Why Apply for the ACR Travel Scholarship?

Sara Siddiqui, new Vice Chair of the ACR® Medical Student Section (MSS) Steering Committee and fourth-year medical student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, contributed this article.

Attending the ACR Annual Meeting was a pivotal moment in my medical career. And without the ACR Medical Student Travel Scholarship, I would have been unable to participate in this enriching experience due to the costs of travel and attendance. I am deeply grateful to the ACR for investing in medical students and providing us with opportunities to envision the future of our field by learning from and connecting with seasoned radiologists.

The opening address by radiologist and CEO Robert Min, MD, MBA, FACR, cast a new perspective on what it means to be a radiologist. He emphasized that we are not just image interpreters, but we’re also leaders shaping healthcare through policy, quality improvement and innovation. His vision of radiologists serving at the forefront of tumor boards, reshaping health systems and joining national policy conversations broadened my understanding of the profession.

I attended the Radvocacy session led by Amy Patel, MD, whose dedication to increasing access to breast cancer imaging through Medicaid reform was inspiring. Her words reaffirmed my commitment to advancing equitable access to imaging and my aspirations to serve as a clinician, mentor and advocate within the field.

I learned about complex issues like Medicaid reimbursement cuts, the ongoing fight for essential imaging benefits and key policies that ACR helped bring about. Meeting with radiologists who lobby on Capitol Hill and at the state level demonstrated how impactful our voices can be in shaping healthcare policy, making it clear that we, even as medical students, have a role to play in shaping policies that directly impact our patients. ACR advocacy resources, such as the Radiology Advocacy Network and ACR state chapter support, offer tangible ways for us to get involved.

The medical student sessions aligned most closely with where I am in my medical career, and I was grateful to attend, knowing that these sessions grew out of the collective efforts and organizing of past medical students. I found it rewarding to engage with speakers and peers from across the country, and to meet my fellow committee members in person. The program director panel discussion included practical advice for students navigating residency applications, addressing how to request letters of recommendation, write personal statements and use program signaling.

I also connected with my state radiological society and attended a dinner with local radiologists and residents from my home state. Through this, I was introduced to a local mentor who generously met with me before and during the conference to offer guidance and encouragement.

The Medical Student Networking Lunch created a welcoming space for students to connect with residents, fellow students and peers from across the country. We exchanged advice on mentorship, personal fit and navigating applications, conversations that made me feel supported and confident as I prepared to apply for radiology residency.

Overall, attending the ACR Annual Meeting was truly invigorating. I am thankful to the ACR for its investment in medical students and for the support and mentorship I received.

If you’re inspired to attend ACR 2026, consider applying for the Medical Student Travel Scholarship! The College offers a maximum of 10 scholarships to medical students enrolled in U.S.- or Canadian-approved programs to support attendance. Applications for 2026 will open Sept. 1, 2025.

I look forward to staying actively involved in the ACR community through ACR member sections and ACR Engage, and to helping future medical students also feel supported and confident in their pursuit of a radiology career.