MD-MPH Public Health Conference Award 
2024-2025

The Department of Public Health Sciences would like to offer MD/MPH students the opportunity to receive funding to present at a public health conference. Students must have an abstract accepted at the conference they're attending and must be the first author. 

1. Please note that this award is exclusive to students who have NOT previously received an award from the Department of Public Health Sciences. Additionally, this award is limited to one per student per academic year. 

2. Awards will be up to $500 depending on funding availability. 
 
3. Duplicate funds from Medical Education scholarships (i.e. the John K. Robinson Grant) cannot be used for the same conference and abstract as the MD/MPH Public Health Conference Award.
 
4. Note: You must have a UM faculty member or researcher affiliated with UM involved in your project, or the award funds will count against your financial aid. Contact Capstone Coordinator via email at Capstonepublichealth@med.miami.edu with any questions. 
 
5. If you receive an award, you will be reimbursed up to the award amount for conference expenses. 
 
IMPORTANT: 
  • The student is financially responsible for the remainder of the expenses that go beyond the conference award. 
  • The University of Miami does not permit lodging at AirBnB or VRBO. You will not be reimbursed for these types of accommodations.
Eligibility for Conference Funding
  1. Applicant must have proof that their research has been accepted into the conference (i.e.submission of an abstract or proposal). 
  2. Applicant must be presenting at the conference.
  3. Applicant must be in good academic standing and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above.
  4. Applicant must be an MD/MPH currently enrolled in a DPHS graduate course or an alumni who graduated within the last 6 months. Alumni must be presenting their Capstone work.  
  5. In the case of dual authorship of the accepted paper or poster, only one author may receive this award from DPHS. 
Terms of the Award

If you are a recipient of a travel scholarship award, you will be required to provide documentation of attendance and expenses incurred related to the conference/meeting (e.g. conference/meeting agenda, original receipts) in order to receive the travel support. The travel scholarship will come in the form of a reimbursement to the student upon the student's return from the conference/meeting and only after the student has submitted all required documentation needed for reimbursement.

Examples of qualifying expenses include conference/meeting registration fees, transportation expenses, lodging expenses, meal expenses, and/or poster printing costs. The Graduate School will determine whether or not an expense qualifies for reimbursement. Please note some of the following restrictions:

 

  • Use of a personal automobile for travel is subject to the University's standard mileage allowance (mileage log must be provided).
  • Nightly hotel rate may not exceed $350. Per diem rates enforced by the University must be adhered to. Click here for the domestic per diem rates and click here for the international per diem rates.
  • Alcohol purchases and gifts are not reimbursable.
  • Itemized receipts are required. 
  • The student will be reimbursed for an amount of up to $500. If the travel expenses equate to less than $500 the student will be reimbursed the lesser amount.
 
Financial Aid Policy

 Reimbursement to students who present at a conference or meeting will be considered financial aid UNLESS the travel:
  1. Directly supports a faculty project, research, or scholarship program; (the UM faculty member has to sign off confirming this is their research).
  2. Directly relates to the student's employment status at the university; or
  3. Is connected to activities of a University of Miami-recognized student club or organization

 

Click here to review the complete financial aid policy and how it may apply to you.

Airbnb Lodging Policy

Undergraduate students are not authorized to reserve Airbnb lodging. Graduate students may request an exemption through the office of Risk Management. The office of Risk Management would like to understand the logistics around students travel and the benefit of booking through the Airbnb platform vs a hotel. Students must provide a link to the Airbnb accommodation and provide a short itinerary of their trip.

Current Guidelines for Airbnb Lodging:
  1. Graduate students must request approval prior to booking travel.
  2. Students must book entire residence or facility with separate locked entrance, no room rentals within a dwelling.
  3. Students must select bookings with 4 star rating and above; refer to super host status.
  4. One room per traveler.
  5. Student must confirm with the landlord that fire/smoke/carbon monoxide detection and alarming is in operation within the residence. 

** In order for reimbursements to be processed students must provide  all approvals received from the office of Risk Management, along with all itemized receipts and any documents relevant to their conference funding.
Instructions
 
1. Complete ALL of the questions in this application and please adhere to the specific word/character limit. 

2. Deadline is rolling.  

Note: To avoid any delays in reimbursements, you must notify us immediately of any changes to your mailing address.
  
You have the option to save and continue this survey later. If you chose to do so, please make sure to use the same computer and internet browser or else your answers will not be saved. 
 

If you have any questions, please email the MD/MPH Capstone Coordinator at Capstonepublichealth@med.miami.edu.

Thank you. We look forward to reviewing your application!

Graduate Programs in Public Health Sciences
 
***We recommend you also keep your answers in a Word document for your files and future reference.***