Texas Medical Excellence Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Kirby Plastic Surgery

Quick overview — what this is
The Texas Medical Excellence Scholarship is a $2,500 award established by Dr. Emily J. Kirby, a Fort Worth plastic surgeon, to support and encourage Texas students pursuing medical education. If you live in Texas and are studying medicine (undergraduate or graduate level), you’re invited to apply — students in the North Texas/DFW area who are pursuing MD degrees are especially encouraged to apply.

What the money can pay for
The award is intended for tuition and educational expenses, including (but not limited to)
- Textbooks and supplies (paper, pens, notebooks, etc.)
- Required technology
- On-campus dining and housing
- Transportation costs

How the award is paid and tax info
The scholarship will be paid directly to the student as a cash prize. The recipient is responsible for any required tax reporting and any taxes owed. We recommend consulting a tax professional to make sure you handle this correctly.

Who is eligible
You are eligible to apply if all of the following are true:
- You are a current resident of Texas.
- You are an undergraduate or postgraduate student pursuing a degree or career path in a medicine-related field (your program may be on-campus or online, and the school may be in any location).
- You complete the application form and upload the required materials (see below).
- You understand that essays must be original—submissions will be screened for AI-generated content.
- If selected, you agree to have your name and photo publicly announced/used.

Required application materials
- Completed application form
- Original essay answers (no AI-generated work)
- A professional headshot
- One letter of reference that includes valid contact information

Examples of eligible degrees
(These are examples, not an exhaustive list.)
- Doctoral degrees: MD, DO, DPM, DMD, OD, PsyD, PharmD, DPT, DNP, DSN, etc.
- Nursing degrees/certifications: RN, NP, CNM, CRNA
- Master’s-level degrees: MPH, MMS, MPAS, MSN, etc.
- Physician assistant: PA, PA‑C

Important dates — 2026 timeline
- June 8 to June 29: Scholarship Committee reviews applications and selects the winner
- July 6: Winner announced and notified

A final note
Read the instructions carefully and make sure your essays are your own work. If you have questions about eligibility or the application process, contact the scholarship administrators before submitting. Good luck — applying is a great step toward your medical career.