Portuguese American Journal

Community: Dr. Edward Leitão Fund – Scholarships for Medicine and Health Careers

The Dr. Edward Leitão Memorial Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for scholarships from Portuguese-American medical students, as well as college and high-school students interested in pursuing medicine or other health careers, following the fund’s goal of filling the need among the community for Portuguese-speaking medical professionals. This is the 3rd year that the scholarships are being offered.

To be considered for these scholarships, applicants need to be Portuguese-American and study in New England. They are required to submit an essay addressed to Dr. Edward Leitão Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee, describing their language and cultural connections to the Portuguese-American community and how they envision making a difference once they finish their degrees.

Since these are merit-based scholarships, the applicants also need to submit their transcripts and 2 letters of recommendation from their teachers or academic advisors. Applications should be submitted by e-mail to Dr. Helena Santos-Martins at drleitaofund@gmail.com  until December 10, 2018.

The fund will be offering one scholarship of $2000 to a medical student, one $1250 scholarship to a college student, and one $750 scholarship to a high-school student. For additional eligibility requirements, candidates can visit the website www.DrLeitaoScholarshipFund.org and/or contact Dr. Helena Santos-Martins by email drleitaofund@gmail.com.

“We are thrilled with the community’s response to the Dr. Edward Leitão Memorial Scholarship Fund,” said Dr. Helena Santos-Martins, co-founder and chair of the fund’s advisory committee. “Their generosity has enabled us to offer these scholarships for a third year, and we are excited to support another three future medical professionals who will surely make a difference in our community.”

The fund was created in 2015 in the name of the much-loved and highly respected physician, who passed away in February of 2015. Dr. Leitão practiced at the Cambridge Health Alliance for several decades as a well-respected internist and medical director, caring for many patients in the Portuguese-speaking community of the Cambridge/Somerville area.

The Advisory Committee plans to announce the scholarship recipients by the end of December and present the scholarships at their annual Awards Luncheon, which will take place on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at Filarmónica de Santo António, in Cambridge, MA.

The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) is a private, nonprofit organization that has served the Portuguese-speaking community of Greater Boston, Cambridge and Somerville since 1970. The health and social services organization supports the Dr. Edward Leitão Memorial Scholarship Fund’s mission by being its fiscal agent. All donations to the Fund are tax-deductible.

Source: Dr. Edward Leitão Memorial Scholarship Fund. Press Release.

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