Medical Student Earns Spot in Inaugural ElevateMeD Scholars Program

ElevateMeD is a nonprofit organization committed to elevating the field of medicine by providing financial support and mentorship to future physicians. Their scholars program is a multifaceted program designed to develop the next generation of physician leaders, such as Anthony Osifuye. 

Osifuye, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School, will receive a $10,000 scholarship for each year remaining in his medical degree along with access to physician mentorship, a peer network support, leadership development opportunities and financial management education.

He decided to pursue medicine after seeing the impact that it had on his sister with cerebral palsy. “With me being able to see that, and how she was affected by it when she received treatment, it opened my eyes up to what the power of medicine can do,” he said.

Having been born in the Twin Cities area, Osifuye hopes to give back to local communities through his work. Growing up, he saw how health was distributed across the landscape and recognized the disparities between underserved and affluent communities. 

The 2020-2021 Scholars Program features a dynamic group of 10 medical students selected from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine. Osifuye is humbled to be a part of it and said, “It means everything. It’s so encouraging. The way I felt when I got this scholarship was, ‘Wow. Someone really believes in me, and I can facilitate what’s important to the organization and myself.’”

In the future, he aspires to provide care for the full spectrum of the human population, to treat acute causes and be involved in a multidisciplinary team that creates programs to drive down health disparities.