The Ray Charles Foundation Scholars Fund in Neurosurgery

The Cedars-Sinai Department of Neurosurgery is committed to comprehensive, technologically advanced and clinically effective diagnosis and treatment of adult and pediatric neurological disorders. Along with a strong commitment to providing a wide array of educational programs, the department is proud to announce The Ray Charles Foundation Scholars Fund in Neurosurgery funded by the Ray Charles Foundation.

The Ray Charles Foundation Scholars Fund in Neurosurgery provides a unique opportunity for one individual to spend a full year at the world-class Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, gaining valuable hands-on experience in neurosciences and learning directly from a team of neuroscience innovators at one of our research laboratories.

This program aims to promote and enhance diversity in neurosciences by emphasizing student participation from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Available areas of research include nanomedicine, Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment, tumor immunology, blood-brain barrier and drug delivery, and gene therapy and discovery.

Open to undergraduate, graduate, MD and PhD students with an interest in neuroscience, The Ray Charles Foundation Scholars Fund in Neurosurgery will:

• Allow medical students to actively participate in clinical research and get a rare insider's view of cutting-edge neurological research in our laboratories.
• Provide students with mentorship opportunities from an impressive roster of neuroscience researchers, including Keith L. Black, MD, neurosurgeon and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai.
• Help students develop key relationships with fellow medical students, scientists and healthcare providers, which will contribute to their career development and professional success.
• Give students the chance to submit their own research findings to national meetings and present if accepted.

As a nonprofit academic health organization, Cedars-Sinai is dedicated to ensuring that the future of healthcare is in good hands. The Ray Charles Foundation Scholars Fund in Neurosurgery was established in an effort to minimize racial and economic disparities in neuroscience research. The program recognizes Cedars-Sinai's ongoing commitment to building and sustaining excellence in its diverse academic and medical community by inviting students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to apply for a medical academic scholarship.

The Ray Charles Foundation Scholars Fund in Neurosurgery provides a salary dependent upon the student's level of education, skills and research experience as well as funding to support housing. In addition to those attending an HBCU, students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must be:

• At least 18 years of age.
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States. 
•  An undergraduate (sophomore or above), graduate or medical student with an interest in furthering their education in the field of neuroscience. The Ray Charles Foundation strongly encourages students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities HBCU, who meet the application requirements, to apply.
• Able to conduct research in a laboratory directed by Keith L. Black, MD, during the agreed upon time. Students must be able to provide their own travel to and from Los Angeles and their own living accommodations during the research program period.  
• Previous awardees are eligible to apply for a subsequent year.

Have questions or need help? For more information about The Ray Charles Foundation Scholars Fund in Neurosurgery, contact us at raycharlesfoundationscholar@cshs.org.