Henry Schein Inc, Melville, NY, has created the Henry Schein Cares Medal, which will be awarded annually to organizations that demonstrate excellence in expanding access to care for the underserved.

Nine finalists will be selected among applicants in the fields of oral health, animal health, and medical health. The company is a provider of healthcare products and services to office-based dental, animal health, and medical practitioners. From those nine finalists, a medalist will be selected from each field, for a total of three medalists.

Each of the nine finalists will receive $10,000 worth of product from Henry Schein for use in caring for the underserved, and each of the three medalists will receive an additional $15,000 in cash from the Henry Schein Cares Foundation to support their charitable work.

Finalists will be notified in January 2016, and the medalists will be announced at a gala event in New York City later in 2016.

“Our company has been built on the concept of doing well by doing good,” said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Henry Schein. “But we also know that we cannot do good by ourselves. Our work is enriched by the selfless health care practitioners—dentists, physicians, veterinarians, and their teams—who volunteer to care for those in need. To support their work, we have established the Henry Schein Cares Medal, which will recognize their contribution to society and encourage others to follow in their footsteps.”

To be considered a candidate for this award, applicants must be a nonprofit organization or trust that is tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3) and that is a public charity (not a private foundation). The applicant should demonstrate that the program has expanded access to healthcare for the underserved in a novel and innovative way that is measurable and quantifiable. Emphasis will be placed on expanding access to healthcare for children (birth to age 18), although all efforts to expand access to care will be considered, including those involving animal health. Programs also should involve an established multidisciplinary team that demonstrates the expertise needed for a comprehensive solution to expand access to care. Lastly, programs should demonstrate potential for replication and large-scale impact, and should include a business plan or demonstration of financial sustainability.

Nominations will be accepted beginning August 17, 2015, through midnight Eastern time on November 1, 2015.

A panel of expert judges from the fields of medicine, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and business will evaluate the applications and select the finalists and medalists.

For more information on the program, and to apply for the award, visit http://www.hscaresfoundation.org/apply.asp.