Conference Funding for Trainees
In addition to training opportunities in communities beyond the traditional academic health sciences centre, the Office of Distributed Education encourages undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees to develop their interests in rural medicine through participation at conferences focused on rural medicine and research.
The Distributed Education Program Conference Funding Policy for Trainees is a funding mechanism to assist trainees present scholarly work during their undergraduate or postgraduate training.
To be considered for funding, applicants must meet all the following requirements:
- Participated in a research project in collaboration with the Office of Distributed Education
- Present the work at the conference in a poster, oral, workshop or comparable format; conference attendance in a non-presenting capacity will not be funded
- Be listed as an author on the project
- Be registered as a full-time trainee in either the Undergraduate or Postgraduate Medical program at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
Funding maximums are as follows:
- Funding will not exceed $1500 per year per student
- For projects with multiple students, funding will not exceed a $3000 per year per project
Please note that this is not intended to be the sole funding source. It is expected that trainees will actively search out additional funding sources and share the conference costs.
Application Process
Upon receipt of the online application form, the Assistant Dean, Rural & Regional Community Engagement will adjudicate applications. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their request for funding. Distributed Education takes no responsibility if registration or conference deadlines are breached due to the lack of adjudication of application on Distributed Education’s part.
Apply for Funding
Funding Agreement
Trainees can apply to the Distributed Education program funding to support their expenses for accommodations, travel, conference registration or meals.
Trainees who receive funding support from the Distributed Education program must agree to the following:
- While attending the event, trainees will abide by Western University Code of Conduct. Trainees will be viewed as ambassadors for Western and are expected to adhere to professional conduct.
- Presentations must be approved by the Distributed Education program and must be professional in appearance. Distributed Education will assist trainees with poster or presentation production. Presentations must meet branding guidelines of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. Distributed Education must approve the presentation.
- Trainees must obtain permission from the Associate Dean, Admissions and Student Affairs or PGE Program Director to attend the event and notify teachers and supervisors of their absence.
- Trainees are responsible for registration and travel arrangements.
- Travel expense forms will be provided to conference participants which must be submitted with original receipts following the event, to the Distributed Education office.
- Finance will process a cheque to the trainee in about 4 weeks.
- Expense reports must be completed and submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the presentation.
The Distributed Education program reserves the right to publicize award winners’ names, photos and reports on the website or in publications pertaining to the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
