Tatiana Znayenko-Miller, a graduate student in MSHS in Integrative Medicine Program the at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Science, is the recipient of the 2018 Pay A BUCK Forward Grant for her work with the Ryan White Program, volunteering at The Center for Mind-Body Medicine and academic accomplishments. Awarded by the BUCK Cancer Foundation, the innovative educational grant program allows students to eliminate additional loans in exchange for a promise to help their future peers.
“It is fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with an organization that maintains a mission, to build a bridge between all viable forms of cancer research, in which I comprehensively believe – and, intend to dedicate my life to the furtherance of as an integrative physician,” said Tatiana, who was an oral health coordinator and non-medical case manager at the Ryan White Program. An advocate for Integrative Medicine, Tatiana is passionate about empowering people through education to promote longevity and compel better health outcomes.
The Pay A BUCK Forward program is focused on students currently enrolled, Like Tatiana, or those who plan to enroll in a program that focuses on integrative cancer treatments. The program covers a student’s tuition and fees and is available up to $5,000. The Pay A BUCK Forward Grant has a unique structure as a Giving Back Grant Program where upon graduation and employment, the student will begin to repay a set percentage of their salary to the BUCK Foundation so a grant can be provided to another round of students. This percentage varies with their salary and therefore does not put the student into debt. Previously, these income share agreements have been utilized by a few colleges as an alternative to student loans.
The BUCK Foundation's goal is to help fund the education of future physicians who are supportive of integrative medicine. “BUCK is focused on making integrative oncology standard cancer care in America and we are excited to award our next educational grant to Tatiana who is a great representative for our Pay A BUCK Forward program,” said BUCK Foundation President Lori Nonnemaker.
Nonnemaker and other BUCK Foundation representatives traveled to GW to present Tatiana with the grant, meet with Leigh Frame, PhD, Program Director, GW SMHS Integrative Medicine Programs, and Mikhail Kogan, MD,
Since May 2018, Tatiana has maintained an internship functioning as the Clinical Research Coordinator for The Center for Mind-Body Medicine. This position has extended her the opportunity to work directly with James S. Gordon, MD, Founder and Executive Director of CMBM. A Harvard educated psychiatrist, he is a world-renowned expert in using mind-body medicine to heal depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma. Dr. Gordon has created ground-breaking programs of comprehensive mind-body healing for physicians, medical students, and other health professionals; for people with cancer, depression and other chronic illnesses; for children and families traumatized by natural and man-made disasters; and for U.S. Military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last fall, Tatiana and Dr. Gordon were featured on GW Integrative Medicine, a podcast about disease prevention and health promotion – from the GW Office of Integrative Medicine. Listen in here.
