2026 URM Away Rotation Grant Applications Now Open

Darrel Perez, Program Manager, Member Networks and Engagement

The AAO-HNS/F Diversity Endowment Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) Away Rotation Grant supports medical students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine by offsetting the costs of away rotations in otolaryngology. These experiences provide invaluable clinical exposure, mentorship, and insight into residency training. With the 2026 cycle now open, eligible students have a few more weeks to prepare and submit materials before the May 4, 12 p.m. (ET) deadline. Program details and testimonials are available on the Academy’s URM Grant page.

Expanding Access to Opportunity

Away rotations remain one of the most effective ways for interested students to deepen exposure across subspecialties, experience different health systems and patient populations, and engage directly with faculty mentors. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee created the Academy’s URM Away Rotation Grant to reduce financial barriers to these opportunities. The program typically selects several recipients annually, each of whom receives $1,000 to use toward travel, short-term housing, and rotation-related expenses.

A Program with Demonstrated Impact

In the last two years, the URM Away Rotation Grant program received 40 primary applications and awarded a total of $23,000. Applicants self-identified as Black/African American, Latino, Punjabi, and Hispanic, representing a broad set of 20+ institutions from over 15 U.S. states and territories, and 23 Away Rotation Sites (e.g., University of Puerto Rico; Tulane; UC San Diego; University of Washington; Duke; University of Chicago Pritzker; University of Louisville; Drexel; and Texas Christian University). These figures highlight both robust interest and continued need for stipend support to offset travel and lodging costs.

What Students Are Saying

The most meaningful measure of the grant’s impact is often found in recipients’ own reflections. Recipient reflections from recent cycles consistently describe the value of hands-on participation, mentorship, and exposure to varied patient populations during away rotations, reinforcing the grant’s core purpose of expanding equitable access to transformative training experiences.

“This experience has not just deepened my clinical knowledge; it has personally and professionally confirmed my future in otolaryngology. The rotation provided a holistic view of the specialty, reinforcing the importance of collaboration, lifelong learning, and community.”

—Jasdeep Kler, University of Michigan student. Rotation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"Overall, I enjoyed the ability to focus on the surgical training provided to the residents and have incorporated feedback from attendings into my skillset. I was held to similarly high expectations as the residents, which not only pushed me to grow quickly but also to understand how trainees in the program become highly skilled surgeons."

—Charlyn Gomez, University of Maryland student. Rotation at New York-Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia and Weill Cornell.

“Beyond the technical skills I witnessed and the academic discussions that sharpened my understanding of the field, the most transformative moments came from patient encounters. Meeting Spanish-speaking patients who smiled and softly told me, ‘Me alegro que estás aquí’ (‘I’m glad you’re here’) grounded me in a sense of purpose I cannot fully describe.”

—Eric Perez Perez, University of Puerto Rico student. Rotation at the University of Connecticut.

These reflections echo what the Academy has consistently heard from recipients: the grant does more than support travel. It opens doors to mentorship, skill development, and a deeper sense of belonging in the field.

Strengthening the Future of the Specialty

The Academy remains committed to supporting the next generation of otolaryngologists and expanding pathways into the specialty. By helping students access away rotations that might otherwise be financially out of reach, the program broadens exposure to the field and strengthens the specialty’s future workforce. For departments and host institutions, it also creates opportunities to connect with talented students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Eligible students are encouraged to review the full application requirements and submit materials soon. The application includes supporting documents and information related to the planned away rotation, and selected recipients will be expected to complete post-rotation requirements. For eligibility, application instructions, and additional program information, visit the Diversity Endowment URM Away Rotation Grant webpage on the Academy website.

The application deadline is 12 p.m. (ET) on May 4, 2026.