Medical Student Externship Diversity Scholarship

Announcing an opportunity for academic year 2025-26

The Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (CUSOM) offers an Externship Diversity Scholarship Opportunity for 4th year visiting medical students who are interested in Anesthesiology. We are proud to announce our next round of scholarships for the 2025/2026 academic year. Up to four scholarships, $3,500 each, will provide financial assistance for recipients to complete a senior-level four-week anesthesiology clinical rotation at the CUSOM. Rotations are completed in late summer through early fall based on space availability.

Notification of awards occurs on or before June 15, 2025.

Program Description

The Externship Diversity Scholarship Program is designed to give students the experience of rotating as an anesthesiology “Acting Intern” (4th year medical student) at University of Colorado Department of Anesthesiology. The "Acting Intern" will function in the role of an anesthesiology resident and will be required to attend all conferences including core curriculum, morbidity and mortality conference, rotation-based clinical case conferences, and simulation lab experiences with the anesthesiology residents.

Rotation Options

The following electives are available:

• Subspecialty rotation at UCH (options include Acute and Chronic Pain, OB, Cardiothoracic, Neurosurgery, Transplant and General OR)
• Children’s Hospital Colorado/Denver Health Medical Center (2 weeks each)
• Children’s Hospital Colorado (4 weeks)
• Surgical trauma intensive Care Unit (4 weeks), qualifies as an acting internship

Eligibility Criteria

All applicants in good academic standing and enrolled in the final year of medical school at the time of completing the externship can apply. Applicants meeting one or more of the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Advocacy and/or leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion activities
• First generation college graduate
• Upbringing in a low socioeconomic environment
• Experience in overcoming hardship
• Have an interest in pediatric anesthesiology
• Rural or Frontier community member

Selection Criteria

A departmental committee reviews each completed application and makes awards based upon:

• Completed application, incomplete applications are not reviewed
• Personal statement
• Letter of recommendation
• Commitment to the field of anesthesiology
• Commitment to community involvement
• Interview performance

Application process

Please complete and return all required components to Whitney Balusi at WHITNEY.BALUSI@CUANSCHUTZ.EDU and Dr. Mario Villaseñor at Mario.Villasenor@cuanschutz.edu by the deadline: April 30, 2025

• Completion of VSAS application, Extern (Visiting Students) , and approval by the CUSOM
• One-page personal statement outlining your interests in anesthesiology, how you meet the eligibility criteria, and why you wish to be awarded a scholarship
• One letter of recommendation
• Curriculum Vitae
• Interview with committee members in May and June 2025

Contact Information

For more information, please visit our website. For questions or comments, please contact Whitney Balusi at WHITNEY.BALUSI@CUANSCHUTZ.EDU.