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\u201cToday is really important,\u201d said Nick Smith, BUSM Class of 2016. \u201cGetting to meet the face behind who\u2019s doing this for me – it\u2019s really special.\u201d<\/p>\n
To his surprise, Smith\u2019s donor was Aram Chobanian, MD, President\u00a0<\/span>Emeritus<\/em>, Boston University and Dean\u00a0<\/span>Emeritus<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>of the School of Medicine.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s terrific,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThe weight that I\u2019ll have in terms of debt going forward is that much less. Every little bit counts.\u201d<\/p>\n Thanks to scholarships established by generous donors, every year students who otherwise could not afford a BUSM education can pursue their dream of becoming a physician.<\/p>\n According to Emir Morais, co-interim director of BUSM\u2019s Student Financial Services, the cost of medical education presents a high barrier for many applicants \u2013 and a significant burden for many graduates. In fact, the Association of American Medical Colleges reports that 79 percent of medical students have debt of $100,000 or more after medical school.<\/p>\n \u201cScholarships help relieve some of the financial burden put on these students during and after their medical education,\u201d said Morais. \u201cThese funds support their education and their intellectual, professional and personal development. It gives them the opportunity to attend a medical school that fits their passions and a chance to choose a field they care about.\u201d<\/p>\n Over dinner and dessert, the students and donors were greeted by Dean Karen Antman, MD, who introduced Karanda Bowman, Class of 2016, and Adam Johnson, Class of 2017. Both students spoke about how their scholarships were a critical component in attending medical school.<\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t just given me<\/em> a gift,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cYou\u2019ve given my family a little more hope that everything really will be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n As the students parted ways with their donors, handshakes and hugs were exchanged. Pleasantries and advice about medical school filled the room. But as this writer will attest, two common, contagious sentiments elevated this event \u2013 honor and gratefulness.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to give kids the opportunity to be able to go to medical school without worrying about huge debts,\u201d said Elaine Kirshenbaum, a BU donor since 1983. \u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be able to support them.\u201d<\/p>\n