Valley Assistantce Services Awarded TNT Grant
December 18, 2020
Valley Assistance Services has been awarded a $5,000 Thriving Nonprofit Technology Grant from TOMF! In these unprecedented times where some of their services have seen increased need of 1000% and traditional fundraising methods are severely limited, this nonprofit plans to use the funds in all facets of their business. They plan to purchase technology to help with general operations, virtual fundraising activities, and the many services they provide to help seniors in southern Arizona stay safe, healthy, and independent.
Community Gardens of Tucson Benefits from TNT Grant
December 18, 2020
Our final TNT Grant winner is Community Gardens of Tucson! They have been awarded $4,915 to outfit their gardens with high tech weather stations and bluetooth irrigation systems, and outfit their office with new computers, tablets, cameras, microphones, lighting and donor management/fundraising software. We thank them for their continued service to southern Arizona as they remain a contemporary and vital resource so that growing fresh nutritious and healthy food will be an option for all. Congratulations, Community Gardens of Tucson!
Congratulations Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson!
December 14, 2020
Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson were awarded a $5,000 Thriving Nonprofit Technology Grant! They plan to use the funds to outfit two of their clubhouses with technology like smartwatches and iPads to empower their youth to stay fit through competitive physical activity challenges. Congratulations!
TOMF Announces First Thriving Nonprofit Technology Grant Winner!
December 9, 2020
TOMF is proud to announce the first winner of the Thriving Nonprofit Technology Grants! St. Luke's Home has been awarded $5,000 which they will use to purchase tablets for approximately one third of their elders. The tablets will allow for increased access to telemedicine visits, video calls with family and friends, and a continued partnership between the elders and University of Arizona students in medicine, nutrition, pharmacy, and nursing.
Aubrey Ingram, OMS II at Midwestern University - AZCOM, Awarded $7,500 Founders' Scholarship
March 4, 2020
Aubrey Ingram is a second year medical student at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) of Midwestern University. Student Doctor Ingram matriculated to medical school directly from her undergraduate studies at Grand Canyon University. There, she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor study in Dance Performance. Now at AZCOM, Aubrey serves as the Student Government Association President, as well as the Arizona Student Delegate for the American Osteopathic Association’s House of Delegates, Council Member for the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents and member of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association’s Legislative Affairs Committee. As a born and raised Phoenician, she is proud to remain in Arizona for her medical education and hopes to serve Arizonans as a physician in the near future.
Chandresh Nandani, OMS III at Midwestern University - AZCOM, Awarded $5,000 Founders' Scholarship
March 4, 2020
I have the conviction that a group of people working towards the same goal is capable of almost anything. Teamwork fuels medicine and seeing just how much physicians can contribute has been the driving force behind all my endeavors in medical school. As a TA throughout OMS2 for Anatomy and Physiology, we had the change to aid our peers’ academics, but more importantly ease their concerns and give advice for moving through school. My forebears did the same for me and this was my chance to provide the type of mentorship that was crucial to me; we are at our best when we are lifting each other up. As president of the Gay Straight Alliance, I provide LGBT+ students with a sense of belonging and social support amidst the greater campus community. Furthermore, we changed the clinical curriculum, provided HIV testing, and facilitated workshops to improve the care of future LGBT+ patients and strengthened the physicians produced by AZCOM. On a greater scale, I was an active part of the AOMA Legislative Affairs committee and advocated for physicians and patients on a legislative level. This was the culmination of physicians being united to improve the circumstances we all face. I continue to try and make the communities I am a part of stronger in countless facets of my life. My instinct to offer a helping hand has guided me throughout my academic career and will continue to push me as a physician.
Elysia Tjong, OMS III at A.T. Still Univeristy - SOMA, Awarded $5,000 Founders' Scholarship
March 4, 2020
Elysia Tjong was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. She studied neuroscience at the University of Nevada, Reno. She was involved in lab research all four years, and presented three posters and an honors thesis in pharmacology. After graduation, she worked as a clinical research associate at Renown Institute for Neurosciences and also as a Scribe Supervisor at Renown Emergency Department. Since being at A.T. Still University – School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, Elysia has won first place at the school’s Interprofessional Cross-Campus Collaborative Case and was also a part of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association Student-Run Osteopathic Community Project Planning Committee, where their project, “Doctors that DO Wellness Pop-Up Exhibit Program” won the Arizona Public Health Association (AzPHA) Health Education Media Maker Yearly Award in 2018. She has continued her interest in research by serving as the Co-Principal Investigator in a research project, which was selected for poster presentation at the National Association of Community Health Centers Community Health Institute & EXPO in August 2019. Elysia has also published several case reports, and plans on being involved in research after she graduates.
