ElevateMeD Announcements and Updates
This year’s Scholars Summit brought together our 2026–27 ElevateMeD Nexus Scholars, Connect Scholars, Legacy Scholars, mentors, Board members, partners, and facilitators for programming focused on leadership, communication, advocacy, financial readiness, wellness, community engagement, and the transition from medical school to residency.
Read MoreThis year’s Scholars 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.
Read MoreElevateMeD hosted the fourth annual Scholars Summit during the Explosion of a Dream weekend on September 20-22nd. This year’s summit was attended by 30 scholars including all 20 scholars from our 2024-25 cohort, 5 scholars from our previous cohort and 5 alumni who have graduated and become physicians.
Read MoreElevateMeD was proud to host its third Scholars Summit during our Explosion of a Dream weekend on September 22-24th. This year’s summit was attended by 23 of the program's 2023-2024 cohort and 2 Scholar Alumni.
Read MoreElevateMeD was proud to host its second Scholars Summit during our Explosion of a Dream weekend. This year’s summit was attended by 18 of the program's 2022-2023 cohort and 5 Scholar Alumni.
Read MoreAbigail Solorio shares her inspiration to pursue medicine, challenges she faced along the way and the true cost of medicine.
Read MoreMarcus Childs talks about being a dreamer, pursuing a medical education and becoming an ElevateMeD Scholar.
Read MoreMayo Clinic has been an avid supporter of ElevateMeD since our inception. In 2020, ElevateMeD was awarded a grant through their EverybodyIn Fund that helped support our first annual ElevateMeD Scholars Summit in Scottsdale, AZ.
Read MoreRead full feature by Marc Thompson of ABC15 Arizona.
Read MoreRead full article written by Julie Luchetta of the Arizona Republic.
Read MoreHosted by ElevateMeD Board Member, Dr. Bert Vargas
Auction hosted by: Subyn Novelle
Keynote featuring ElevateMeD Founder, Dr. Alyx Porter Umphrey
Production by: The Social Photog, The Authentic Messenger & Open 44
The first Scholars Summit featured four elements: a storytelling session with storytelling coach Doug Stevenson, a wellness and balance session with wellness expert Keith Jones, a lunch and learn session with Reuben Lewis of National Financial Group, as well as the opportunity to take professional headshots with The Social Photog. This was the first in-person programming held for Scholars since the organization's launch. This presented the opportunity for the Board Members and Scholars to network and meet.
Read MoreCaylan Moore shares his journey to become a psychiatrist, striving for excellence and what being an ElevateMeD Scholar means to him.
Read MoreShannon Coombs shares her perspective in pursuit of a career in medicine and why representation in medicine matters.
Read MoreKambrea Soltero shares how she hopes to pair direct patient care with a broader commitment to improving the systems that shape health and access to care.
Yezan "iPod" Hassan shares how his background as a refugee and early experiences in Detroit shaped his mission to pursue medicine domestically and globally
Fatumastar Adan believes that health care should be rooted in dignity, equity, and accountability. That it should be afforded to all and not just reserved for the few.
Mariah Taylor shares what inspires her pursuit of interventional cardiology and the impact she hopes to make through medicine.
Chioma Aneke is a future doctor who understands the importance of compassion, empathy, cultural competency and advocacy. She shares just how early experiences shaped her commitment to advancing health care equity.
GaResia Woods is focused on being there when it matters. Working with students in communities who were navigating systems that essentially weren't built for them helped her realize the impact she could make as a physician working to minimize the gaps in health care.
Ashley Nmoh is driven by a commitment to improving health outcomes for children and families. Her experiences have inspired a passion for community-centered care, public health leadership, and creating lasting change for communities that have historically faced barriers to healthcare access.
Desai Oula is passionate about expanding access to vision care while inspiring the next generation of students to enter the healthcare field.
Launched on May 13, 2019, ElevateMeD s proud to announce the 2026-27 Scholars Program cohort. This year's cohort of exceptional medical students represents 37 Scholars across our expanding Scholars Program, reflecting continued growth and expanded access nationwide. This announcement also marks the seventh anniversary of ElevateMeD and its ongoing dedication to supporting future physician leaders.
