About the ASH-AMFDP Award

For more than 20 years, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has sought to reduce the underrepresentation of minority scholars in academic medicine through their Minority Medical Faculty Development Program, which was created to assist faculty from historically disadvantaged backgrounds achieve senior rank in academic medicine. The program was recently renamed and expanded in honor of Harold Amos, PhD, who was the first African-American to chair a department, now the Department of Microbiology and Medical Genetics, at the Harvard Medical School.

Through the ASH-Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program (AMFDP), ASH is committed to funding at least one AMFDP hematology scholar per year. Each scholar is expected to spend at least 70 percent of his/her time on research activities in association with a senior faculty member located at an academic medical center.

Program Mentorship

ASH-AMFDP Award applicants are responsible for identifying a mentor at their institutions who will work with them and provide both research and career guidance. Additionally, the recipient's mentor is expected to attend the AMFDP annual meeting for the first two years of the grant, with travel costs reimbursed by the AMFDP.

Award recipients are also assigned a National Advisory Committee mentor who will follow their progress throughout the award term and provide additional guidance.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for this award, the applicant must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of the application deadline.
• Be completing or have completed his/her formal clinical training.
• Have excelled in his/her education; be prepared to devote four consecutive years to research; and be committed to an academic career, improving the health status of the underserved, and decreasing health disparities.

Applicants from historically marginalized backgrounds and are able to describe how their background, identity, or lived experiences have positioned them to contribute to the goals of the program. Examples of marginalized backgrounds include but are not limited to first generation college graduates, individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, individuals from communities of color, and individuals with disabilities. If an applicant is applying because they have a marginalized background not listed above, the applicant must clearly describe how they meet the eligibility criteria in the application form.

Application Process

To view detailed application requirements and begin the application process, please visit the application page.

ASH-AMFDP and MHFA Application Eligibility

If an applicant is offered both awards, he/she can complete their first year of research with the MHFA program (June 2024 – June 2025) and begin research under the ASH-AMFDP program beginning in July 2025.

You should consider applying for ASH-AMFDP if:

• You already have a significant amount of research experience and preliminary data, and can benefit from four years of mentored research training
• You will have completed the clinical portion of your fellowship before the start of the award
• You are an Assistant Professor

You should consider applying for the MHFA if:

• You are still in fellowship training
• You have limited to no research experience
• You still have the clinical portion of your fellowship to complete

Questions?

For questions regarding the ASH-AMFDP Award, contact [email protected] or call 202-776-0544.