2022 TFME and TFME Northwest Permanente Scholarship Recipients

The scholarships were presented at a virtual event in March 2022. For more information, please contact the Foundation.

Walter McDonald Scholarship: Emily Mitchell

Emily attended Stanford University and will graduate from OHSU in 2023 as an MD/MPH. She has done research in the implementation of telemedicine in pediatric diabetes care, volunteered with the Oregon ACP on policy initiatives, provided emergency childcare during the 2020 pandemic shutdown, and trained as a narrative medicine facilitator.  Her passion for service and leadership made her the perfect choice for this award.

Joseph Bloom Scholarship: Pooja Vyas

Pooja attended USC as an undergraduate and received both a degree in Human Biology and a Master’s of Science Degree in Global Medicine the following year.  Pooja’s application essay and CV describe a deep commitment to immigrant rights and to the care and safety of LGBTQA patients. Pooja plans to present research into the psychiatric care of transgender surgical patient at the 2022 American Psychiatric Association Meeting.  After her OHSU graduation in 2023 Pooja plans to apply to residency programs in psychiatry. Pooja shares Dr. Bloom’s commitment to improving psychiatric care delivery across all populations. 

Warren Jones Scholarship: Kenneth Tan

Kenneth was raised in Indonesia and Suriname and moved to the US to pursue an undergraduate degree at Oregon State University.  He will graduate from OHSU in 2023. He has done bench research and clinical research in head and neck surgery.  His application essay described his passion for equitable health care, his desire to work with organizations providing health care in developing countries, his curiosity about new efficiencies in medical informatics and in technology integration. He clearly exemplifies the values of a physician scientist and humanist and thus is the perfect candidate for this award.

John Ulwelling Scholarship: Brooke Byun

Brooke will graduate from the WSU Elson Floyd School of Medicine in June, 2023. Brooke has been an academic tutor, book group leader and thought leader in improving equity in medical education. Her capstone project in medical school was named “The Top 10 Ways to Make Medical Education More Equitable and Inclusive.”  Brooke plans enter a family practice residency program after graduation.  Her attention to communities of care and her passion for teaching others was clear in her essay, her CV and her letters of recommendation. It is clear that as a student Brooke exemplifies the type of physician leader that Mr. Ulwelling believed each of us could be.

Northwest Permanente/TFME Scholarship: Joel Bervell

Joel attended Yale University and then received a Master of Medical Science degree from Boston University.  He will graduate from the WSU Elson Floyd School of Medicine in June, 2023.  He has co-created an international non-profit “Hugs for Ghana’, worked as a mentor for high school students, assisted with technology applications for his classmates and done research in orthopedic medicine.  Joel has created more than 350 short form videos on health tips and racial bias in medicine. He has received honors and awards for his work as a conversational change maker and creator.  Joel plans to pursue a career in surgery. Joel’s creativity and passion for honest dialogue and his commitment cultural intelligence made him a clear choice for this award.

Northwest Permanente/TFME Scholarship: Shirin Ferdosian Najafabadi

Shirin attended Portland Community College and Portland State University before matriculating at OHSU. She will graduate from OHSU in June, 2023.  Shirin emigrated to the United States from Iran as a non-English speaker and has worked a variety of jobs prior to entering medical school. She has worked in a plant nursery, as a home care provider, as a medical interpreter and medical billing specialist.  She has a deep passion for developing herself and other women as leaders in medicine.  Her application essay and letters of recommendation underscore her deep understanding the dynamics of the patient/physician relationship in health care delivery.