CAFP Foundation ” Strengthening the Future of Family Physicians” Tuition Scholarship

Scholarship Description and Purpose

The Colorado Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP) Foundation provides scholarships of $25,000 to Colorado medical students committed to careers as Family Physicians. More Family Physicians are needed to care for Colorado patients, and the CAFP Foundation is dedicated to lowering financial barriers to entering the specialty. Family Physicians meet the essential needs of communities and provide high quality, continuous, and comprehensive care for individuals and families across the lifespan. 

All applications are reviewed by the Scholarship Committee (Committee), and notifications to scholarship recipients and disbursements will be made in August.

Eligibility
  • Students must be attending allopathic or osteopathic medical school within the state of Colorado.
  • Students must be in their 3rd or 4th year of medical school to receive a scholarship.
  • Students must apply through the online form linked below by July 31, 2026.
  • Recipients will have a demonstrated interest in Family Medicine and intend to complete residency in Family Medicine. Recipients commit to returning to Colorado to practice Family Medicine for at least three (3) years.
  • A Selection Committee (Committee) of the CAFP Foundation Board of Trustees (Trustees) will consider each application on its own merits and will grant a scholarship at their discretion.
  • Students are eligible to receive one CAFP tuition scholarship. 
Scholarship Terms and Requirements
  • In considering an application, reviewers will be guided by the applicant’s demonstrated interest in the specialty of family medicine with consideration given to financial need.
  • Applicants will be judged on their commitment to family medicine, academic performance including clinical excellence, leadership/service, communication skills, and expressed interest in practicing in Colorado. 
  • Upon approval of a scholarship, the recipient will be required to:
    • Sign a Scholarship Agreement for the total amount of the scholarship.
    • Submit a letter to the CAFP Foundation from their medical school registrar verifying enrollment, anticipated date of graduation and good academic standing.
  • Recipients will receive a lump sum award of $25,000 upon selection.
  • Additional funds will be provided to support the recipient’s travel and attendance at events with the opportunity to meet and engage with practicing family physicians. Recipients must attend at least one family medicine event, to include the CAFP Foundation Annual Summit held in Colorado and/or American Academy of Family Physician’s annual FUTURE Conference in Kansas City.
  • Recipients will be required to provide certification of enrollment at the Medical School or Family Medicine Residency Program on an annual basis. Upon completion of residency, and annually for three years, recipients must provide written verification of employment as a Family Physician within the State of Colorado.
    • Recipients are not required to complete residency in Colorado.
  • Failure to complete a Family Medicine residency, completion of a residency in another specialty, or failure to practice Family Medicine in Colorado for a minimum of three (3) years post-residency will lead to conversion of the scholarship to a loan. Any converted loan amount will be prorated based on up to three years of practice as a family physician in Colorado, and loan repayment may be deferred until residency training is completed.
    • In the event of loan conversion, repayment is due in five equal annual installments plus accrued interest at an initial rate of 6% per annum. If the recipient fails to commence repayment when due, the interest rate will increase by 1% each year until the payment is received in full. However, the Trustees shall have authority to extend the period during which the repayment of any loan is to be made or to adjust the principal repayments due thereon, upon their sole determination that the financial circumstances of the recipient of such loan warrant the same due to any mental or physical disability.
    • Additional training such as an ACGME accredited fellowship or residency-sponsored fellowship shall delay the loan repayment start date.
Notification of Applicants
  • Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision via email and formal award letter. CAFP Foundation staff will coordinate delivery of scholarship funds directly with the awardee’s medical school.
Application Checklist

Applicants will be asked to submit:

  • Basic contact and medical school information
  • Responses to short-answer questions about their interest in family medicine and commitment to Colorado
  • Information about leadership, service, and/or community involvement
  • Information about financial need
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation
  • Current CV or resume
  • Medical school academic transcript
  • Optional demographic information, which is for the purpose of program evaluation and will not be used in the evaluation of applications.
  • Agreements & acknowledgments
Deadline to Apply

This year’s application deadline is July 31, 2026. Two scholarships are available this year.

Apply Now

Please direct questions to CAFP EVP/CEO, Emily Bishop at emily@coloradoafp.org.