PRECIOUS award winner establishes medical scholarship to honour her father
Funke Abimbola, a multi award winning lawyer and diversity campaigner, has established a medical scholarship to honour her father, Dr. Frank Olufemi Akindolie. Funke won the 2015 PRECIOUS award for Outstanding Woman in Professional Services.The Akindolie Medical Scholarship(which is personally funded by Funke) will comprise a financial bursary of up to £1,500 and will also include structured mentoring to a medical student who is currently studying medicine at a UK medical school. The scholarship will be awarded to one gifted medical student annually.
My father was a gifted, German trained doctor who built up a successful medical practice in Nigeria. He tragically died of liver cancer almost four years ago. Whilst visiting my family in Nigeria recently, I realized that I wanted toestablish something permanent in my father’s name, specifically to encourage future doctors in the UK. Although I chose to become a lawyer,I come from a family of doctors. Morale amongst junior hospital doctors in the UK is at an all-time low. By doing this, I hope to encourage and support future doctors to remain committed to their medical careers despite the challenges they face.
To qualify, candidates will need to be from an African or Afro-Caribbean background with a strong academic record and a demonstrable commitment to giving back to society outside their medical studies. Priority will be given to students at medical school in London or Newcastle,“both being locations where my younger siblings attended medical school”, explains Funke.
Applications for the 2016/2017 scholarship are now open. To apply candidates can send their CV, a detailed covering letter and a 300 word statement explaining why they consider themselves the best candidate
for the scholarship to AkindolieScholarship@gmail.com
.
Applications close on 31st August.
The scholarship will be awarded by the end of September.
