TCOM’s student Michael Hope chosen to receive the TMA Diversity in Medicine Scholarship

[Link]Getting into medicine was personal for Michael Hope. When a family member passed away, he wanted to pay tribute to them, and now he's getting some much-needed help for his journey. The Texas Medical Association selected the first-year student at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth as one of the recipients of the Diversity in Medicine Scholarship. Hope was celebrated along with 15 other students from across the state at the TMA's scholarship award ceremony in San Antonio.

"When I first heard I was a recipient of one of the sixteen awards, I didn't quite believe it at first," Hope said. "I have been awarded scholarships in the past, but never an amount as substantial as this scholarship from TMA. Receiving this scholarship from TMA is truly amazing, and I am blessed to have been selected. It will be beneficial for me going forward because it gives me the flexibility to work fewer hours at my job and focus more on the med school curriculum, volunteering and continuing to learn alongside my awesome medical school peers."

Hope will be a first-generation physician in his family, but it was a family member who inspired him to get into medicine. In 2016, his cousin was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which led Hope to choose to study neuroscience at Baylor.

After graduating in 2020, he worked multiple jobs to help pay off his undergraduate student loans. One of those jobs was at UNTHSC in the Institute for Translational Research with the Data Core team led by Chris Conger.

"Michael was one of my favorite team members," said Chris Conger, director of information technology with the ITR. "He worked multiple jobs to put himself through school. He was always finding different ways to bring even more value to his business analyst position. He also had a personality that got along with everyone. Not surprised at all by anything he accomplishes."

In August of 2021, Hope began the online Medical Sciences program with UNTHSC's College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences while continuing to work with the ITR.

After graduating from the CBTS in 2022, he obtained his certification as a personal trainer and nutritionist but never strayed from his ultimate goal of making it into medical school. After being on the waitlist at two schools, Hope retook the MCAT, dramatically improved his scores and was accepted at TCOM in the fall of 2023.

[Link]A total of 16 students from Texas medical schools received the $10,000 scholarship from the Texas Medical Association. Physicians selected the students, one from each medical school in Texas, who were chosen for their academic achievement, commitment to community service and desire to care for Texas' increasingly diverse population.

TMA created the Diversity in Medicine Scholarship (formerly TMA Minority Scholarship) in 1998 to help diversify the physician workforce to meet the health care needs of Texans.

"Diversity in medicine as a whole and having representation from a variety of races, cultures and ethnicities is a highly valuable attribute for patients," Hope said. "In addition, minorities who are interested in medicine can see firsthand that those opportunities exist for them as well. Different groups have different life experiences that they undergo, as well as values that they cherish. Therefore, some patients will seek out physicians they feel are more relatable and/or trustworthy. Consequently, they may be more comfortable and willing to divulge pertinent information which helps doctors provide more effective and personalized care."

Recipients are known as the "Bayardo Scholars" in recognition of the majority support provided by the TMA Foundation Trust Fund of Roberto J. Bayardo, MD, and the late Agniela (Annie) M. Bayardo of Houston. This year's scholarships also are supported by generous gifts from the Patrick Y. Leung, MD, Endowment and annual gifts from H-E-B; Baldemar Covarrubias, MD; county medical societies; and gifts from physicians and their families.

Sadly, Hope's cousin passed away, but as his medical journey begins, he has another way of looking to honor his memory with the specialty he is considering.

"Neurology is high on the list to honor my cousin who ultimately passed away from his glioma," Hope said. "He is one of the main reasons I started this career path and have continued to pursue medicine."

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