IMANA Healthcare Scholarship Program
Offered by Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA)
About This Scholarship
The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) is a Muslim physicians' and healthcare professionals' organization known for its medical relief missions, and it frames its scholarship program around the connection between faith and education in service of others. Each year it gives one-time awards to full-time students heading into healthcare careers, from medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy to nursing, optometry, and dozens of allied health fields.
The program combines endowment-funded awards with donor-named scholarships. The endowment funds one $5,000 award each in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, plus a Second Chance award of up to $5,000 and variable awards for students headed toward radiology and ophthalmology. Donor scholarships add awards of $1,000 to $5,000, including two $2,500 Zahir Family awards and a $5,000 Habib Kothawala award for medical students. One donor award, the AFK Foundation Scholarship, supports students in law or media and journalism.
The allied health list is unusually broad. It covers everything from EMTs, sonographers, and surgical technologists to physician assistants, clinical psychologists, and public health students, so this is worth a look well beyond medical school. IMANA's posted eligibility rules are based on residency and enrollment, not religious affiliation. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients attending a U.S.-accredited institution full time.
Eligibility
- Full-time student pursuing a healthcare career: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, optometry, or an allied health field (one donor award covers law or media/journalism)
- U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient
- Resides in the United States and attends a U.S.-accredited institution
- Students who previously received an IMANA scholarship are not eligible
- Donor-supported scholarships may carry additional requirements
How To Apply
- Review the individual scholarship descriptions on the Scholarships tab of IMANA's application portal, linked from imana.org/scholarships
- Complete the general application with your demographic information, unofficial transcript, FAFSA Submission Summary, resume, two letters of recommendation, and the essay prompt
- Complete any supplemental materials required for donor-supported scholarships after submitting the general application
- Submit everything through the portal by March 30, 2027 (email submissions are not accepted)
- Watch for notification in late June 2027; funds go to your school at the start of the fall semester
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be Muslim to apply for an IMANA scholarship?
IMANA's posted requirements do not include a religious test. Applicants need U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or DACA status and full-time enrollment at a U.S.-accredited institution in an eligible field. Some donor scholarships have their own extra criteria.
Which allied health fields qualify?
IMANA publishes a long list that includes physician assistants, nursing at every degree level, physical and occupational therapy, sonography, radiologic technology, EMT and paramedic training, public health, clinical psychology, and many other health professions.
Can I win more than once?
No. Former IMANA scholarship recipients cannot apply for or receive a future award.