FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Contact:  Sheanna M. Spence, Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs & Community Relations, 304-691-1639

School of Medicine dean establishes scholarship in honor of wife

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Joseph I. Shapiro, M.D., dean of the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, has established a scholarship at the school in honor of his wife, Mary Ryan Shapiro. 

The Mary R. Shapiro Scholarship is an endowed scholarship that will be awarded to a medical student who is a poster or oral presentation winner at the annual School of Medicine Research Day. 

The award is renewable for three additional years pending normal academic progress.

"Mary and I are aware of our leadership responsibilities, and we believe that endowing scholarships is a way for all faculty and staff to empower future generations to serve the noble mission of our school," said Dr. Joseph Shapiro.

The Shapiros came to Huntington in 2012 when Dr. Shapiro was named as the fifth dean of the School of Medicine. Mary is a registered nurse and the daughter of a physician. Dr. and Mrs. Shapiro were married in 1988. The couple has two daughters—Anna, a third-year medical student at the University of Toledo, and Laura, a junior at The Ohio State University.

“Dr. Shapiro wanted to not only express his love for his wife, Mary, but also his commitment to reducing medical student debt through scholarships and supporting student research,” said Linda S. Holmes, director of development and alumni affairs for the School of Medicine. “He leads by action, and this scholarship serves as a great encouragement to others to join the cause.”

For more information on the scholarships or to make a gift to the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, please contact Holmes at 304-691-1711 or go to www.musom.marshall.edu/alumni.

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Photo cutline:  A scholarship in honor of Mary Ryan Shapiro (pictured) was established by her husband, Joseph I. Shapiro, M.D., dean of the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.

Date Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2015