This September, applications will reopen for the Donum Fellowship — a philanthropic initiative launched by private investor Alexey Bashkirov to support young physicians specializing in anesthesiology and intensive care. Following a successful pilot in 2024, the program is set to return for the 2025–2026 academic year with expanded outreach and an even stronger commitment to nurturing the next generation of medical professionals.
The Donum Fellowship was created with a clear and purposeful mission: to provide meaningful financial assistance to early-career doctors undergoing some of the most demanding medical training in the field. Anesthesiology and critical care medicine are complex and high-stakes specialties that require years of rigorous academic study, intensive clinical exposure, and hands-on experience. By offering quarterly scholarships, the Donum Fellowship aims to alleviate the financial pressures that often accompany this training — allowing residents to focus entirely on building the clinical competencies, decision-making skills, and emotional resilience required for excellence in patient care.
“Medicine is a calling, but it’s also a discipline that demands total focus and unwavering commitment,” says Bashkirov. “Our goal with the Donum Fellowship is to create a supportive and empowering environment where talented individuals can grow, learn, and ultimately thrive — without being burdened by economic obstacles.”
Building on a Strong Start
Since its initial launch, the Donum Fellowship has attracted significant interest from aspiring doctors. Dozens of applications poured in last year from residents at leading medical institutions, many of whom shared stories of perseverance, dedication, and a deep desire to contribute meaningfully to patient care. The program’s success has been measured not only in application numbers, but in the powerful testimonials of recipients who report real, tangible improvements in their academic and clinical experience.
One previous fellow described how the scholarship enabled her to participate in an intensive trauma rotation at a major urban hospital — a placement she would have otherwise had to decline due to financial constraints. Others have noted that the Donum Fellowship allowed them to reduce their working hours outside of medicine, freeing up crucial time for study, patient care, and rest.
These real-world impacts illustrate the core value of the Donum initiative: providing not just money, but meaningful opportunity.
Fellowship Structure and Application Details
For the upcoming academic year, the Donum Fellowship will continue to provide quarterly disbursements throughout the full residency cycle. The program is open to current medical residents specializing in anesthesiology or intensive care who can demonstrate academic aptitude, professional dedication, and a clear commitment to their field.
The application process is designed to be thorough yet accessible. Interested candidates can apply through the official Donum website at donum.pro. Applicants must provide details about their educational and clinical background, motivations for entering their specialty, and documentation confirming their current residency status at an accredited institution.
Submissions will be accepted at October 2025. After the deadline, a selection committee composed of medical advisors, academic professionals, and program administrators will review each application. Selection criteria will be based on a combination of merit, motivation, and demonstrated financial need — ensuring that support reaches those who will benefit from it the most.
In addition to funding, the program may offer future recipients access to peer support, mentorship, and professional development resources as part of Donum’s evolving vision.
A Long-Term Vision for Medical Philanthropy
Bashkirov’s broader vision extends well beyond the current fellowship cycle. He sees the Donum initiative as a long-term, strategic investment in healthcare ecosystem — one that begins by empowering individuals but ultimately contributes to the resilience and quality of the healthcare system as a whole.
“In many ways, the quality of a healthcare system is defined by the quality of its people,” he explains. “By supporting young doctors now, we’re investing in the future strength, innovation, and compassion of the entire sector.”
He also notes that anesthesiology and critical care are particularly under-resourced in many regions — despite being indispensable to modern medicine, especially in emergency and surgical settings. By directing philanthropic resources into these critical areas, the Donum Fellowship not only supports individual doctors but also helps address systemic challenges and care delivery gaps.
The program continues to evolve in response to feedback from past fellows, medical educators, and healthcare leaders. Future enhancements may include formal mentorship opportunities, clinical workshops, or international exchanges aimed at exposing fellows to best practices and innovations from healthcare systems around the world. These potential expansions are currently under development as part of Donum’s long-term roadmap.
About Alexey Bashkirov
Alexey Bashkirov is a private investor, philanthropist, and advocate for human capital development, with a background spanning finance, strategy, and social impact. He began his career at McKinsey & Company and subsequently held senior roles at ING Barings, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs. In 2015, he co-founded a private investment fund focused on scaling high-growth technology companies across Southeast Asia, India, and Europe.
Bashkirov’s approach to philanthropy closely mirrors his philosophy in business: strategic, data-driven, and oriented toward measurable, long-term impact. Through Donum, he brings this mindset into the healthcare sector, with the goal of building lasting value by empowering dedicated professionals at a critical point in their development.
His belief in transparency, accountability, and sustainable growth has informed every element of the fellowship’s design. By aligning mission with measurable outcomes, the Donum Fellowship sets a new standard for effective giving in the healthcare space.
Donum is more than a scholarship — it is a platform for change, a catalyst for excellence, and a reflection of belief in the power of people. It stands as a testament to what is possible when philanthropy is used not just to fund, but to uplift, empower, and invest in the future of care.
