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Stories of your support

Loyal alumni, friends and parents of medical students pave the way for future physicians

Record number of endowed scholarships established in FY21

The path to becoming a physician is as unique as the person who embarks on the journey, yet one thing is familiar to many aspiring doctors: the heavy financial burden that accompanies a medical education. At UMass Chan Medical School*, more deserving students will get the support they need thanks to numerous alumni and friends, and T.H. Chan School of Medicine parents, who generously established 11 new endowed scholarships in fiscal year 2021—the most endowed scholarships established by individuals in one fiscal year in the Medical School’s history.

“Our Medical School provides its students with access to exceptional academic experiences, and we are able to do so because of the generosity of alumni, parents and friends,” said Terence R. Flotte, MD, the Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor in Medical Education, dean of the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, vice provost and executive deputy chancellor. “Their support of scholarships, in particular, makes it so that we can have a diverse student body—and that those students can concentrate fully on becoming the best they can be. Our donors are truly paving the way for these future physicians, enabling them to become the caring, skilled and compassionate health care providers we all need to live the healthiest lives possible, and we are extremely grateful for their partnership.”

Scholarships at UMass Chan are essential because they help to attract and support talented and deserving students. Endowed scholarship funds are particularly notable: the principal funds are invested and a portion of the interest earned annually from those investments is awarded as scholarships, providing continuous and everlasting support for UMass Chan students.

“Having a scholarship is so incredibly meaningful to me,” said Emily Chin, Chan School of Medicine Class of 2023, whose parents passed away before she finished college due to cancer. “It has enabled me to chase my medical dreams to become a physician in the absence of my parents’ support.”

Here are 10 of the 11 endowed scholarships established in FY21, and why our donors created them:

Dr. Danuta J. Antkowiak Memorial Scholarship

Established by: Family and friends of Dr. Antkowiak

“My mother was a beloved family physician in Central Massachusetts for more than 20 years,” said Peter Antkowiak, MD, MPH.” Many of her patients were with her for decades because she went above and beyond in caring for not just the patient, but the whole family. She was skilled, compassionate, and thorough. She inspired my brother and I to pursue careers in medicine, and we strive to practice by her example. When she passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer, our family and her close friends wanted to honor her memory in a way that echoed what she did throughout her life: make people’s lives better. Creating this scholarship at UMass Chan Medical School to honor her legacy and support future physicians was the perfect way to do that.”

Bilazarian Family Scholarship

Established by: Melanie Bilazarian and Seth D. Bilazarian, MD’86

“Melanie and I are delighted to contribute to the student scholarship program at UMass Chan Medical School,” said Seth Bilazarian, MD’86. “UMass gave me so much and our roots, and families, are in Worcester County. We are eager to support the mission of advancing medical education to prepare the next generation of physicians to provide excellent medical care for the community, and to advance innovative care and clinical science globally. We’re so proud, and pleased, to be able to do this.”

Drs. Mary Ellen and Steven M. Davis Scholarship

Established by: Mary Ellen Davis, PhD P’16, and Steven Davis, MD P’16

“As a clinician at the Medical School's clinical partner for many years, I've worked with countless students and I've always been impressed with them,” said Steven Davis, MD P’16. “And one of our children is a graduate, so we've also seen firsthand the high-quality training experience that is provided. We've supported the Medical School for a long time and felt that establishing an endowed scholarship was another wonderful way to give back.”

Dowell Infection Connection Scholarship

Established by: Caryn Dowell and Mark E. Dowell, MD’85

“UMass set the foundation and gave me an opportunity to find myself and launch my career, so there is a deep connection there,” said Mark Dowell, MD’85. “I never thought I’d reach the amount of professional satisfaction and pride that I’ve been able to develop, and it’s because of this university. We created a scholarship at the Medical School because we’re thankful, and we want to help others have the same opportunities.”

Drs. Claudy and Jennifer Mullon Scholarship

Established by: Jennifer P. Mullon, MD’91, and Claudy Mullon, PhD

“I loved my experience at UMMS. I appreciated the price of my education and was grateful that my class was so diverse with people from different backgrounds and different ages,” said Jennifer Mullon, MD’91. “For me, giving back and doing so regularly is important—especially to a place that made such a great impact on my life. My husband and I were happy to support current and future students in this way. I couldn't think of a better way to honor my 30th Medical School reunion!”

Elyssa Aronson Pellish and Randall Pellish, Class of 2001 Scholarship

Established by: Elyssa Aronson Pellish, MD’01, and Randall S. Pellish, MD’01

“The Medical School holds a very special place in our lives, as it's where we met and earned our medical degrees,” said Elyssa Aronson Pellish, MD’01, and Randall Pellish, MD’01. “We have such fond memories of UMass and greatly appreciate the education we received, and feel it is important to stay involved. Being a part of the Alumni Board was a terrific way to stay engaged, so when we learned about the opportunity to create an endowed scholarship, we enthusiastically said yes to establishing one. We are proud to help the next generation of UMass physicians. To us, going to UMass has been the gift that keeps on giving, and we felt it is our duty to give back.”

Riviera Ranch Scholarship

Established by: Marsha Feinberg P’23

“Philanthropy is very important to me, so when I decided to contribute to the Medical School, I wanted to do more than make a gift. I wanted to support a student who needed financial assistance to complete medical school,” said Marsha Feinberg P’23. “One of my children is a medical student at UMass Chan so I'm well aware of the rigorous curriculum there and of how deeply committed these students are to their training. Financial challenges shouldn't impede someone's ability to become a physician. I'm glad to be able to help however I can.”

Ann L. and Kai W. Wong, MD’86, Scholarship

Established by: Ann Wong and Kai W. Wong, MD’86

“I had a wonderful experience at UMass and wanted to support the medical school that had trained me and set me on my path,” said Kai Wong, MD’86. “Establishing an endowed scholarship to recognize my 35th reunion was a meaningful way to do that.”

Susanna Woo Lee, MD’78, Scholarship

Established by: Susanna Woo Lee, MD’78

“Growing up as an immigrant child with my family in southern Massachusetts in the early 1960s, I was old enough to experience racism from a few—but was also old enough to recognize enormous kindness from many others. Throughout medical school and my professional years, I never forgot the help I had received along the way. I realize the best way to repay the generosity of others is to pay it forward. My first endowed scholarship was established in 2018 in memory of my husband Bob who was an alumnus from the Class of 1976 and an exceptional physician. In early 2021, I set up a second endowed scholarship as a reaction to all the negativities resulting from many months of COVID, as well as to the rising anti-Asian racism. My hope is that these funds will help students in a positive and meaningful way—the way that kindness and generosity of others have helped me.”

The Mildred Kuzmarov Zylberszac and Leon Zylberszac Scholarship

Established by: Rachel Wulf Silver, MD’94, and Brian Silver, MD R’93 R’96

"As alumni, we are grateful for the invaluable education that UMass Chan Medical School provides to its students and residents. The focus on community health by the school is particularly meaningful to us. Brian's parents were deeply committed to education and this scholarship in their memory is meant to further those goals.”

FY21 stories of giving

^*As of Sept. 7, 2021, which is in the FY22 fiscal year, UMass Chan Medical School is now UMass Chan Medical School thanks to a transformational gift.