In 2012, the Bart Kamen Memorial FIRST Scholarship was established, in memory of long tenured and passionate FIRST supporter, distinguished pediatric oncologist, cancer pharmacologist and devoted family man, Bart Kamen.
Dr. Bart Kamen was known by his colleagues as a brilliant scholar, compassionate physician, dedicated mentor and gentle man whose unfettered enthusiasm for learning, teaching, talking science and challenging the mainstay with his out of the box thinking for betterment of care was unmatched. Dr. Kamen truly loved being a physician and pediatrics. He nobly balanced the art and science of medicine and patient care, and had a very special relationship with his patients and their families. Dr. Kamen was one of those magical doctors who could completely engage and comfort an ill child with a three-minute fun game, while simultaneously completing a thorough neurological exam. While extending his signature great care to his patients, Dr. Kamen also conducted leading edge research for more than three decades around folate biochemistry and anti-folate pharmacology with the goal of reducing the negative side effects of effective cancer fighting drugs. Dr. Kamen's clinical and research interests were driven by the overarching goal of "translational research"-- taking best science to bedside.
The Bart Kamen Memorial FIRST Scholarship Fund provides funding to undergraduate students pursuing biomedical engineering or pre-medical degrees. The Fund supports the vision of FIRST to transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders. By selecting students who have excelled in a FIRST program, the Fund seeks to honor the legacy of Dr. Bart Kamen by providing renewable monetary grants to undergraduate students who have, through their participation in FIRST programs, demonstrated the potential to develop Dr. Kamen’s brilliance at, and extraordinary passion for, improving the lives of patients.
Think you have what it takes to become a Bart Kamen Scholar? Complete your application before February 1st.
You can learn more about the Scholarship and Dr. Kamen here.
