Medical student awarded Hillel Foundation scholarship

The University of Arizona Hillel Foundation awarded Olivia Mitchel, a third-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, the Shirley D. Curson Medical Student Scholarship, a two-year award that provides $17,500 a year for a student’s third and fourth years of medical school.

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The Hillel Foundation, an on-campus Jewish organization that encourages student leadership and initiative, provides the scholarship to students at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson or the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix. The merit-based scholarship recognizes Jewish students with a history of social or civic responsibility, community involvement and service.

“It’s a huge honor to receive this scholarship,” said Mitchel, who is considering a career in obstetrics and gynecology. “It really motivates me to make the most out of my medical education and fully immerse myself in my clinical rotations. I’m excited to continue serving my community and hope to be a mentor for aspiring medical students navigating what can certainly be a daunting process.”

Mitchel grew up in San Francisco, where she volunteered with Jewish Family and Children’s Services delivering food to older members of the community. As an undergraduate at Stanford University, Mitchel, a pianist and singer, served as the musical director of Stanford Side by Side, a community service singing group that performs at Bay Area nursing homes. 

“I witnessed firsthand music’s incredible capacity to transcend language and evoke universal emotions across all barriers,” Mitchel said. “I interacted with hundreds of seniors who shared life stories and spoke about disabilities and challenges. Many were neurologically compromised, exhibiting a range of cognitive and behavioral signs. Stanford Side by Side gave me a glimpse into the reality of the end-of-life period and helped me gain an appreciation for the power of patience and compassion in improving quality of life.”

Mitchel said she was drawn to the medical profession because of a lifelong yearning to alleviate human suffering through the integration of science, empathy and compassionate care. She is particularly interested in caring for those who face challenges that make it difficult to receive medical attention.

At the College of Medicine – Tucson, Mitchel was the lead coordinator for the Women’s Clinic, which offers free health care through the college’s Commitment to Underserved People Program.

“Providing patient education and community resources is one of the most important responsibilities of our CUP clinics,” Mitchel said. “During my time in the clinic, we saw patients from a variety of cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. We always made it a priority to meet patients where they were. We fostered an environment in which patients were encouraged to ask questions, voice their concerns and make their own decisions with the support of our team. I found it meaningful to be able to play a role in empowering patients to take ownership of their health.”

Mitchel is actively engaged in clinical research focused on quality of life, including leading her own study on the safety of vaginal estrogen for managing side effects of antihormonal therapy in breast cancer patients. She recently presented the preliminary findings of this research at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago.

Nancy Koff, PhD, chair of the Hillel Foundation scholarship committee and a retired senior associate dean at the College of Medicine – Tucson, said she is excited to watch Mitchel pursue a career in medicine.

“Olivia is a truly remarkable woman. She has been a leader dedicated to community service throughout her undergraduate college years and as a medical student,” Koff said. “Olivia understands and demonstrates the parallel values of Judaism and those of physicians for learning and providing compassionate care.

“It is clear that Olivia will continue to be a strong role model of these values throughout her life and career. I find it hard to imagine a more deserving and appropriate representative of the Shirley D. Curson U of A Hillel Foundation Scholarship.”

Mitchel will graduate from the College of Medicine – Tucson in May 2027.