The Future of Bariatric Surgery Scholarship
Bariatric Surgery Source created The Future of Bariatric Surgery Scholarship to:
- Increase awareness of the life-changing and potentially society-changing benefits of weight loss surgery
- Encourage bright, motivated students to enter and influence the direction of the bariatric field
More than one out of every three people in the U.S. are considered obese, which is taking a massive toll on the health and quality of life for people with obesity and on the nation’s healthcare costs. The increasingly popular gastric sleeve, along with several other widely accepted types of bariatric surgery, dramatically improve and often cure many serious health conditions for people with morbid obesity, including diabetes, asthma, cardiac conditions, sleep apnea, and many others. Within 2 years after surgery, weight loss surgery also reduces total healthcare costs by about $11,000 per year, per patient.
To increase awareness and encourage new activity and insight into the field, Bariatric Surgery Source is pleased to offer a bi-annual (January and August) $1,000 college scholarship (totaling $2,000 per year).
Learn more about weight loss surgery and The Future of Bariatric Surgery Scholarship below or click the button to apply.
Instructions: Please read through the instructions on this page and submit your application online using the button below.
Submission Deadline: January 1, 2017 and July 1, 2017
- Scholarship Purpose
- Scholarship Description
- Eligibility Requirements
- Scholarship Guidelines
- Essay Ideas
- Selection of Recipient(s)
- Scholarship Revisions
- Past Scholarship Recipients
- Application
Scholarship Purpose
Bariatric surgery is one of the most important treatments developed over the last 40 years, not only because of the health problems it improves or eliminates, but also because of the number of people it has the potential to help.
One in three (75 million) adults and about 1 in 5 (16 million) adolescents in the United States are considered obese (1). Weight loss surgery has been proven to help numerous life-threatening and debilitating physical and mental health issues that individuals with obesity face, including:
- Arthritis and joint disease
- Asthma
- Cardiovascular disease
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Fertility and pregnancy complications
- Gallbladder disease
- Gout
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Liver disease
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (pcos)
- Pseudotumors
- Quality of life
- Sleep apnea
- Stress urinary incontinence
- Vein disease
Most importantly, patients with morbid obesity (about 100 lbs overweight) who have bariatric surgery are 89% less likely to die over any 5 year period than patients with morbid obesity patients who do not have surgery (2).
As a result of the unparalleled health benefits and the inability of diet and exercise alone to have lasting effects on most people with morbid obesity, weight loss surgery is now recommended by many reputable organizations around the world, including (3):
- American Diabetes Association (ADA)
- American Heart Association (AHA)
- International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- The Obesity Society
In many cases, weight loss surgery is recommended as first-order treatment to tackle diseases like diabetes (4).
Bariatric surgery has also been found to significantly reduce healthcare costs for patients. Within two years following surgery, the average patient incurs $11,000 less per year in healthcare costs than if they had not had the procedure (5).
As result of the positive health benefits and impressive cost savings, weight loss surgery is now covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and all private insurance companies in the U.S. (varies by plan type and location).
Despite the problems it fixes, the recommendations by respected institutions, and the number of people it can help, cultural acceptance and recognition remains low. Only about 1 out of 100 people who meet the bariatric surgery requirements have one of the 6 available procedure types each year (6) (7).
The Future of Bariatric Surgery Scholarship was created to:
- Increase awareness of the life-changing and potentially society-changing benefits of weight loss procedures
- Encourage bright, motivated students to enter and influence the direction of the bariatric field
Scholarship Description
- Scholarships are awarded bi-annually (January & August) in the amount of $1,000 each ($2,000 per year) based on program tuition (award not to exceed balance due for tuition)
- Funds may be used for in or out-of-state schools
- Funds must be used for college or technical programs that are a medically-related degree or certificate
- Funds must only be used for payment of tuition, and does not include payment of fees
- Students must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent)
- Funds must be paid to an institution or corporation, and not to an individual
- Award recipients may reapply each year until they have received $1,000 total
- No more than two recipients will be selected each year
- Tuition check will be made out to and mailed to the school the student is or will be attending
Eligibility Requirements
- Currently majoring in any medically-related degree or attending any medically-related certification program.
- Students of any age – scholarships are not restricted to graduating high school seniors, high-school graduates, undergraduates, or graduate students.
- Attending (or accepted by) school full-time (as defined by the educational institution) at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university, or vocational-technical school located in the U.S.
Scholarship Guidelines
Using our online form, all interested students must:
- Complete an online application
- Upload a current, complete official transcript of grades (grade reports are not acceptable. Official transcripts must display student name, school name, degree program, grade and credit hours earned for each course, and term in which each course was taken.)
- Upload a minimum 2,000-word essay describing how the field of bariatric surgery will evolve over the next 5 years
- Upload two (2) letters of recommendation
Essay Ideas
The minimum 2,000-word essay should focus on how advancements in technology and techniques will affect the field of bariatrics over the next five years.
IMPORTANT: At least 75% of the essay must focus on the future of bariatrics (no more than 25% can focus on the past or current state of the field)
Ideas discussed may include:
- The 3 potential paths of bariatric surgery acceptance and prevalence over the next 5 years (less prevalent, same, more prevalent) and a discussion of the factors that will bring about each.
- Influence of the following on bariatrics:
- Endorsements by trusted medical and other associations/organizations
- Non-bariatric medical professionals (e.g., their acceptance of bariatric surgery as a recommendable option)
- Marketing by various practices, OEMs, and others
- Effectiveness, availability, and promotion of prospective patient education
- Public perceptions about weight loss surgery
- Public perceptions about obesity
- Change in number of people who qualify
- Introduction of or improvements in types of weight loss surgery, techniques, technology, or medication
- Increase or decrease in prevalence or supporting research for existing procedures, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, Lap-Band, duodenal switch, gastric balloon, AspireAssist, or experimental procedures.
- Need for additional research (e.g., where focus is needed and why)
- Change in number of practicing bariatric surgeons (e.g., supply and demand of bariatric surgeons, financial motivation for medical students to choose bariatrics, etc.)
- Insurance coverage, cost, and financing
Note that these points are only ideas to begin your thought process. The list is not all inclusive, and none of the items are required to be included in your essay.
Selection of Recipient(s)
Scholarship finalists are selected on the basis of eligibility, academic record, and essay content. Selection of finalists is made by The Future of Bariatric Surgery Scholarship Selection Committee. The Selection Committee is comprised of at least three (3) independent committee members.
When assessing essays, the Selection Committee will use the “Argument” (1st of 3) Common Core Writing Rubric found here. Assuming all other minimum eligibility criteria ar met, the essay(s) with the most insightful and well-supported predictions about the future of bariatric surgery will be selected as the winner(s). If the committee determines that essay content has been plagiarized or that ideas presented are not sufficiently unique or insightful, or if the essay requirements above are not followed, the application will be disqualified.
Applicants will be notified whether or not they are recipients. Not all applicants will be selected as finalists; not all finalists will be selected as recipients. Finalists may be interviewed prior to a recipient being chosen, and no more than two recipients will be chosen.
Scholarship Revisions
Bariatric Surgery Source reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of this scholarship program and to make changes at any time, including termination of the program.
Past Scholarship Recipients
Bariatric Surgery: The Greatest Potential for Alleviating Suffering, by Grace Faith Chao – Harvard University – Boston, MA
