The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship 

2023 NHHF's Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship Application

About the scholarship:

In 2004, NHHF established the Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship program and its first Gala in New York City for medical, nursing, dental, pharmacy, public health, and health policy students with outstanding academic records, leadership, and who are committed to serving Hispanics.

The following year, NHHF invited the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Hispanic Dental Association, Latino Caucus of American Public Health Association, the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, NYU and an honorary committee of New York elected officials, to help present NHHF's first ten scholarships.

In 2007, NHHF started its partnership with the United Health Foundation (UHF), which allowed NHHF to increase the number of scholarships it awarded. NHHF's partnership with UHF is a unique mentoring program where scholarship recipients are matched with a professional for a one-on-one mentoring program that focuses on their professional growth. As of January 2023, NHHF has awarded over $1.954 million to 346 scholarship recipients. This year, the scholarship will feature awards of $5,000 annually for up to four years, as well as individual scholarship awards of $2,000 each.

Past Recipients & Testimonials

Impact Opportunities

Call for Mentors: 

NHHF is looking for health professionals to mentor current health professional students!

NHHF has partnered with the United Health Foundation's Diverse Scholars Initiative to award scholarships to current health professional students. The NHHF-UHF Diverse Scholars Program involves a unique mentorship program. The mentorship aims to shed light on different areas of health care in which health professional students have an interest.

Apply to Become an NHHF Mentor Here

Mentors are matched with one to two students based on the student's geographical location, personal interests, and career goals. The mentorship can be virtual, allowing for mentors and mentees, to meet anytime and anywhere. We ask mentors to commit at least one hour per month.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at [email protected]

Below is an FAQ section for the 2023 Scholarship. For other questions regarding the NHHF Scholarship, please contact scholarship@nhmafoundation.org.

2023 Scholarship FAQs 

1. Who is eligible to apply for the 2023 Scholarship?

The 2023 National Hispanic Health Professionals Scholarship is open to any current full-time students or entering full-time students in the following U.S. based accredited graduate programs:

• Medicine: allopathic or osteopathic
• Dentistry
• Pharmacy
• Physician Assistant 
• Nursing (including BSN)
• Master of Public Health 

Eligible students must be enrolled full-time for the 2023-2024 academic year.

NOTE: Health professions NOT listed above will NOT be considered. High school and undergraduate students are NOT eligible for this scholarship EXCEPT for BSN students.

2. Are applicants required to be Hispanic?

Applicants are not required to be Hispanic. However, an affinity for the health of Hispanic communities and an interest in participating in NHHF Scholars Alumni activities is required.

3. What are the qualifications?

• 3.0 GPA or Passing (pass/fail system)
• Exceptional academic performance, documented leadership activities, and have a commitment to a career providing healthcare services to the Hispanic community in the U.S.
• Be a full-time student or entering full-time student (with proof of enrollment) in one of the following accredited programs: Medicine (MD or DO); Dentistry; Pharmacy; Nursing (including BSN degree); Master of Public Health; and Physician Associate.    

4. What are the required supporting documents?

• Personal statement, including career goals (double-spaced, two-page maximum)
• Current curriculum vitae (education, employment, extracurricular activities, awards)
• Letter of recommendation (one letter only)
• Proof of U.S. citizenship, residency, or DACA status
• Proof of enrollment
• Unofficial transcript

5. What are the requirements for the Personal Statement?

The personal statement should be typed, double-spaced, with at least 1 inch margin.

The personal statement should be exactly that – personal. Tell us what sets you apart from other students. Why are you interested in Hispanic Health issues and what are your plans to address those issues once you begin working in your profession? Make sure you are detailing what you want the reviewer to know about you as a student leader committed to serving the Hispanic community in the United States. Remember to also include your curriculum vitae to list your leadership and health-related accomplishments.

6. I am not a U.S. Citizen, can I still apply?

Only U.S. Citizens, permanent lawful residents, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are eligible to apply.

7. Who is eligible to write my recommendation letter?

A current/past professor or supervisor is required to write your recommendation letter. Your recommendation letter should be emailed to [email protected]

NOTE: Your recommender should email his/her recommendation letter to [email protected] using the following subject line with your information: Your Full Name – LOR”. The document must be labeled: Your Full Name – LOR

Letters of recommendation must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern Time, September 15, 2023.

If the case with your recommender is that they can only mail the letter, they can do so to our office:

National Hispanic Health Foundation
1920 L Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20036.

8. What is the scholarship deadline?

The application deadline is September 15, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Any applications received after the deadline will NOT be considered. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered.

9. Where should I send my completed scholarship application?

NHHF has gone paperless. The link for the application can be found here. Documents can be directly uploaded to this form.

10. Can I apply more than once?

Past applicants may apply ONLY if they have not previously received an award.

11. I missed the scholarship deadline. Is there anything I can do?

Unfortunately, we do not accept applications past the deadline. If you missed the deadline, we invite you to apply for the 2024 scholarship. Applications are posted between May – June.

12. How many students receive scholarships per year?

This year, 40 students will be awarded. 

13. I am interested in applying to your scholarship, but I am in another health profession that is not listed. Am I still eligible?

Unfortunately, only health professions explicitly stated in this application will be eligible for the scholarship. We are working hard to expand funding to additional health professional programs and encourage you to check back with us next year.

14. Do I need an official transcript?

We do not require an official transcript. Transcripts should have the student’s full name and date of birth listed.

15. I am currently enrolled to begin a graduate program and have no GPA or transcript yet. What should I do?

Please submit your official enrollment verification in your graduate degree program. Make sure you have at least 9 graduate credit hours “in progress.” Also, include your official transcripts from your undergraduate school if Fall 2023 is the first semester of your graduate program. Undergraduate transcripts should be sent to [email protected].

NOTE: If it is your first year and you do not have a current transcript of upcoming classes, you need to provide an enrollment verification from your university to show you have been accepted into health professional graduate schools in addition to last year's transcript.

16. I’m in high school/undergraduate college, am I eligible for the NHHF Scholarship?

Those seeking undergraduate degrees in pre-med, biology, chemistry, public health, health policy are NOT eligible EXCEPT for students in the BSN program. Please check back with us in a few years when you are entering your graduate program. 

17. My grade point average is under the required criteria of 3.0. Would I still be eligible to apply for your awards?

No, you must meet the minimum grade point requirements to be eligible. (Example, a 2.98 GPA will not be rounded to a 3.0)

18. Do I need to be a National Hispanic Medical Association member to apply?

Yes, you need to be a member of the National Hispanic Medical Association to be considered for the scholarship. If you would like to be a member, please visit here.

NOTE: If you are a student applying for the pharmacy scholarship, you need to be a member ONLY of the National Hispanic Pharmacists Association to be considered for the scholarship. If you would like to be a member, please visit here.

19. If I have already received an award from the National Hispanic Health Foundation, am I still eligible to apply?

No, past scholarship recipients are not eligible to reapply.

Additionally, the scholarship is limited to one award per family. 

20. Is there a specific format supporting documents should be in?

Yes, all documents should be in PDF format. You will NOT be able to upload any documents that are not in a PDF format.

Documents should also be named using the following format:
• FULL NAME – DOCUMENT NAME (i.e., personal statement, CV, etc.)