ARRS/Leonard Berlin Scholarship in Medical Professionalism

Stephen Brown, MD 2008 ARRS/Berlin Scholar and Ella Kazerooni, MD.

The Leonard Berlin Scholarship in Medical Professionalism is intended to support study and research related to medical ethics, medico-legal principles, patient accountability, sensitivity to patient diversity and/or other topics encompassing medical professionalism.

The scholarship may be used for study at or outside the scholar’s parent institution, and is open to radiologists at all stages of their careers.

The ARRS Research Committee may select up to one scholar annually. Scholars may choose either a one-year program requiring a minimum 50 percent time commitment to be funded at $100,000, or a two-year program requiring a minimum 25 percent time commitment to be funded at $50,000 each year. Up to $20,000 of the funds may be used in a way that will contribute to the scholar’s development and professional advancement, such as tuition and course materials, with the remainder to be used towards salary support. The money may not be spent for the purchase of equipment, or imaging studies. Indirect costs may not be paid from this fund.

The scholarship is funded through The Roentgen Fund of the ARRS and made possible in part by support from Dr. Leonard Berlin. The scholarship funds will be paid to the Scholar’s Department. Payments will be made semi-annually on July 1 and January 1 for one-year scholarships, and annually on July 1 for two-year scholarships.

General Qualifications

1. Earned MD or DO from an accredited institution, or equivalent
2. Completion of a radiology residency, and fellowship training where appropriate, or the equivalent.
3. Certification by the American Board of Radiology or equivalent.
4. The candidate must be a member of the ARRS at the time the application is submitted and for the duration of the award.

Selection Criteria

Selection of the ARRS scholar will be based on:

1. The competence and promise of the candidate in research, education or administration as it relates to medical professionalism,
2. Evidence of an environment that is conducive to professional development, and
3. Personal qualities of the candidate that indicate that the candidate has the interest and potential to be a leader in the area of medical professionalism.

Nomination Procedure

All candidates will submit the required documents as e-mail attachments to awards@arrs.org. The deadline for receipt of applications is November 18, 2008. Selected applicants will be invited to meet with the ARRS Research Committee and ARRS officers to discuss their application. The candidates will be notified of funding shortly after the interview date. The new scholar will be announced at the annual meeting of the ARRS, and is expected to be present for the announcement at the Scholars and Awards session.

Submission Procedure

Applicants must submit the following materials. The entire application (not counting the CV) should not exceed 20 pages.

1. A cover letter from the applicant stating his or her address, phone and fax numbers and e-mail address, for use by the ARRS administrative office
2. A curriculum vitae including details of any other current or pending salary support
3. A three-page summary of the applicant's qualifications, goals and purpose of study
4. A description of course-work that will be undertaken
5. A listing of mentors, as appropriate to the proposal, and their contributions to the proposal
6. A letter of nomination from the Department Chair, or when applicable, the Radiology Group Director, and two additional letters of recommendation
7. An estimated budget covering the scholar's program over the one- or two-year period. A simple balance sheet should include estimated yearly income from all sources including the budget of the institution or outside agencies and estimated expenditures for salary, travel and other expenses.

Reporting

1. Interim Report: Scholars who choose the two-year option will be required to provide an interim report in writing to the ARRS Research Committee and verbally at the ARRS Annual Meeting in the year following the announcement of the award. The report will update the society on the scholar's progress in the planned course of study. This report may either be included in the Scholars and Awards session, or incorporated as part of an instructional course or similar activity, as pertinent to each Scholar.
2. Final Report: All scholars will be required to participate as an ARRS Annual Meeting instructional course faculty member, providing a course on medical professionalism, author an article for publication in the American Journal of Roentgenology, and/or provide a similar product or service, to be mutually agreed upon by the scholar and the ARRS Research Committee at the end of the scholarship period, with the content of designed to educate others in medical professionalism.
3. Formal acknowledgment for publications: “American Roentgen Ray Society/Leonard Berlin Medical Professionalism Scholar” should be added to any publications that are a direct result of the scholarship proposal or prepared during the course of the scholarship. A reprint of any publications of work in which the scholar is involved should be sent to the Roentgen Fund.

Termination of Scholarship

Circumstances may arise in which the institution or the scholar may wish to bring the grant to an end before the completion of the study. This may be arranged at any time by agreement between the scholar, and the ARRS. Termination will be made with the understanding that all unexpended funds will be returned to the ARRS and that all unpaid balances of the scholarship will be canceled.

The ARRS/Leonard Berlin Scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Leonard Berlin of Rush North Shore Medical Center in Skokie, IL. Dr. Berlin is a recognized leader in various aspects of medical professionalism as they affect the field of radiology.

For additional information please email us at awards@arrs.org.