Nonprofit ElevateMeD Celebrates Diversity in Medicine with Explosion of A Dream Weekend; Raises Over $300,000 Towards Scholarship Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Highlights:
Mayor David Ortega proclaimed September 24 as ElevateMeD Day in the City of Scottsdale.
Twenty-three of the program's recipients attended the weekend's second Scholars Summit for leadership development, including Dr Kalonji Cole who shared a keynote address.
Explosion of a Dream scholarship fundraiser raised over $300,000 with 300 attendees, nearly double the previous year’s attendance.
ElevateMeD Scholars Brianna Spell and Shanice Walcott were presented with over $50,000 in scholarship awards from Inspire Youth Enrichment Foundation and the Bayless Family Foundation.
The organization presented its second Breaking Barriers Award to Dr. Wayne Franklin of Phoenix Children’s.
Scottsdale, Arizona- The fourth annual Explosion of a Dream weekend, was celebrated by nonprofit organization ElevateMeD and its supporters on September 23 and 24, 2022. The weekend featured its second Scholars Summit and signature fundraising event Explosion of a Dream, taking place at The Scott Resort and Spa with more than 300 attendees present, raising awareness and scholarships for the organization's Scholars Program.
This year, 24 of the program’s scholarship recipients from medical schools across the country attended the second annual Scholars Summit. This weekend of workshops is designed to provide diverse medical student leaders with workshops tailored toward their professional development as an enhancement to the programming received throughout the academic year. During this year’s Summit, Scholars participated in four core workshops, received professional headshots, and were imparted with words of wisdom from Dr. Richard Gray, CEO of Mayo Clinic and Dr. Wayne Franklin, 2022 Breaking Barriers recipients who also moderated a panel discussion with five of the organization's Scholars who have graduated and are currently in residency programs. Unique to this year’s Summit was an ElevateMeD “Shark Tank” panel and group exercise providing Scholars with an opportunity to explore innovation and entrepreneurship in medicine. This year's Scholars Summit was fully funded through sponsorship provided by Mayo Clinic, Novocure and Bristol Myers Squibb.
The Explosion of a Dream 2022 annual scholarship fundraising event allowed more than 300 supporters to come together to celebrate at The Scott Resort and Spa while also offering a virtual option. Through the live and silent auctions led by auctioneer Subyn Novelle, pledges made by guests, raffle items and sponsorships, the organization successfully raised over $300,000 over the course of the weekend in support of diverse physician leaders of the future.
Hosted by board member Dr. Bert Vargas, this year’s dynamic program featured remarks from Executive Director Dr. Alyx Porter Umphrey and the event’s first keynote address by Dr. Kalonji Cole, 2020-2021 ElevateMeD Scholar and Internal Medicine Resident at University of Texas Southwestern.
University of Arizona College of Medicine students shared their experiences learning from this year’s Breaking Barriers Award recipient Dr. Wayne Franklin before presenting him with his award.
“Abby and Marcus, who are wonderful students, are really why we are here tonight. They are living examples of what we want to do with ElevateMeD and in Phoenix. They are born and raised here in the Valley… they went to UofA undergrad and now they are medical students at University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix. This is what we are about, this is what we are doing. We’re training the next generation of physician leaders!”
Dr. Kalonji Cole's address ended in a standing ovation from attendees. “I crossed my fingers that I would get accepted [to be a part of ElevateMeD]… and I was elated when I did,” shared Dr. Kalonji Cole during his address.
“To be honest, I knew it would come with money… but that was really just the tip of the iceberg. I had no idea what was in store. Through ElevateMeD, I was immersed in an amazing community and I met with mentors and professionals in everything from financial wellness to professionalism. This was key going into my subinternships, into my application season, and of course my interviews. ElevateMeD truly made my dreams come true…and when our dreams come true, lives are saved!”
Some of the special surprises of the evening included a proclamation reading for ElevateMeD Day by Scottsdale Mayor, David Ortega, as well as two additional scholarship presentations. Totalling over $50,000, Shanice Walcott of Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine ‘22, was awarded the Bayless Commitment to Mental Health Scholarship by Bayless Family and Brianna Spell of Temple University School of Medicine ‘23, was awarded the Roger Gooding STEM Scholarship by the Inspire Youth Enrichment Foundation. The evening closed with dancing to live music by Arizona’s Vaughn Willis and Ear Candy.
Watch the replay of the event by visiting dream.elevatemed.org. To learn more about how to get involved with the organization and to make a tax-deductible donation, visit elevatemed.org/contribute.
ABOUT ELEVATEMED:
ElevateMeD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to elevating medicine by providing scholarships, mentorship, leadership training, and financial management education to future physicians from African-American/Black, Latinx, and Native American backgrounds. Through our Scholars Program, we aim to increase physician workforce diversity and improve cultural competence among physicians to reduce health disparities. Learn more about our mission and vision by visiting elevatemed.org/who-we-are and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @elevatemedinc.
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Media Contact:
Keiona Eady
843-312-1027 | pr@elevatemed.org