The Burton Family Foundation’s partnership with ElevateMeD began in 2024 and reflects a shared commitment to education, career readiness, and stronger communities.
Our partnership with LocumTenens.com reflects a shared commitment to investing in the next generation of physician leaders. Since 2024, their support has helped ElevateMeD create meaningful opportunities for Scholars to learn, connect, and grow throughout their medical education journeys and beyond.
Through its support of the ElevateMeD Scholars Program, Zimmer Biomet is helping medical students access financial assistance, mentorship, leadership development opportunities, and the resources needed to thrive throughout their medical education journey.
We are proud to recognize Truist as a major sponsor of Ignite Atlanta 2026 and a valued partner in advancing our mission to support the next generation of physician leaders. From financial wellness trainings for our Scholars to partnering in community events, Truist continues to stand with us.
Dr. David and Betty Gullen are dedicated supporters of ElevateMeD whose partnership plays a critical role in strengthening the foundation of the ElevateMeD Scholars Program.
Lisa Cagnolatti, on behalf of her husband Ed and The Cagnolatti Daniels Family Foundation, underscored the urgent need for culturally competent care and the critical importance of supporting ElevateMeD’s mission.
What does The Larry Fitzgerald Foundation and #ElevateMeD have in common? A commitment to HEALTH EQUITY!
Watch remarks from Mayo Clinic CEO in Arizona, Dr. Richard Gray shared remarks this year and was introduced by 2024-25 ElevateMeD Scholar and 4th year Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine medical student, Casey Martinez.
Student organizations like Ohio University American Medical Student Association help us engage bright minds and expand our reach. These organizations are filled with future physicians who will become leaders, thinkers, and doers. We must not only look for ways to partner with these student organizations but also continue to encourage and support them along their physician journey.
Each year since 2019, Council and Associates LLC has risen to the occasion to become an event sponsor for our Explosion of a Dream and Ignite Atlanta scholarship events. We asked owner, Lashonda Council-Rogers, Esq., to share the why behind her generous giving and to give a view of what she experiences attending ElevateMeD events as a sponsor.
Health Care Disparities and the Latinx Population (Read Article)
Latinas in Motion Impacting the Sports Industry (Read Article)
Jeff joined ElevateMeD in February 2025 from Columbia, South Carolina bringing infectious passion, proven leadership, and decades of successful nonprofit leadership.
Please join us in welcoming our newest Advisory Board members…
Please join us in welcoming our newest Advisory Board members…
Please join us in welcoming our newest Board Member…
Please join us in welcoming our newest Advisory Board members…
Congratulations are in order for our Advisory Board Members Sophia Ederaine and Johanny Lopez Dominguez! We were honored to celebrate with them this #MatchDay2022, as they both learned about their residency upon graduation this Spring!
I decided to join the Board of Directors for ElevateMeD because it aligns with my core value of inclusion. The literature showed that to provide the best healthcare to our patients, we need to understand their culture, speak their language, among other factors.
Healthcare is my ministry. It is a calling and my inroad to impact social change. I firmly believe that any disparity within our industry serves as a microcosm for injustices that continue to plague society-at-large. I am on a mission to truly transform healthcare and looking to partner with anyone that shares the same mindset.
I chose to pursue a career in anesthesiology because I enjoy moment-to-moment decision making as well as the practical application of physiology and pharmacology. 3% of anesthesiologists are reported to identify as Black/African-American. Of those 3%, the majority are women.
Our 2025 Impact Report reflects a year defined by growth, momentum, and expanded pathways across the journey to becoming a physician. From program expansion to deeper engagement with Scholars and partners, this report highlights how ElevateMeD continues to evolve to meet the needs of future physician leaders.
As you flip through the pages of our 2024 impact report, we hope that you are filled with the hope and encouragement we carry about the future of medicine. Together we can work towards medical workforce which can accurately reflect not only medical leaders, but communities they serve.
As you turn the pages of our 2023 Impact report you will experience the power of the collective supporting, encouraging, and reshaping the future of medicine. We are grateful for all of you who joined the movement in 2023 and made transformation possible!
Mariela Vega’s early experience translating for her parents in the doctor’s office, formed her desire to pursue medicine facing language barriers and impact the community at a greater capacity.