Surviving & Thriving With a Life-Altering Injury Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Physician Life Care Planning
We are continually inspired by the resilience of individuals living with catastrophic injuries and by the networks of family and friends who support them. To highlight real-world challenges, effective supports, and promising strategies that help people rebuild meaningful lives after life-altering injury, Physician Life Care Planning is offering the $2,500 Surviving & Thriving With a Life-Altering Injury Scholarship.
Eligibility
- Open to undergraduate and graduate students.
- Must be in good academic standing.
- Must be enrolled in or formally accepted to an accredited U.S. college, university, or graduate program.
- Must agree to the scholarship’s terms and conditions.
- Must submit the required application materials.
- Must have personally experienced, or be closely connected to someone who has experienced, a life-altering catastrophic injury.
How to apply
1. Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria above.
2. Write an essay on the topic described below (500–1,000 words).
3. Complete the online application form on this page and upload your essay (PDF).
4. Fill in all required fields on the form and review/accept the scholarship terms and conditions.
5. Submit the form before the deadline.
Essay topic and purpose
If you, a family member, or someone close to you has endured a life-changing injury, tell us about that experience in 500–1,000 words. We want to learn which services, supports, and approaches made the biggest positive difference — or which might have helped had they been available — in achieving better outcomes for the injured person and their loved ones.
Please make sure your essay addresses:
- What happened (basic incident description, e.g., motor vehicle crash, workplace accident).
- The injured person’s medical condition (e.g., traumatic brain injury, tetraplegia, amputation, severe burn, chronic pain).
- The main challenges and functional limitations that resulted (e.g., inability to work, social participation losses).
- Any environmental, social, attitudinal, or rehabilitation strategies that significantly improved coping, adjustment, recovery, or quality of life for the injured person and their family/friends.
- Any medical services, devices, care models, rehabilitation programs, or home/environmental modifications that had a notable positive impact.
Formatting and required elements
To be considered, your essay must include:
- A header listing: your full name; the scholarship name; the school you attend; your GPA; the mailing address of your institution’s financial aid office (for prize delivery); the financial aid office email and phone number; and your student ID number.
- An original, engaging title.
- A bibliography listing any sources used (books, websites, articles, reports, etc.).
- Citations where appropriate.
File name and submission
- Save your completed essay as a PDF named: The Surviving & Thriving With a Life-Altering Injury Scholarship 2026 – Student Name
- Submit the PDF using the application form on this page.
Deadline and selection timeline
- Application deadline: April 15, 2026. Submissions received after this date will not be considered.
- After the deadline, entries are reviewed by the scholarship selection committee. The selection process typically takes 1–3 months.
- Due to the expected volume of entries, we cannot respond to individual inquiries about the scholarship. All necessary information is provided on this page and in the official terms and conditions.
Purpose statement
We cannot stop the events that cause catastrophic injury, but better planning and informed supports can change outcomes. Through life care planning and by sharing real experiences, we aim to improve services and supports for people facing life-altering injury. We appreciate your contribution and look forward to learning from your story.