Community Makes History: UCF College of Medicine Achieves Scholarship Goal

By Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala April 28, 2008

Students in the charter class at the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine will pursue -- for free -- their dreams of becoming medical doctors thanks to 40 scholarships fully funded by the Central Florida community.

University officials today announced the completion of the first-of-its-kind scholarship fundraising campaign. That means each student in the school’s charter class will receive a four-year scholarship worth $160,000 – about $20,000 for tuition and $20,000 for living expenses and fees each year.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, no other medical school in the nation has provided full scholarships to an entire class. The scholarships are significant because the average debt of a medical school graduate in 2007 was $139,517, according to the AAMC.

“This is a momentous occasion – we have made history,” said UCF President John Hitt. “Through the generosity of our community, we reached our goal of raising $6.4 million for this remarkable scholarship program. I want to thank everyone who helped us make an investment in our collective future.”

College of Medicine Dean Deborah German, M.D., who was a recipient of a full scholarship when she attended medical school, understands the huge impact scholarships will have on students and the college.

“It is quite something to give students a chance to dream big, as well as the means to achieve that dream,” German said. “But this is Orlando. We like to dream big here and then make it happen. I’m so thankful for the generosity of our community and the hard work of our university and College of Medicine staff.”

The successful completion of the campaign also received kudos from the AAMC.

“With rising debt levels a growing concern for medical education, we applaud innovative approaches, such as this scholarship program, to help students realize their dreams of becoming physicians,” said AAMC President and CEO, Darrrell G. Kirch, M.D.

The medical school scholarship campaign kicked off in June 2007. Two business leaders, Michael Minton, managing shareholder for Dean Mead, and Rasesh Thakkar, senior managing director of the Tavistock Group, donated money for the first two scholarships. Since then, they have chaired a committee to encourage others to do the same.

“The lawyers and staff of Dean Mead share a commitment to enhancing the communities in which we live and work,” said Minton, whose firm provided an endowed scholarship, which means it will continue in perpetuity. “The College of Medicine will be a tremendous asset to our community, and we wanted to be an integral part of the college's success. As the College of Medicine succeeds, our entire community prospers.”

The Tavistock Group, where Thakkar is the senior managing director, has shown support for the college since its inception by donating $12.5 million in a community challenge grant as well as over $40 million in land for the campus.

“To guarantee each and every student in the charter class a full scholarship is one sure-fire way to attract the highest quality candidates,” Thakkar said. “I think setting the bar high for the quality of the first class will set the stage for the caliber of every class that follows.”

The College of Medicine is set to open in fall 2009. The college will begin taking applications on June 1. Students who are admitted will automatically receive the scholarship.

Gaining acceptance into the medical school should be quite competitive. Requirements are posted at www.med.ucf.edu and officials say they are seeking the best and brightest candidates who are well rounded and have a pioneering spirit.

“Our first students will help us build our medical school,” German said. “Together with our faculty, researchers and partners, we will set the standard for medical education and improve health care in Central Florida. We are seeking unique individuals who want to lead the way into the 21st century.”

The UCF College of Medicine was established in 2006 to increase opportunities for medical education in Florida, address the growing physician shortage nationwide and provide economic benefits to Central Florida and the state through research and technology.

The four-year medical program will capitalize on UCF’s existing strengths in biomedical sciences, modeling and simulation, and optics and photonics. Other programs in materials science, psychology, chemistry, film and digital media, hospitality and nursing will support the College of Medicine. The college will eventually produce about 120 medical graduates each year.

The college will be located in the Lake Nona community just east of the Orlando International Airport. The site is south of State Road 417 at a new interchange between Boggy Creek and Narcoosee roads.

UCF Stands For Opportunity --The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 6th largest in the nation with more than 48,000 students. UCF's first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research environments that power the region's economic development. UCF's culture of opportunity is driven by our diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and our youth, relevance and energy. For more information visit http://news.ucf.edu

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