The award will cover up to $1,000 in travel and housing costs during a four-week advanced elective.

The University of Iowa Department of Urology has announced a new scholarship to offer out-of-state medical students the opportunity to study at one of the nation’s most renowned academic urology programs. The scholarship was created to honor the memory of Burr H. Perrin of Marshalltown, Iowa, a strong supporter of medical education in Iowa.

The award provides up to $1,000 toward travel and housing expenses to out-of-state students interested in an away elective in urology and who have successfully completed the third year of medical school at an LCME-accredited institution. One or two outstanding medical students will be selected for the award each year.

Iowa alum Burr H. Perrin loved Hawkeye football and catching walleye, and he was an ardent supporter of medical education in Iowa.

“For talented students who may not be familiar with our residency program, this award offers a great chance to come to Iowa and experience the high-quality medical education and training we have here,” says Chad R. Tracy, MD, director of the UI Department of Urology Residency Program. “It’s a fitting tribute to Burr H. Perrin, who loved the Iowa Hawkeyes and cared deeply about ensuring high-quality medical education and health care in our state.”

As a baby Mr. Perrin received state-of-the-art treatment for clubfoot at the UI, and after serving as a U.S. Army medic during World War II, he attended the UI, where his job as a night-shift ambulance driver inspired him to consider serving his community in the funeral business. He built and grew a successful firm in Marshalltown, where he was known as a quiet philanthropist with an enduring passion for fishing and Hawkeye football.

Awardees of the Burr H. Perrin scholarship will participate in surgical and clinical services provided by the UI Department of Urology and in educational programming such as skills labs and conferences. Awardees will also present a 10- to 15-minute discussion on an aspect of urologic medicine during an educational conference.

In addition to the Burr H. Perrin scholarship, the UI Department of Urology also offers a diversity scholarship for visiting medical students who are from groups that are underrepresented in medicine or who are interested in working with underserved populations.

The advanced elective covers all aspects of urology, giving students access to training from leaders in each subspecialty in the UI Department of Urology. With multiple yearly robotic and laparoscopic surgical labs, the department is an ideal environment for learners to investigate and implement the latest technology available.

“Students enjoy our training because they get so much valuable experience, working right alongside our faculty, residents, and fellows during endoscopic, laparoscopic, oncologic, and reconstructive adult and pediatric surgery,” says Paul T. Gellhaus, MD, director of medical student training in the UI Department of Urology. “And we have such a collegial group that really works well together. It’s a family-oriented atmosphere that encourages collaboration and participation.”

Students interested in applying for a scholarship can visit the Medical Student Training section of the UI Department of Urology website to get more information, including all application requirements and deadlines.

The University of Iowa Department of Urology is a worldwide leader in urologic care, research, and education and one of the oldest academic urology departments in the nation. For more than 100 years, UI urologists have developed innovative techniques and technologies that improve the health of Iowans, expand the frontiers of medicine, and train new generations of talented physicians. The Rubin H. Flocks Urology Clinic at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics delivers unparalleled expertise in areas that include minimally invasive robotics, advanced reconstructive surgery, and diagnosis and treatment of urologic cancers, and it is home to the only team of board-certified pediatric urologists in Iowa.