The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) provides several funding opportunities for family medicine residents and medical students in Minnesota.
Foundation Grants for Medical Students
Experience how family physicians influence, nurture, care for and empower patients in their communities of practice and learn first-hand what it means to be a family physician and an emerging student leader.
All MAFP medical student members are invited to apply for an Innovation Grant and/or David Mersy, MD, Summer Externship. Both give students the opportunity to develop skills in leadership, practice-based research and clinical care. Grants are funded by the MAFP Foundation.
Innovation Grant for Medical Students
Students may apply for an Innovation Grant as an individual or with a team. Projects should focus on improving patient care and outcomes and be important to family physicians. One Student Innovation Grant is awarded each grant cycle.
Grant Categories
- Family medicine research
- Clinical innovations improving patient care
- Clinic-community partnerships/outreach
- Health care policy/family medicine advocacy
Grant Cycle
The MAFP Foundation reviews grant applications every April and October and selects recipients.
Application Deadlines
April 1 and October 1 (annually)
Grant Funding
Up to $2,000
Application Checklist
- Applicants must be members of the AAFP/MAFP. Membership is FREE.
- Not sure if you’re a member? Contact us.
- Not a member? Apply online.
- Applicants must work with a family physician mentor. Mentors must also be members of AAFP/MAFP. Need assistance finding a mentor? Contact the MAFP.
- Your project must fall under one of the grant categories identified above.
- Projects must be based in Minnesota.
- Foundation grants do not provide funding for travel to conferences, room and board for the grant recipient or direct payments for prescription medication.
Apply for a Grant
- Download the Student Innovation Grant Application (PowerPoint slide), complete it and email it to office@mafp.org. (See sample grant application.)
- Have your family physician mentor write a letter of support and email it to office@mafp.org.
Grant Process
- Applicants are notified of funding status by email within three weeks of the application deadline.
- Grants are considered taxable income.
- Grantees have up to 12 months to complete their project AND are required to share project findings at the MAFP Innovation & Research Forum, held annually on the first or second Saturday in March.
David Mersy, MD, Summer Externship for Medical Students
Medical students with a passion for under-resourced communities (urban or rural) may apply for a summer externship that allows the student(s) to explore the specialty of family medicine. Two David Mersy, MD, Summer Externships are awarded each year.
Externship Focus
Projects may be observational, clinic-/community-based or research-oriented and should focus on improving patient care.
Application Deadline
April 1 (annually)
Application Checklist
- Applicants must be members of the AAFP/MAFP. Membership is FREE.
- Not sure if you’re a member? Contact us.
- Not a member? Apply online.
- Applicants must work with a family physician mentor from a rural or urban clinic. Mentors must also be members of AAFP/MAFP. Need assistance finding a mentor? Contact the MAFP.
- Projects must be based in Minnesota.
Apply for the Externship
- Develop a four-, six- or eight-week onsite experience, which may include clinical observation, patient care/safety, family medicine research and/or a clinic-community partnership. Projects must take place in Minnesota.
- Download the Externship Application (PowerPoint slide), complete it and email it to office@mafp.org.
- Budgets should include project expenses and reasonable personnel expenses. We do not fund travel to conferences.
- Have your family physician mentor write a letter of support and email it to office@mafp.org.
Externship Process
- Applicants are notified of funding status by email within three weeks of the application deadline.
- Grants are considered taxable income.
- Grantees have up to 12 months to complete their project AND are required to share project findings at the MAFP Innovation & Research Forum, held annually on the first or second Saturday in March.
Foundation Grants for Family Medicine Residents
Develop your talents as a family physician by combining your passion for patient care with research and innovation.
All MAFP resident members are invited to apply for an Innovation Grant or Research Grant to support your study of a topic important to patients and family physicians alike. Both give family medicine residents the opportunity to develop skills in leadership, practice-based research and clinical care. Grants are funded by the MAFP Foundation. Residents may apply for either grant as an individual or with a team. Projects should focus on improving patient care and outcomes and be important to family physicians.Grant Categories
- Family medicine research
- Clinical innovations improving patient care
- Clinic-community partnerships/outreach
- Health care policy/family medicine advocacy
Grant Cycle
The MAFP Foundation reviews grant applications every April and October and selects recipients.
Application Deadlines
April 1 and October 1 (annually)
Grant Funding
- Innovation Grants (one awarded per cycle): Up to $2,000
- Research Grants (one awarded per cycle): $3,000, plus a $500 stipend for family physician mentor or the host community/clinic
Application Checklist
- Applicants must be family medicine residents in Minnesota AND members of the AAFP/MAFP. Membership is FREE.
- Not sure if you’re a member? Check with your residency program.
- Not a member? Apply online.
- Applicants must work with a family physician mentor. Mentors must also be members of AAFP/MAFP. Need assistance finding a mentor? Contact the MAFP.
- Your project must fall under one of the grant categories identified above.
- Projects must be based in Minnesota.
- Foundation grants do not provide funding for travel to conferences, room and board for the grant recipient or direct payments for prescription medication.
Apply for an Innovation Grant
- Download the Resident Innovation Grant Application (PowerPoint slide), complete it and email it to office@mafp.org. (See sample Innovation Grant application.)
- Have your family physician mentor write a letter of support and email it to office@mafp.org.
Apply for a Research Grant
- Use this sample Resident Research Grant application to help you prepare your own request for funding. If you are new to research grant writing, this sample will guide you in the process.
- Download the Resident Research Grant Application (PowerPoint slide), complete it and email it to office@mafp.org.
- Have your family physician mentor write a letter of support and email it to office@mafp.org.
Grant Process
- Applicants are notified of funding status by email within two weeks of the application deadline.
- Funding is provided at the start of your project. Grants are considered taxable income.
- Innovation Grant recipients have up to 12 months to complete their project. Research Grant recipients have up to 24 months to complete their project.
- Grantees are required to share project findings at the MAFP Innovation & Research Forum, held annually on the first or second Saturday in March.
- For Research Grants, mentors/host sites are eligible for a $500 stipend after your presentation at the MAFP Innovation & Research Forum.
Financial Support to Attend the Family Medicine Advocacy Summit
The Family Medicine Advocacy Summit (FMAS) is an annual opportunity for American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) members to gather in the Nation’s Capital for advocacy training on family medicine’s legislative priority areas and directly meet with lawmakers to be a voice for family medicine.
The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) has funding to reimburse up to $1,800 for attending FMAS (registration, travel, lodging and meals) for eight medical students or family medicine residents—one from each of Minnesota’s Congressional districts.
Application
Applications for 2025 financial support will open in fall 2024.
Financial Support to Attend FUTURE
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) FUTURE conference (formerly National Conference for Family Medicine) brings together medical students and residents from across the nation with family medicine leaders, residency programs and potential employers for three days of family medicine exploration + celebration.
The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) Foundation has funding to reimburse up to $800 for attending FUTURE (registration, travel, lodging and meals) for medical students.Details and application for 2025 financial support will open in spring 2025.
