Kakani Foundation Community Service Award 2024-2025 Criteria

The Kakani Foundation Community Service Award is designed to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities through charitable activities and service. This prestigious award not only recognizes the recipient’s dedication and impact but also encourages the continuation and expansion of their efforts across the United States through the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) chapters.

Award Overview

Frequency and Venue: Presented annually at the AAPI Annual Convention.

• Prize: The award includes a $5,000 monetary prize total- $2,500 will be a stipend directly awarded to the recipient, and $2,500 will be alloted for project specific expenses.
• Required Role:: The recipient will serve as the AAPI MSRF Community Service Chair, facilitating the implementation of their project.

Eligibility Criteria

• Membership: Open to AAPI MSRF members who are currently enrolled in medical school, residency, or fellowship programs in the United States. Non-MSRF members can join MSRF by completing a free membership application before the award deadline. MSRF Application Link
• Service Requirements: The charitable activity or service must be outside of the nominee’s job description/mandatory requirements for graduation, and the nominee should not have received any monetary or personal benefits from their involvement. The service project must be completed in the one year that the individual is on the AAPI MSRF board 2024-2025.

Application Requirements

• Project Proposal: Applicants must submit a proposal detailing their service activity, its impact on the community, and plans for implementation via AAPI chapters throughout the country. Please include a comprehensive budget as part of the project proposal. (Up to 500 words, not including the budget proposal)
• Personal Statement: Applicants must submit a statement (up to 250 words) detailing their community service experience and/or interests.
• Letter of Support: A letter of support from a physician is required, highlighting the nominee’s contributions and impact. However, each applicant may submit a maximum of two letters. The second letter can be from any community member, including from a non-physician.
• Project Presentation: The award winner must present the project at the end of the year virtually to the selection committee. There may also be an opportunity to present the findings at the National Convention in 2025.  

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted by June 25th, 2024, by 11:59 pm EST. All materials should be emailed to aapischolars@gmail.com and cc info@aapiusa.org

Selection Process

A 9-member committee, comprising members from the Medical Student/Resident & Fellow Section (MSRF), Young Physicians Section (YPS), and senior AAPI members, will evaluate nominations. The committee will assess nominees based on their compassion, dedication, service, impact, leadership, and potential for project expansion.

The winner will be notified by June 30th, 2024. The winner will be publicly announced at the National Convention and is strongly encouraged to attend the convention in person to receive the award. Travel and accommodations are not included, and must be funded by the recipient themselves.

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