MEET THE INAUGURAL DR. BETTEGOWDA SCHOLAR FOR 2023 

​Machik is delighted to announce Dr. Dhondup Tashi, Chief Medical Officer and Primary Care Physician at Gaden Jangtse Charitable Hospital in Mundgod, Karnataka, as the inaugural Dr. Bettegowda Scholar for 2023. Read here for more
The Dr. Chetan Bettegowda Medical Award is a grant of 2500 USD to be awarded to a Tibetan medical practitioner who is from, working in or studying in the state of Karnataka, India, and is seeking to advance their skills and further specialize in a medical field. Candidates should demonstrate strong academic performance and leadership potential in their chosen fields while exemplifying outstanding dedication to the care and service of others. The aim of the award is to nurture Tibetan medical doctors who seek higher goals in the medical field inspired by the values of empathy and compassion and a dedication to the advancement of Tibetan medical capacity. Application details below.
Picture
Dr. Chetan Bettegowda
​Neurosurgeon
​
This Award has been established in honor of Dr. Chetan Bettegowda, a gifted and distinguished neurosurgeon and neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he is the Jennison and Novak Families Professor of Neurosurgery, and where he serves as director of the Meningioma Center as well as Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology. Dr. Bettegowda's commitment to his life's calling and his extraordinary dedication to his patients have inspired the Machik community to establish this award in his honor. Dr. Bettegowda's deep-rooted generosity and care for the well-being of others is also exemplified in his tireless mentorship and teaching. Through this Award, we hope applicants will draw inspiration from Dr. Bettegowda's exemplary approach to his practice as a medical doctor and highly skilled specialist. We hope that this Award will provide motivation for the next generation of Tibetans in the medical sciences to seek new frontiers, both in reaching for new challenges and setting ever higher goals and for summoning the long term commitment to realize them. 
 
For Machik as an organization that has worked primarily in Tibet for over two decades, this Award expands our educational work globally to the diasporic homes of the Tibetan community in India. The state of Karnataka was the first to establish Tibetan refugee settlements in India and has since become the home for of tens of thousands of Tibetans—the largest Tibetan community in the world outside of Tibet itself. ​It is our hope that this can help support the development and nurturing of highly skilled, compassionate and insightful medical doctors for the state of Karnataka.
SELECTION CRITERIA
 
The selection for the Dr. Chetan Bettegowda Award will be based on an evaluation of candidates’ achievements, record of commitment to service and potential to contribute to the quality of medical practice in Tibetan communities and to the advancement of Tibetan medical capacity in general. The following criteria will be taken into consideration during the selection process:

  • Academic Excellence: Candidates should demonstrate strong performance in medical school and other previous relevant training programs.
 
  • Specialization Relevance: The relevance of chosen specialization to the medical needs in the Tibetan community will be considered. Priority will be given to candidates pursuing areas of specialization that address critical gaps in healthcare delivery.
 
  • Clinical Experience: Candidates should demonstrate strong clinical experience. This may include extent of service, patient outcomes and demonstrated proficiency in specialized procedures.
 
  • Leadership and Initiative: Candidates who have shown initiative in driving positive change in healthcare delivery for Tibetan communities and healthcare systems will be preferred.
 
  • Collaboration and Mentorship: Ability to collaborate effectively with teams will be given special consideration. Contributions to improving patient care, fostering teamwork, and mentoring students, peers and colleagues will be taken into account.
 
  • Contributions to Medical Practice: A strong background of contributing to innovative medical practices, improved patient care, or advancements in medical technology will be taken into special consideration.
 
  • Ethical Standing: Candidates must uphold high ethical standards and demonstrate their commitment to the ethical practice of medicine.
 
  • Future Impact: The potential impact the candidate is likely to have on the medical community, patient care, and healthcare outcomes will be a key consideration.
 
 
SELECTION PROCESS
 
An application will consist of:
  • a personal statement
  • three letters of recommendation
  • curriculum vitae
  • copy of academic transcripts
 
Personal Statement: The candidate's personal statement should convey their intentions and aspirations in their chosen field of specialization and explain how advanced training and knowledge will help serve the medical or healthcare needs of the communities, whether in Karnataka, elsewhere in India or inside Tibet. 
 
Letters of Recommendation: The application requires two letters of recommendation from medical professionals or faculty advisors who can attest to the candidate's capabilities, skills and performance as a medical student, researcher or practitioner. The third letter of recommendation should come from a mentor who can attest to the candidate’s character, qualities and commitment to service.
 
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interviews with the selection committee.
 
Applications are now closed for 2023.