SDN Turns 25: Launches Scholarship and Member Discounts

On December 1, 1999, the Student Doctor Network (SDN) launched as a grassroots, donor-supported platform providing free advising resources, tools, and peer support forums for students. For 25 years, SDN has guided countless aspiring healthcare professionals on their journeys.

“Over the years, websites have come and gone, but SDN has stood the test of time,” said longtime moderator GoSpursGo. “Many of us came to SDN as students and are now practicing healthcare professionals. We stay because we value this community and want to give back to the next generation of healthcare providers.”

“As we move into the next quarter-century, our team wanted to find a new way to support students,” said Laura Turner, Executive Director of SDN. “So we came up with the idea of launching a new scholarship program targeted at prehealth students.”

SDN Prehealth Scholarship

In celebration of our 25th anniversary, the newly established Student Doctor Network Prehealth Scholarship is a $2,500 award to prehealth students committed to improving the health of their marginalized or underserved home community as a doctoral-level health professional. Candidates must submit a professional school application for the 2025-2026 application cycle for these health professional careers:

• Medicine (MD/DO)
• Dentistry (DMD/DDS)
• Optometry (OD)
• Pharmacy (PharmD)
• Podiatry (DPM)
• Psychology (PsyD/PhD)
• Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD)
• Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Audiology/Speech Language Pathology (AuD/PhD)
  • Occupational Therapy (OTD)
  • Physical Therapy (DPT)

The award is designed to help students with the expenses associated with the application process.

To learn more, review the scholarship description and terms, and apply here.

Anniversary Discounts

In addition to the scholarship, SDN is offering exclusive discounts from our trusted partners to thank our community. “SDN would not be where we are today without the support of our sponsors and partners,” said Turner.

“As SDN celebrates 25 years, I’m humbled by the incredible work of our volunteers, members, and staff,” said founder Lee Burnett, DO, FAAFP. “We invite you to join us in shaping the future of SDN—whether you’re a student seeking guidance, a professional giving back, or an organization supporting our mission. Together, we can ensure every aspiring healthcare provider has the tools they need to succeed.”