Salil Kalarn, OMS III at A.T. Still University - SOMA, Awarded $7,500 Founders' Scholarship
March 4, 2020
Salil Kalarn attended the University of Arizona for undergraduate education where he double-majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He then pursued a master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Medicine. During his time at University of Arizona, Salil was involved in Oncology research for four years and published two research articles in the field of Oncology. In addition, he participated and organized a public health mission within Tucson and in Central America as a member of Global Medical Brigades. Currently, Salil is pursuing a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from AT Still University. During his first year at A.T. Still University, he was a team leader for the Nutrition and Health Awareness program which is a research and community service program developed by A.T. Still students to provide education to middle school children about nutrition and health. In addition, Salil went to the University of Maryland during summer break to conduct Ophthalmology research and to organize multiple free clinics in downtown Baltimore. In his second year, Salil was an active student tutor as a member of the PALS program and conducted clinical research at the Tucson CHC. This clinical research was accepted to the El Rio/Wright center poster presentation in Tucson Community Health Institute poster presentation in Chicago and published in the Journal for Student Research.
Rochelle Almario, OMS III at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine - BCOM, Awarded $7,500 Founders' Scholarship
March 4, 2020
Rochelle Almario is a third year medical student at BCOM. At age 13, Rochelle and her family moved from Michigan to Tucson. In 2015, she graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in Physiology, Cum Laude, and minor in Spanish. During college, Rochelle regularly volunteered with the university’s Mobile Health program whose mission was to provide quality healthcare to the underserved population in Tucson. Rochelle’s experiences with Mobile Health helped her realize her underlying desire to utilize her skills for the benefit of the community. This aspiration of hers remained with Rochelle through medical school as she gained membership into Sigma Sigma Phi, an Honors Fraternity whose goal is to maintain high scholastic excellence and devotion to community service. Rochelle sat on the executive board for the fraternity as Community Service Coordinator. This allowed her to oversee projects as well as participate in several events at the soup kitchen, animal shelter, and local parks for clean-up. Rochelle became more involved with the Las Cruces community during her time mentoring a local elementary school student for two years. Medical school has also given Rochelle the opportunity to hold a teaching position as one of the Musculoskeletal System block tutors. While tutoring, she was able to create lasting relationships with classmates while upholding a team-based learning environment. Overall, Rochelle takes pride in integrating into both the Tucson and Las Cruces communities while achieving 1st quartile rank in her class during the rigors of medical school.
Nancy Phu, OMS III at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medical - BCOM, Awarded $5,000 Founders' Scholarship
March 4, 2020
Nancy Phu is a third year medical student completing her clinical clerkship in Tucson, Arizona. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from San Jose State University, and after graduation worked as a clinical research associate at Gauss Surgical. She applied her knowledge of medical physiology with statistical analysis to improve the start-up company’s innovative medical software to accurately predict estimated blood loss during obstetric procedures. As part of the second class at a new medical school, Nancy has worked endlessly on several committees to enhance the student learning experience. She advocated for effective teaching time and fair grading systems at academic curriculum meetings. Nancy is also an active member and former executive leader for Sigma Sigma Phi, the honorary osteopathic service fraternity, where she engages members with local community and assists students to complete their membership requirements. She takes pride in setting a record high of over 1,400 community service hours during her term. Nancy organized the annual health fair with the surgery club to provide education on various health topics such as basic hygiene, CPR, and dietary intake. Her community involvement has led to establishing a partnership with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Care Van Program to provide mobile care to Southern New Mexico. Now as a member of the Pima County Medical Society and Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association, she encourages her colleagues to develop and expand their professional network. Nancy actively participates in research and has published several journals and conferences.
Alana Augur, OMS III at Midwestern University - AZCOM, Awarded $5,000 Founders' Scholarship
March 25, 2019
Alana Augur is a third year medical student at Midwestern University in Glendale Arizona. She matriculated directly from her undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona. There, she completed an Honors degree, majoring in Biology and minoring in Mathematics. Alana completed her honors thesis on Diet Specialization and Generalization Tradeoffs in the Mustard Herbivore Scaptomyza Flava. She was involved in multiple research roles at both the University of Arizona Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department, as well as at the University of Arizona Phoenix College of Medicine.
Jason Hirshberg, OMS III at Midwestern University - AZCOM, Awarded $2,500 Founders' Scholarship
March 25, 2019
Jason grew up in Boulder, Colorado and studied Molecular Biology at the University of Colorado. After graduating in three years at the age of 20, he worked as a research assistant in a lab at Stanford that studied muscle stem cells. Before attending medical school, Jason earned his Master's degree in Reproductive and Cancer Biology from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. There, he graduated at the top of his class, was inducted into the Delta Omega honorary society, and published a paper on autoimmunity. Last year, Jason earned Gold TOUCH recognition for accumulating over 100 hours of community service. He was inducted into the Sigma Sigma Phi osteopathic medicine honorary society in recognition of his leadership potential, academic performance, and passion for addressing disparities in healthcare. As a Paul Ambrose Scholar, Jason developed a tobacco education program for at-risk youth and presented his results at the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research Annual Meeting. Jason earned several Student Government scholarships that helped fund his presentations. Jason was also selected from over 300 medical students to attend the Johns Hopkins Cancer in Underprivileged, Indigent, and Disadvantaged Translational Oncology Program (CUPID). In addition to advocating on Capitol Hill to ensure cancer survivors are not dropped from their insurance plans, his research on adenoviral genomes was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and in the Public Library of Science. As a member of multiple oncology organizations, Jason is driven to fight cancer in disproportionately affected communities.