of Community Medicine-Tulsa - OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine-Tulsa
• Previous Recipients: Not eligible to apply
• Membership: Must be a student member of TCMS (verification available)

Application Period

• Opens: July 1
• Deadline: August 31 (annual)
• Results announced: October
• Recipients recognized: November TCMS Annual Meeting and Scholarship Awards Dinner

Application Requirements

Personal Statement/Essay:
• Focus areas: Educational plans, long-range career plans, interest in medicine, community service, leadership activities, and other relevant information
• Limit: 750 words or less
• Format: One page, Arial font, 11pt font size, single-spaced, save and upload as PDF

Legacy and Sustainability

Students are encouraged (but not required) to contribute to the Fund once in practice in at least the amount they received, ensuring future medical students receive assistance.

Contact Information

• General Inquiries: joetta@tcmsok.org or 918.743.6184
• Executive Director: Mark McElreath, mark@tcmsok.org
• Address: 5315 S Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74105

Background

The Scholarship Fund was established in 1964 as a 501(c)(3) organization. In 2010, it became a program of the TCMS Foundation. The Tulsa Surgical Society contributed over $50,000 to the scholarship fund over 17 years until the organization disbanded in 2016.