WESTERN NEW YORK BLOODCARE

Dr. Martin Brecher Scholarship
New Applicants

      Dr. Martin Brecher graduated from UB School of Medicine in 1972.  He did his pediatric residency at Buffalo Children’s Hospital, followed by a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at Roswell Park and Buffalo Children’s Hospital.  He was Chief of the UB Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology from 1990 until his retirement in 2016. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he did patient care, teaching, and clinical research.
      During his years of clinical practice, Dr. Brecher treated pediatric patients with cancer, as well as those diagnosed with non-malignant blood disorders, including patients with bleeding and clotting abnormalities.  This led to his involvement with Western New York BloodCare.  He served on their Board of Directors for more than 10 years.  These were years of tremendous growth for WNY BloodCare. Among the changes he was involved in was the development of a much closer collaborative relationship with the School of Medicine.  This, in turn, has boosted academic activities within the Center, including new research initiatives and an expanded commitment to teaching and training individuals in a variety of disciplines who interact with patients with bleeding and clotting disorders.  It is within this context that we will award the Dr. Martin Brecher Scholarship.

Scholarship Information
The mission of the Western New York BloodCare Scholarship Program is to provide a better quality of life for individuals affected by Hemophilia, Von Williebrand’s Disease, Gaucher, and other genetic bleeding disorders by awarding financial assistance for advanced education and training leading to employment and access to health insurance.

Who is eligible to apply?
1.	Must be a current patient or family member of a current patient at WNYBC.
2.	Pursuing a degree or career in the medical/healthcare field.

What types of scholarships will be given?
Scholarships will be awarded annually in the categories of undergraduate and graduate programs. Any postgraduate, residency, technical programs, fellowships, etc. can also be considered.

How much are the scholarship awards? 
The amount given will be dependent on the number of applicants, the category of the applicant’s program, and the discretion of the scholarship committee. This award can be up to $10,000 for the academic year.

How are award recipients selected?
1.	Academic performance is heavily weighed, all applicants are expected to maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA or as applicable. 
2.	Must show proof of enrollment or exceptional standing with an institution or research committee.
3.	Must include all requested documents and complete essay questions.

RETURN THE COMPLETED APPLICATION AND ATTACHMENTS BY:
March 31st 

TO:
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
WESTERN NEW YORK BLOODCARE
1010 MAIN ST.
SUITE 300
BUFFALO, NY 14202

*PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED INCOMPLETE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR REVIEW BY THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE.

The WNYBC scholarship application is also available on our website at:
www.wnybloodcare.org

Name: _____________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________
City: _______________________ State: _________ Zip code: ________________
Phone: ___________________________ Email: ___________________________
Current Affiliation with WNYBC: ______________________________________
If yes, please list: ____________________________________________________
Current Academic Affiliation: _________________________________________
Have you been awarded a WNYBC scholarship in the past?  Yes       or       No 
If so, when: ________________________________________________________
Reflective Essay Questions
The following questions should reflect your personal experiences, challenges, and aspirations. Your responses should be detailed and require critical thinking. There are no requirements for length and your responses must be typed. 
1.	Why are you interested in providing care for patients who have bleeding and clotting disorders?
2.	How are you focused on participating in new research initiatives that further explore the science and treatment of bleeding and clotting disorders?
3.	What do you believe makes you unique and sets you apart from others? (Describe who you are and elaborate on your strengths and weaknesses)
4.	Have you ever worked very hard or struggled for something and succeeded? Or failed? Describe that experience and what you learned from it.
5.	Provide any and all information about you and your circumstances that the scholarship committee should know as they review your application. (Describe any medical, social, financial, or other obstacles that have impacted your life or future. Elaborate on any issues that may impact your ability to complete your educational goals and discuss how this scholarship could help you reach your goals.)

Transcripts and Letters of Recommendations
An official transcript is required from your institution of higher education (if applicable). The transcripts must be official, the committee will not review applications with non-official transcripts. Send directly to Western New York BloodCare at the address listed below.

Three letters of reference are required. You MUST provide three letters of reference in order to be considered for the scholarship and to have your application reviewed by the committee.

Forward all correspondence with required documents to:

Jessica Wulf
jwulf@wnybloodcare.org
OR
Scholarship Committee
Western New York BloodCare
1010 Main St.
Suite 300
Buffalo, NY 14202

Please reach out to Jessica Wulf for any questions or concerns, at (716) 218-4007.

In submitting this application, I certify that the information provided is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. Falsification of information will result in termination of any scholarship granted.

Applicant’s Signature: 
__________________________________________________________________
Date: _____________________________________