FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016
Contact: Karen Foy, WVSMAA, 304-925-0342, ext. 25
Sheanna M. Spence, Assistant Director, Alumni Affairs & Community Relations, Marshall School of Medicine, 304-691-1639
West Virginia State Medical Association Alliance establishes Marshall School of Medicine scholarship
CHARLESTON, W.Va. –This week, the West Virginia State Medical Association Alliance (WVSMAA) donated $90,000 to help provide scholarships for new medical students in West Virginia. The Alliance is a membership organization comprised of physicians' spouses. WVSMAA has held numerous fundraisers over the years for a variety of healthcare related projects throughout the state, primarily focusing on women's and children's health issues.
Their fundraising has been entirely self-supported—all donations have been provided by WVSMAA members. Their latest effort provides $30,000 endowments to each of the three medical schools in the state: the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, and the WV University School of Medicine. The endowments will be known as the WVSMA Alliance Scholarship. Interest from the endowments is expected to provide at least three $1,000 scholarships each year to West Virginia residents entering one of the three medical schools. The eligibility criteria include academic performance, leadership experience and financial need.
Rahul Gupta, M.D., attended the presentation of the endowments. He serves as chairman of the WV Medical Foundation. The WV Medical Foundation served as the custodian of the fund since 2003. With the establishment of the endowments by the WVSMAA, administration of the scholarship fund has now been turned over to the three medical schools.
Members of the WVSMAA who participated in the endowment presentation were Sarah Wade, Ruth Gilbert, Judy Bofil, Sue McKinney and Rose Romero. Karen Foy, Director of the WV Medical Foundation and Sue Baek, Director, Health Care Policy and Legislative Affairs for the WVSMA and a WVSMAA member, were also present.
The WVSMA Alliance fund was established in 2003 when then-WVSMAA President Sarah Wade presented a check for $2,000 to Dr. Ron Stollings, who at the time was chairman of the West Virginia Medical Foundation, the administrator of the fund. Many thanks to Sarah Wade for initiating the scholarship fund and breathing new life into the fund through these endowments.
The WVSMAA is excited to offer these endowment opportunities to the medical community. Donations to the endowments can be made in honor of someone, as a memorial or to support an alma mater. To make a gift to the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, contact Linda Holmes, director of development & alumni affairs, at 304-691-1711 or holmes@marshall.edu or make a gift online at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/marshalljcesom.
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Photo caption: The West Virginia State Medical Association Alliance establishes a new endowed scholarship with the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. Pictured left to right are Sue McKinney; Ruth Gilbert; Sheanna Spence, assistant director, School of Medicine; Rahul Gupta, M.D., chairman, WV Medical Foundation; Linda Holmes, director of development & alumni affairs, School of Medicine; Sarah Wade; and Rose Romero.
About the WVSMA
Established in 1867, the West Virginia State Medical Association is a physician-based organization which focuses on public health issues, strives to provide the highest level of continuing medical education, and seeks to promote the time-honored commitment to the medical profession while improving the quality of life for West Virginians. The WVSMA encourages its members to be involved, not only through their state and county medical societies but within their communities. Physicians throughout West Virginia dedicate their time and commitment to their communities by offering free medical services to sick and needy families and participating in many civic and educational activities. To learn more, go to wvsma.org.
Date Posted: Thursday, September 8, 2016
