Sarah J. Armenia is New Jersey’s 2016/2017 ME/CFS Scholar

Sarah J. Armenia (l) receiving award from Dr. K.J. Friedman, Chair NJME/CFSA Medical Scholar Committee 

 The New Jersey Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association, Inc. (NJ/ MECFSA, Inc) has selected Sarah J. Armenia, New Jersey Medical School student class of 2019, as its medical scholar for the 2016-2017 academic year. Ms. Armenia is being so honored because she wrote the best scholarly paper addressing the unique research question posed in the scholarship application for the 2016-2017 academic year. Ms. Armenia’s research paper was judged to be the most thoroughly researched, the most incisive, and the best written of those received. Ms. Armenia competed against medical student and medical resident applicants receiving 

 The NJME/CFSA Medical Scholar program is an annual award which encourages physicians-in-training to learn about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) while they are forming the knowledge base of the illnesses they will be treating throughout their professional careers. The program was established by NJME/CFSA because of the paucity of ME/ CFS coverage in New Jersey’s medical school curricula and in medical residency training programs nationwide. The intent of the Medical Scholar program is to provide incentive for physicians-in-training to educate themselves about ME/CFS. Having learned about ME/CFS in their training years, physicians will be better able to consider a diagnosis of ME/CFS when appropriate, and have a fundamental knowledge of how to treat it. 

 The NJME/CFSA Medical Scholar program is the only medical student/medical resident ME/CFS scholarship program currently in existence in the United States. For 2016, the program has achieved greater significance since the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine have jointly issued a report, published by the prestigious National Academies Press, indicating that the best method of increasing patient care for patients suffering from stigmatized illnesses, of which ME/CFS is one, is to provide them with illness-specific education in their years of training. Thus, the NJME/CFSA Medical Scholar program serves as an example of the kind of educational program that satisfies the recommendation of the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine. 

For the 2016-2017 academic year, the NJME/CFSA Medical Scholar will receive a $5,000 tuition reimbursement for her medical education. The funds have been transferred to her tuition account at the New Jersey Medical School. Were the recipient a medical resident, as happened last year, the award is given directly to the recipient to be used to pay down medical school expenses. Announcements of the 2017-2018 competition will be announced in March, 2017. Medical students and residents should check with their Dean of Students office no later than May 1st. Medical Residents should check with their school’s Director of Medical Residency Programs. Emails announcing the 2017/2018 program should be sent to every medical student and every medical resident by medical school administrators. Prospective applicants may simply check the NJME/CFSA website: www.njmecfsa.org. 

 The NJME/CFSA Medical Scholar Program is supported by members of the organization and other benefactors. In addition to funding yearly stipends for the ME/CFS Medical Scholars, the organization is growing an endowment for an endowed Medical Scholar Program with the New Jersey Health Foundation. NJME/CFSA welcomes contributions to our scholarship program and its endowment from all those interested in increasing physician knowledge of ME/ CFS. Those interested in contributing to the fund should contact NJME/CFSA through its website: www.njmecfsa.org, or contract Dr. Kenneth J. Friedman at kenneth.j.friedman@gmail.com. 

 While NJME/CFSA’s primary mission is to improve patient care for residents within New Jersey, we are also committed to improve ME/CFS patient care nationally and internationally. Accordingly, we will assist any organization or agency in establishing a Medical Scholar program. Requests for assistance in establishing additional Medical Scholar programs may be sent to our website, or to Dr. Friedman at the email address listed above.