Established in 2009, the American Osteopathic Foundation’s (AOF) International Medical Outreach Travel Grant provides funding to Osteopathic medical students who plan to travel internationally to an underserved, underdeveloped or disaster-stricken area on an international humanitarian medical outreach trip. 

Purpose

The goal of this grant is to inspire and empower  Osteopathic students and residents to participate in humanitarian medical outreach trips. 

Grant

Thanks to a fund established by the Rossnick Family in honor of Joni B. Rossnick, the AOF anticipates up to 40 grants of up to $1,500 each will be distributed to Osteopathic medical students who are traveling on a COM/SOM-approved medical outreach trip through March 31, 2026 An additional fund, established by DOCARE International, will provide up to 6 grants of up to $1,500 each to Osteopathic medical students or residents who are traveling on a DOCARE medical outreach trip i occurring through March 31, 2026. 

The application portal will open February 3, 2025 and close September 30, 2025.

Eligibility

• To qualify for a Rossnick Fund grant, applicants must be an Osteopathic medical student in good standing at a COCA-Accredited College/School of Osteopathic Medicine (COM/SOM), who has been selected by a licensed entity to participate in an international medical outreach trip to share knowledge and provide Osteopathic medical relief. ALL outreach trips must be overseen by an onsite DO. 
   
• To qualify for a DOCARE Fund grant, applicants must be an Osteopathic medical student or resident physician approved to participate on a DOCARE medical outreach trip to share knowledge and provide Osteopathic medical relief. ALL outreach trips must be overseen by an onsite DO.
   
• Examples of medical relief may include providing Osteopathic medical services; setting up or expanding healthcare facilities; educating local healthcare workers on Osteopathic medicine best practices; and building awareness and promoting Osteopathic principles and practice to the people receiving medical care.

Application Requirements

• Completed online application – applicants may apply directly.
• One (1) letter, on organizational letterhead, from the practicing DO overseeing the trip, confirming that the applicant has been invited to participate, is attending for the benefit of the community, and will be providing direct medical services.
• AOA membership required to apply. (Complimentary AOA student membership here.)
• Students only: one (1) letter from COM/SOM representative confirming: the student is in good academic standing, participation in the trip has been approved by the COM/SOM; participation in the trip is consistent with the applicant’s training; and this trip is not already fully funded by the COM/SOM (if partially funded through the institution, list the approximate amount of support provided).
• Detailed budget detailing total estimated travel and lodging costs for the applicant’s trip and a list of potential and confirmed funding sources (including any financial support received from applicant’s institution). Please do not include any expenses for which the applicant is not responsible. AOF funds may only be used for travel and lodging costs.
• Current curriculum vitae or resume (include all current memberships, Osteopathic or other)

General Information & Conditions

• Requests must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the anticipated travel date. Applications are reviewed and awarded on a monthly basis until available funds have been expended. Travel stipends are distributed in two installments: $1,000 upon submission of required paperwork, and $500 paid upon submission of a post-trip report within 30 days of return. Grantees who do not submit a report within 30 days will forfeit the remaining balance of their grant, and those funds will be reallocated to another student who wishes to travel internationally.
• By submitting a travel grant request, applicants understand and accept the risk of international travel. Applicants are encouraged to check the U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory page for information on your destination. Note: the AOF does not fund applications to destinations with a Travel Advisory Level of 4 (Do Not Travel). 
• Funds must be used to cover reasonable expenses of the individual participating in the medical outreach trip and may not be used for food, supplies, or housing for the people in the affected area.
• The recipient must not be financially compensated in any way for participating in the medical outreach trip.
• The recipient is responsible for obtaining any licenses or approvals necessary to perform medical services in the desired location.
• The recipient must secure and provide proof of medical and evacuation insurance prior to departure.
• If the recipient is not able to participate in or complete the trip specified on the application, funds must be returned to the AOF.
• Travel grant recipients are required to submit a post-trip report, including a personal story about the experience, and high-resolution photographs within 30 days of trip completion. Failure to provide a post-trip report will prevent the recipient from receiving future awards from the AOF and forfeiture of the grant balance ($500)
• Information about the recipient and the trip may be published on the AOF’s website, social media, publications, annual reports, press releases, and other news vehicles.
• The AOF reserves the right to limit the number of grants destination/country and may reject one or more applications for a single initiative. Applicants who are not selected may resubmit a new request for a trip occurring on a different date if funding is available.

Click here to access the application portal.