The MMA Foundation honors Frank Indihar MD’s legacy by offering $1,500 advocacy scholarships to equip and empower students studying in Minnesota medical schools to be part of the next generation of advocacy leaders and supporting their work to drive meaningful policy and structural changes that produce equity and justice.
The funding for this advocacy grant fund is made possible through a gift from the Frank Indihar, MD Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation.
Overview of the Frank Indihar MD Advocacy Grants
- Maximum scholarship award per student: $1,500.
- Maximum available to distribute annually: $3,000.
- Eligible expenses: Recipients may use the scholarship to cover costs associated with travel, conference registration, and reasonable research expenses including training costs to obtain foundational skills, tools, and knowledge.
- Restrictions: scholarship grants may not be used to fund lobbying activities. A student may receive Frank Indihar Fund funding once.
Eligibility
Medical students are eligible for this scholarship if:
- They are enrolled full-time in any Minnesota medical school.
- They have not previously received a Frank Indihar Fund scholarship.
Award Selection Preference: Funding preference will be given to students who are under-represented in medicine as well as to students whose application and letters of recommendation show the applicant has a demonstrated interest in health equity and health advocacy.
Application Requirements: Applicants will use the MMA Foundation’s general scholarship fund application form which requires a personal statement and letter of support from a current faculty/advisor.
The application is available for download here.
For clarification on award terms and requirements, contact the MMA Foundation.
Deadline: Scholarships from the Frank Indihar, MD Fund of the St. Paul Foundation are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The MMA Foundation reserves the right to not award any grants during an academic year.
Frank Indihar, MD
The MMA Foundation honors the legacy of Frank Indihar, MD by offering advocacy scholarships to equip and empower students studying in Minnesota medical schools to be part of the next generation of advocacy leaders, and supporting their work to drive meaningful policy and structural changes that produce equity and justice.
Frank Indihar, MD was an internal medicine specialist who demonstrated a steadfast commitment to excellence in medicine throughout his distinguished career. His dedication to medicine was especially apparent through his lifelong mentorship of medical students.
Dr. Indihar obtained his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School but interrupted his medical studies to become a Major in the US Army Medical Corps. He served both in Vietnam and Washington DC. and received a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster for his brave and meritorious service. After his service was complete, he moved back to his home state Minnesota and re-entered medical school. After graduation, he accepted a position as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine Service at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
From 2002 through 2008, Dr. lndihar led Bethesda Hospital as Chief Executive Officer, after serving as its Medical Director for several years and decades as a practicing physician. While at Bethesda, he helped establish the Capistrant Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, started an innovative clinic to treat young people injured from concussions, and created a therapeutic garden for patients, families, and employees. He completed his professional career as CEO of Bethesda Hospital and a VP of HealthEast
Among his numerous professional positions, Dr. Indihar served as Delegate and Chair of the Minnesota delegation to the American Medical Association House of Delegates for many years.