The Dr. Edward Leitão Memorial Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for scholarships from Portuguese-American medical students and physicians in training, following the fund’s goal of filling the need among the community for Portuguese-speaking medical professionals. This is the second year that the scholarships are being offered, this time up to two scholarships of $2,000 each, and the deadline for submission of applications is December 15, 2017, at 5PM EST.

To be considered for these scholarships, applicants are required to submit a cover Letter 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 in this community once they become doctors. Students are also required to submit Undergraduate and Medical School GPA’s with transcripts; MCAT and USMLE score reports, as applicable, along with two Letters of Recommendation from medical school or residency faculty.

 “It was a true pleasure to be able to support medical students Tracey DaFonte and Bryan Rego last year, and we can’t wait to offer these two new scholarships to deserving candidates this year,” said Dr. Helena Santos Martins, member of the Fund Committee. “We hope to keep growing this fund and to be able to support many more Portuguese-American medical students, who have an increasingly important role to play in our communities.”

This Scholarship Fund was created in 2015 in the name of the much-loved and highly respected physician, who passed away after an eight-year struggle with cancer on February 4, 2015.  Dr. Leitão served 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 area. The Fund is managed by the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) and more information is available at maps-inc.org.

The Advisory Committee plans to announce the scholarship recipients by the end of December and present the scholarships at a benefit event, which is being planned for the end of January of 2018.  Applications can be submitted to: Ms. Lucinda Morais, MAPS Administrative Manager, lmorais@maps-inc.org, or via regular mail to: Dr. Edward Leitão Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Ms. Lucinda Morais, Administrative Manager, MAPS 1046 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139.