The SOMOS E. Anthony Rankin Scholarship Program

Dr. Edward Anthony Rankin, MD earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College. He completed his internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington DC.

Dr. Rankin’s impactful military career included serving as the Chief of orthopaedic surgery at the 12th and 95th evacuation hospitals in Vietnam during the war. He also served as faculty for Howard University, providing mentorship and serving as a role model for generations of medical trainees. He was the first black president of AAOS in 2008 and he received the AAOS diversity award in 2016 for his promotion of diversity. Dr. Rankin’s youngest son, Marc Rankin is an sports medicine trained orthopaedic surgeon currently serving as faculty at the Howard University College of Medicine.

The Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons (SOMOS) is an organization that aims to advance the practice of military orthopaedic surgery through leadership, education, research and collaboration. SOMOS is dedicated to advancing diversity within military orthopaedics. Medical students at U.S. MD and DO schools are welcome to apply. This scholarship is supported by the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee of SOMOS.

The E. Anthony Rankin Scholarship Program is meant for underrepresented medical students to have the opportunity for exposure to orthopaedic surgery in the military setting and all of the subspecialties within the specialty. It is not a requirement for the student to go into orthopaedic surgery as a specialty. There is also no military commitment associated with this scholarship.

Who is eligible?

  1. Medical students at a U.S. MD or DO program.
  2. MS1-MS4 students are welcome to apply. *Preference given to MS1 and MS2’s.*
  3. Civilian students (no HPSP or USU students allowed to apply).
  4. Identify with an underrepresented gender or racial background in orthopaedics.
  5. In good standing with school.

Scholarship Award
Up to an $12,000 award will be given to up to 8-10 students for a 4 week immersive experience at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center or the Naval Medical Center San Diego. Funding will cover travel, housing, and daily per diem for the duration of the rotation. There is potential for a research project. Rotations will be June 2 - June 28, 2025. 

More information about Walter Reed's Residency Program can be found here. 

More information about San Diego's Residency Program can be found here. 

How to apply?

  1. CV
  2. Letter of good standing from university.
  3. 1/2 page minimum personal statement explaining your interest in the scholarship award and how it would benefit you.
  4. Recent photo

Submit all documents in PDF format and photo in JPEG or TIFF format. Please follow the directions below.

Selection Process and Submission Deadline
Applications are due by December 2, 2024. The top candidates will be chosen and notified by January 14, 2025.

Click here to apply

Please direct all scholarship questions to Audrey McDonough at [email protected].