Explosion of a Dream 2025: Scholars Summit
Explosion of a Dream
Scholars Summit 2025
Explosion of a Dream Weekend: ElevateMeD Scholars at the 2025 ElevateMeD Scholars Summit. Photography courtesy The Social Photog.
Sixth Annual Scholars Summit – Three Days of Leadership, Connection, and Impact
ElevateMeD hosted the sixth annual Scholars Summit during the Explosion of a Dream weekend on September 19-21, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. This year’s Summit convened our newest ElevateMeD Scholars alongside alumni-physicians for a high-impact experience focused on leadership, wellness, advocacy, financial readiness, and community engagement. Across three days, Scholars learned from physician leaders, corporate partners, and facilitators; strengthened their professional narratives; and built lasting connections with mentors, board members, children and parents from underserved communities, and each other. This year's Scholars Summit was fully funded through funding provided by LocumTenens.com and The Burton Family Foundation.
Day 1
Welcome Reception & Pinning
The Scholars Summit opened with a warm welcome from ElevateMeD Founders, Dr. Alyx Porter and Dr. Greg Umphrey, followed by staff introductions, and Summit facilitators Joanna Deshay and Britany McElroy. After a lively “ElevateMeD Bingo Blackout” icebreaker, we honored our 2025 Break Barriers Award recipient, Dr. Victor Waters, whose remarks spotlighted how personal stories can power professional success. The evening culminated in our signature Scholars Pinning Ceremony with Dr. Tiffany Hardaway (ElevateMeD Scholarship Committee Chair) recognizing the 2025-26 Scholar Cohort.
Day 2 | Ignite Your Power
Breakfast & Headshots
Day 2 of the ElevateMeD Scholars Summit traditionally begins with breakfast, peer networking and headshots. Scholars spent the morning engaging with each other, mentors and board members after taking new professional headshots that can be used for residency and fellowship applications.
STORYTELLING
Storytelling Intensive: Facilitator Shareé Hurts led a dynamic, two-hour workshop helping Scholars sharpen their stories for interviews, leadership opportunities, and advocacy.
Financial Wellness
Financial Wellness with Wells Fargo: Moderator Harold Jasper guided a practical panel with Aja (“AJ”) Gross, Robert Stanford Curtis, and Bethany Tuthill on building financial health—covering banking, advisory, and mortgage perspectives relevant from medical school through residency and beyond.
ElevateDreams & Lunch
ElevateDReams: In partnership with Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, Scholars hosted local families for a shared meal, white-coat/scrubs gifting, and table-talks centered on perseverance, curiosity, and leadership. Dr. Bisi Alli offered “Healthy Inspiration” through her book, Tayo and the Super Produce Pals at the Grocery Store!, grounded in lifestyle medicine, followed by Celebrity Chef Jeffrey Lampkin, who lit up the room with his style and personality while demonstrating approachable, flavorful nutrition. Scholars then facilitated five Interactive Learning Stations—from “Mind & Mood” to “Be the Doc” and “Surgical”—bringing health, movement, and medicine to life for children and parents alike.
Influential Interactions (Improv)
The Outcasters led a high-energy session of thinking on your feet, listening deeply, and building trust. These skills strengthen the physician-patient relationship and leadership presence.
Explosion of A Dream
Scholars attended ElevateMeD’s annual Explosion of a Dream scholarship event! Scholar presenters included Dr. Marcus Childs and Leonida Radford. Ewoma Ogbaudu accepted the Diane Porter Memorial Award on behalf of his wife Chikodi Ohaya, as they recently welcomed a new addition to their family. Ariel Walker was presented with a surprise scholarship made possible by The Larry Fitzgerald Foundation. Lastly, we heard a powerful message from this year’s Scholar Keynote Dr. Kenneth Clark.
Day 3 | Rooted & Resilient
Centering your well-being
Keith Jones (Mayo Clinic) equipped Scholars with tools for sustainable practice amid the demands of training and care delivery. With burnout and levels of depression and anxiety being high among physicians, implementing skills to bolster well being are essential to a sustainable and fulfilling career. Through this workshop, the ElevateMeD Scholars were challenged to incorporate their own well being practices and were given tools to incorporate movement, gratitude, and mindfulness.
Advocacy in action
Dr. Jane Lyons (Maricopa County Medical Society President) explored how physicians, united in organized medicine, can advance patient care and professional well-being through policy engagement and leadership.
Resiliency & The Journey
Dr. Miechia Esco (LocumTenens.com) shared lessons from a career seeking a wide-range of communities across academic, military, and private settings–emphasizing adaptability, excellence, and mission-driven practice.
Next Steps Resident panel
Moderated by Dr. Aaron Bia, alumni Dr. Marcus Childs, Dr. Stephanie Carter, and Dr. Kenneth Clark offered candid guidance on interviews, program fit, wellness, and life logistics—everything students wish they’d known heading into residency.
Through the ElevateMeD Scholars Program our Scholars Experience:
The annual Explosion of a Dream Scholars Summit (all expenses paid experience)
1:1 mentorship based on their area of interest
Development of a leadership plan developed by our ElevateMeD Executive Coach based on their individual Birkman Assessment results
Monthly programming focused on networking, personal and financial healthcare literacy, and varied elements of leadership
An unparalleled network of like minded individuals who are committed to becoming the changemakers in healthcare
Tuition based scholarships to help reduce medical school indebtedness
AIRFARE, LODGING AND PROGRAMMING PROVIDED TO ELEVATEMED SCHOLARS THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
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