Our work is to increase and improve education for all physicians about all aspects of addiction, highlighting the clinical continuum of diagnosis, treatment and recovery for the patient and family members. We do that by involving selected residents in addiction medicine conferences, learning side by side with specialists in practice of addiction medicine, in mentored activities.

To increase the opportunities for residents and their faculty to learn about the diagnosis and treatment of alcoholism and other drug dependencies, MERF offers scholarships annually to these four-day conferences on addiction medicine. Scholarships are offered to both physicians in training and teaching faculty in residency training programs.

Activities for residents such as case discussions, brief meetings with faculty members, with an emphasis on effective, high quality medical education are scheduled during each conference. Scholarship recipients sit together remotely during the conference and participate in activities designed for them.

Interested residents, program directors, and all faculty members who teach and supervise residents in your program are invited to apply for the MERF Scholars program to participate in the 4-day Mentored Learning Experience, including CSAM case discussions throughout the conference, MERF meetings and dinner, and MERF case discussion at CSAM.  The MERF Scholars experience continues with quarterly Journal Clubs and meetings throughout the year leading to completion of scholarly projects. 

Due to minimal external/grant support in 2024, we are unable to provide monetary awards beyond the discounts provided by CSAM.  Priority will be given to those MERF Scholar-applicants who have full or partial funding through their institution or program. Should you be selected as Scholar, the benefits will include reduced rate registration for the CSAM Conference, as well as the half-day preconference workshop – “Motivational Interviewing for the Busy Clinician” and other MERF activities during the conference. We are unlikely to provide reimbursement for travel and lodging costs, however, CSAM has negotiated discounts for the hotel room blocks.

**Each team member must submit an application and upload a letter from the Program Director.

Faculty, resident and fellow MERF Scholars are expected to be present throughout the conference (August 21 – 24, 2024) and participate fully from its beginning until the close of the conference.

Follow up Journal Club meetings/conference calls and scholarly projects help residents, fellows and faculty meet the ACGME requirements for scholarly activity.

Apply for the Scholarship

The Motivational Interviewing Workshop has been opened to non-MERF participants.

The deadline to apply is June 7, 2024! Thank you to everyone who applied.
The MERF Board of Directors will review submissions and follow-up with all applicants.