ACPA Professional Scholarships 2026
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ACPA provides the opportunity for graduate students and young professionals studying in cleft and craniofacial fields and other providers the opportunity to become to become members of ACPA and attend the Annual Meeting through professional scholarships. Below is a list of professional scholarships available in 2026:

  • The David P. Kuehn Speech Scholarship: Named in honor of ACPA Member David P. Kuehn, this scholarship was established to help current master’s or doctoral students enrolled in a communication sciences and disorders or related program the opportunity to attend ACPA’s Annual Meeting. The David P. Kuehn Scholarship provides one $1,500 scholarship annually to be used toward meeting registration, travel, and lodging expenses related to ACPA’s Annual Meeting. The recipient also receives a one-year ACPA student membership.
  • The Donna Pruzansky Memorial Fund for Maternal and Child Health Nursing (DPMF) Grant: Established by Sam Pruzansky, MD, in memory of his wife who practiced as a nurse in the area of maternal and child health, this grant supports the participation of nurses new to their field the opportunity to attend ACPA’s Annual Meeting. The DPMF grant provides one $2,500 award annually to be used toward registration, travel, and lodging expenses related to ACPA’s Annual Meeting. The recipient also receives a one-year ACPA professional membership.
  • Mazaheri Young Professional Scholarship: Established by ACPA Member Mohammad Mazaheri, this scholarship supports the participation of professionals new to their field the opportunity to attend ACPA’s Annual Meeting. The Mazaheri Young Professional Scholarship provides one $1,000 award annually (subject to fund availability) to be used toward meeting registration, travel, and lodging expenses related to ACPA’s Annual Meeting. The recipient also receives a one-year ACPA professional membership.
  • James F. Mulick Educational Scholarship: Established by ACPA Member Dianne Altuna in memory of her father James F. Mulick this scholarship supports the participation of orthodontists in ACPA’s Annual Meeting. The James F. Mulick Educational Scholarship provides one $2,500 award annually to be used toward meeting registration, travel, and lodging expenses related to ACPA’s Annual Meeting. The recipient also receives a one-year ACPA professional membership.
  • John Riski Speech Scholarship: Named in honor of Dr. John Riski, the John Riski Speech Scholarship provides one $1,000 award annually to be used toward meeting registration, travel, and lodging expenses related to ACPA's Annual Meeting. The recipient also receives a one-year ACPA Membership. The recipient will be matched with an experienced craniofacial SLP to provide support and mentorship during ACPA's Annual Meeting.
  • Toni Chayra Memorial Travel Scholarship for Single Parents with Dependent Children: Established by ACPA member Dr. Garey Chayra in memory of his mother Toni Chayra, the Toni Chayra Memorial Travel Scholarship aims to lessen the financial barriers for a single working parent to attend ACPA’s Annual Meeting. This scholarship provides one $1,000 award annually to a working parent in the cleft and craniofacial field who does not have access to institutional support for continuing education. The award shall be used toward meeting registration, travel, and lodging expenses related to ACPA’s Annual Meeting. The recipient will also receive a one-year ACPA professional membership.
 

Please review the eligibility for each scholarship before beginning your application.

  • The David P. Kuehn Speech Scholarship: Priority will be given to PhD student candidates conducting or planning to conduct research related to cleft lip/palate and craniofacial anomalies. Non-ACPA members and ACPA members within their first three years of membership are eligible to apply. Award recipient must provide evidence of current enrollment in a US-accredited institution or training program.
  • The Donna Pruzansky Memorial Fund for Maternal and Child Health Nursing (DPMF) Grant: Nurses who devote at least 50% of their work time to the care of patients with cleft lip/palate and other craniofacial anomalies and who wish to increase their knowledge of the field are encouraged to apply. This grant is open to Non-Members and ACPA members who have joined within the last five years.
  • Mazaheri Young Professional Scholarship: To be eligible for the Mazaheri Young Professional Scholarship, individuals must have completed training and have worked in the cleft/craniofacial field for less than 10 years. Professionals from all specialties related to cleft and/or craniofacial care are encouraged to apply. This scholarship is open to ACPA Professional or Early Career members and non-members.
  • James F. Mulick Educational Scholarship: This scholarship is only open to orthodontists residing in the United States. Preference is given to community-based orthodontists, however, orthodontic residents and fellows may also apply. Non-ACPA members and ACPA members are eligible to apply.
  • John Riski Speech Scholarship: Speech pathology graduate and doctoral students interested in cleft/craniofacial conditions and speech pathologists within their first five years of clinical practice will be eligible to apply. All applicants must reside in the United States or Canada for consideration.
  • Toni Chayra Memorial Travel Scholarship for Single Parents with Dependent Children: To qualify, individuals must be a cleft/craniofacial professional working full-time in the United States and be a single parent of at least one dependent child.