Cecilia Comerford-Ames
CMS Communications and Marketing Manager

Each year, the Colorado Medical Society Foundation (CMSF) proudly invests in the next generation of physicians through its medical student scholarship program. CMSF offers two distinguished opportunities: the Rural Track Scholarship and the Gilchrist Student Leadership Scholarship.

The Rural Track Scholarship provides financial support to students in good academic standing who are completing their first or second year in a rural medicine track program at a Colorado medical school. This scholarship is designed to strengthen Colorado’s rural health workforce by supporting students committed to practicing in underserved communities.

The Gilchrist Student Leadership Scholarship recognizes third- and fourth-year medical students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership within organized medicine. This award honors their commitment to advocacy, service, and the advancement of the profession.

Below are the 2026 scholarship recipients, who are already making meaningful contributions to their communities and represent a bright future for health care in Colorado.

Rural Track Scholarship Recipients: 

Juliette Courtine

Juliette Courtine, recipient of the Rural Track Scholarship, brings a broad and deeply personal perspective to rural medicine. Growing up in a rural New Hampshire community affected by housing instability and the opioid epidemic, and later working with patients who traveled hours for lifesaving care, she saw how limited access can shape health outcomes and daily life.

Her commitment has also been strengthened through global and public health work, including last-mile population research, diagnostic delivery in rural Eswatini, and response efforts in remote regions of Canada. Now training in Colorado, Juliette is preparing for a rural clerkship and plans to practice in underserved communities across the state.

CMSF is proud to recognize her dedication to rural health equity and her commitment to community-centered care where access and advocacy matter most.

Jackson Long

Jackson Long, recipient of the Rural Track Scholarship, brings a strong sense of place, service, and community to his path in medicine. Raised in Conifer, Co., he developed an early appreciation for rural communities that has grown into a commitment to improving access to care.

Before medical school, Jackson spent nine months in a remote region of Madagascar conducting HIV research, where he saw the impact physicians can have in resource-limited settings and the importance of trust between providers and communities.

Now training through the University of Colorado Rural Program, with clinical rotations in Cortez and Craig, Jackson has committed to serving at least two years in a rural Colorado county. CMSF is proud to support his dedication to rural service and his future impact in Colorado communities.

Joslin Blair

Joslin Blair, recipient of the Rural Track Scholarship, is committed to returning to rural Colorado as a primary care physician. Raised in small mountain communities, she understands the trust, continuity, and connection that define rural health care.

Her path to medicine was shaped by her upbringing and by serving her community as a COVID tester. During her clerkship in Glenwood Springs, she has cared for patients across specialties, built lasting relationships, and seen both the strengths and ongoing access challenges facing rural communities.

CMSF is proud to recognize Joslin’s dedication to rural communities and her commitment to caring for families in the places that shaped her.

Carson Campisi

Carson Campisi, recipient of the Rural Track Scholarship, is drawn to rural medicine through her appreciation for continuity of care and the relationships that define small-community health care. Growing up in rural Colorado and completing clinical rotations in Salida, she has seen how strong community bonds help physicians care for patients beyond a single visit or hospital stay.

Through her clinical experiences, Carson has witnessed the unique role rural physicians play in walking alongside patients through illness, recovery, and everyday life. Knowing patients over time, understanding what matters most to them, and remaining part of their story continue to motivate her commitment to rural practice.

CMSF is proud to recognize Carson’s dedication to patient-centered care, continuity, and serving rural communities where those connections are essential.

Caleb McGrath

Caleb McGrath, recipient of the Rural Track Scholarship, brings a deep generational connection to Colorado’s Western Slope to his path in medicine. A sixth-generation Coloradan raised around ranching communities, he grew up surrounded by resilience, service, and neighbor-to-neighbor support.

His commitment to rural care was also shaped by his grandfather, a pediatrician who served families in the Four Corners region for more than four decades. Through that example, Caleb saw the lasting impact one physician can have as a trusted clinician, problem-solver, and anchor of care in a rural community.

Caleb intends to return to rural Colorado to practice medicine and give back to the communities that shaped him. CMSF is proud to recognize his dedication to rural service and the enduring values that sustain Colorado’s rural communities.

Keely Olson

Keely Olson, recipient of the Rural Track Scholarship, brings a deep connection to the Gunnison Valley to her path in medicine. Raised in rural Colorado, she grew up understanding both the strengths of close-knit communities and the challenges families face when access to care is limited.

Now training through the University of Colorado School of Medicine Rural Program, Keely has returned to her hometown for hands-on clinical experience in the hospital where she was born. Her training has reinforced the broad scope, continuity, and personal connection that define rural practice.

Keely plans to build her career in rural Colorado and give back to the Gunnison Valley community that shaped her. CMSF is proud to recognize her commitment to rural medicine and care close to home.

Alfred Gilchrist Scholarship: 

Katie McDermott

Katie McDermott, recipient of the Alfred D. Gilchrist Student Leader Scholarship, brings a patient-centered perspective to leadership in organized medicine. Grounded in her clinical experiences, she views advocacy as essential to addressing social determinants of health and improving the patient experience, particularly for vulnerable communities.

Through CMS, Katie has served as Rocky Vista University co-president, Medical Student Component co-chair, and a medical student representative on the Council on Legislation. In these roles, she has helped engage students in Colorado’s legislative process and elevate the medical student voice in health policy.

Her leadership also includes national service as a student liaison with the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, along with work as a peer tutor and mentor. CMSF is proud to recognize Katie’s compassion, leadership, and commitment to building a healthier, more equitable future.

Liz Jones

Liz Jones, recipient of the Alfred D. Gilchrist Student Leader Scholarship, has built a strong record of leadership in organized medicine rooted in advocacy, policy, and service to the profession.

Her leadership began as co-president of Rocky Vista University’s CMS chapter and continued through roles with the CMS Medical Student Component and the CMS Board of Directors, where she helped elevate student perspectives in important policy discussions.

Through CMS and the Council on Legislation, Liz has contributed to work on peer review protections, scope of practice, and prior authorization reform, gaining firsthand experience in coalition-building and legislative strategy. Her participation in RVU’s Academic Medicine and Leadership Track has further strengthened her view of advocacy as an essential skill for future physicians.

CMSF is proud to recognize Liz’s dedication to leadership, organized medicine, and building a more sustainable and equitable health care system.

Renee Dreher

Renee Dreher, recipient of the Alfred D. Gilchrist Student Leader Scholarship, has demonstrated a strong commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and student leadership in organized medicine.

As CU co-chair of the CMS Medical Student Component and a member of the Council on Legislation, Renee has helped amplify student voices, contribute to legislative strategy, and create clearer pathways for medical students to participate in advocacy.

Her leadership also extends nationally through the American Medical Association, where she has reviewed and advanced student-authored policy, presented testimony, and supported efforts to expand equitable access to care and protect LGBTQ+ families.

CMSF is proud to recognize Renee’s leadership and her commitment to building a more inclusive, engaged future for medicine.