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Columbian College of Arts & Sciences

 

The Chung-wen Shih Scholarship

Small bowls of spices and medicines with Chinese characters written on a piece of paper

Facilitated by the GW College of Columbian Arts of Sciences (CCAS) and the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), The Chung-wen Shih Scholarship is intended to promote cultural exchange between the East and West; especially in medicine and healthcare, among GW students.

Background

Professor Chung-wen Shih received her Ph.D. in English Literature at Duke University and was a Post-doctoral Fellow in East Asian Studies at Harvard University. She was Assistant Professor of Chinese at Stanford University before joining the faculty at George Washington University in 1971, where she was Chairman of the Department of East Asian
Language and Literature for over 20 years. Professor Shih published numerous books and produced several film documentaries on China’s modern writers and the Tang culture. She has been a benefactor of the University for many years. In 2014 Professor Shih established an endowed scholarship under the GW Columbian College of Arts & Sciences. The recipient(s) of the scholarship are current or future George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences medical students, such as Pre-Med students who have demonstrated an interest in integrating traditional Chinese medical practices (example: traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, qigong healing, etc.) with Western Medicine.

The Scholarship

Selected participant(s) will each receive up to $5,000 applied to international scholarly opportunities for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Eligibility

  • Undergraduate students at George Washington University have accepted admission to GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences’ MD Program through the early selection process and students participating in the BA/MD program; OR
  • Currently enrolled medical students and residents at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Application Materials: Eligible applicants should submit the following materials for review by the committee:

  • Resume
  • Official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate as applicable)
  • Personal statement describing your interest in East-West cultural exchange, experiences in Eastern culture, evidence of interest in integrating Chinese medical practices into Western Medicine, and any relevant travel or academic studies that support these experiences or interests. (maximum of 4 pages, double spaced)
  • Proposal with a detailed description of your project that includes objectives and intent of the experience, as well as its content, structure, learning objectives, and timeline
  • Provide a budget indicating how you intend to use the funding throughout the project
  • Provide a letter of support from your project mentor – to include his/her intent to provide guidance and support through the duration of the project
  • At least two letters of recommendation, at least one from a faculty member at George Washington University.
  • A letter confirming that you authorize the Chung-Wen Shih Scholarship Committee to review GW Financial Aid Account information; this email should include your Name and GW ID number.
  • Medical students must provide a Letter of Support from your Career Advisory Dean or the Student Affairs Dean.

Timeline

Scholarship Announcement: Oct 20, 2021
Deadline for Applications: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Decisions Announced: Four to six (4-6) weeks after submitting a completed scholarship application. If awarded the scholarship, please plan for an additional six weeks for funds to be processed.

Reporting Requirements

  • A paper describing the scholar’s project, experience, and any results and implications for the project
  • A presentation to the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, which may include faculty, students, and the selection committee

Selection Process and Criteria


The selection committee will be composed of representatives from the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Applications will be reviewed and scored based on the following:

  • Academic Excellence
  • Quality and organization of the proposed project (i.e., potential to achieve goals and objectives).
  • The educational value of the proposed project
  • Relevance of project to the mission of CCAS and students’ long term goals
  • Quality of the infrastructure and support by the mentor/host organization.
  • Potential for Success – will take into account factors such as interpersonal skills, professionalism, and leadership.

Contact

Questions and Completed Application Materials should be submitted to:

Genevieve McKenna
Program Manager
Office of International Medicine Programs
2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 308
Washington, DC 20037
Email: [email protected]