The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society is proud to announce that our Student Financial Services division awarded $63,000 in scholarships to medical students in their Fall 2021 awards period.
“This is one of the best Fall scholarship periods that we’ve seen in some time,” said Deborah Monko, Director of Student Financial Services at The Foundation. “These scholarship dollars ease the stress of funding their education, and helps medical students fulfill their dream of becoming a physician.”
The Foundation administers multiple yearly scholarship programs throughout the year. These scholarship opportunities are made possible by generous contributions from the Pennsylvania Medical Society and its Alliance, county medical societies and alliances, physician members, and other partnerships within the medical community.
The Foundation sends its congratulations to the recipients of the Fall 2021 scholarship dollars:
- Naaila Ali (Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Class of 2022) was awarded a $3,500 scholarship from the Endowment for South Asian Students of Indian Descent Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2002 by Drs. Jitendra M. and Saryu J. Desai.
- Kate E. Arner (Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University - Class of 2024) was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from the Lehigh County Medical Auxiliary Scholarship and Educational (LeCoMASE) Fund Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible by contributions from the Lehigh County Medical Auxiliary's Scholarship and Educational (LeCoMASE) Fund.
- Adam Barsouk (Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson - Class of 2023) was awarded a $4,000 scholarship from the Allegheny County Medical Society Medical Student Scholarship. This scholarship was made possible by contributions from the Allegheny County Medical Society Foundation, which established the fund within the Foundation to assist local students with the cost of attending a Pennsylvania medical school.
- Leah J. Beight (Georgetown University School of Medicine - Class of 2025) was awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the Montgomery County Medical Society - William W. Lander, MD, Medical Student Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible by contributions from Montgomery County Medical Society and physicians.
- Eva Chau (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine - Class of 2025) was awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Shah Family Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2017 and is made possible by contributions received from Drs. Jitendra and Lina Shah of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
- Zamienta Codio (Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University - Class of 2025) was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from The Foundation Education Award Scholarship. The Foundation Education Award Scholarship is awarded to specified underrepresented minority medical students who are Pennsylvania residents attending a Pennsylvania medical school.
- Cain M. Dudek (Penn State University College of Medicine - Class of 2025) was awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the Lycoming County Medical Society Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible by contributions from Lycoming County physicians.
- Dominic M. Farronato (Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson - Class of 2024) was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Snyder, Union, & Northumberland (SUN) Counties Medical Student Scholarship. This award is made possible by contributions received from Marjorie Poff Gillespy, MD, one of the first female physicians from the “SUN” County region.
- Jessica L. Kerstetter (Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University - Class of 2023) was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Snyder, Union, & Northumberland (SUN) Counties Medical Student Scholarship. This award is made possible by contributions received from Marjorie Poff Gillespy, MD, one of the first female physicians from the “SUN” County region.
- Makayla B. Lagerman (Penn State University College of Medicine - Class of 2024) was awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Scott A. Gunder, MD, DCMS Presidential Scholarship Fund. This fund was established in 2000 to honor the memory of Scott A. Gunder, MD, and perpetuated by the Dauphin County Medical Society.
- Marilyn Le (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Class of 2022) was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from The Foundation Education Award Scholarship. The Foundation Education Award Scholarship is awarded to specified underrepresented minority medical students who are Pennsylvania residents attending a Pennsylvania medical school.
- Sylvia S. Rhodes (Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania - Class of 2024) was awarded scholarships totaling $7,000 from the Blair County Medical Society Scholarship and the Shah Family Scholarship. The Blair County Medical Society Scholarship possible by $50,000 contribution from the Blair County Medical Society. The Shah Family Scholarship was established in 2017 and is made possible by contributions received from Drs. Jitendra and Lina Shah of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
- Raya Saba (West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine - Class of 2024) was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from the Lehigh County Medical Auxiliary Scholarship and Educational (LeCoMASE) Fund Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible by contributions from the Lehigh County Medical Auxiliary's Scholarship and Educational (LeCoMASE) Fund.
- Elton Veseli (George Washington University School of Medicine - Class of 2025) was awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the Myrtle Siegfried, MD, and Michael Vigilante, MD, Scholarship. The scholarship was made possible through a memorial contribution from Mrs. Elena Pascal, Foundation trustee, and her sister, Mrs. Carla Vigilante, in honor of their parents, Drs. Siegfried and Vigilante, who practiced medicine in Allentown for more than 50 years.
- Janet Wu (Stanford University School of Medicine - Class of 2026) was awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the Montgomery County Medical Society - William W. Lander, MD, Medical Student Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible by contributions from Montgomery County Medical Society and physicians.
- Jia Ying Zheng (Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine - Class of 2024) was awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the Lycoming County Medical Society Scholarship. This scholarship is made possible by contributions from Lycoming County physicians.
If you are interested in learning more about establishing a scholarship endowment fund, or if you would like to contribute to an existing scholarship, contact The Foundation today! More information about existing scholarships can be found on our website, www.foundationpamedsoc.org/student-financial-services/scholarships.