A Match Made in Medicine

Though the cost of medical education can be daunting, five new donor-supported scholarships—bolstered by matching funds—are empowering students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to pursue their degrees at PSOM.

Edgar Black, M’78, has seen the positive impact of supporting his Class Scholarship Fund for more than four decades. He and his wife LaDonna recently decided to expand their commitment by establishing the Edgar Black, M’78, and LaDonna Black Impact Scholarship Fund. “We hope students at the Perelman School of Medicine can pursue their passions without making career choices based on student loan repayment,” says Edgar.

Rachna P. Naidu Scholarship Fund and Sanjiv H. Naidu, M.D., Ph.D. Scholarship Fund

Sanjiv Naidu, M’88, GR’99, was also motivated by a desire to support future physicians who will make a difference in their patients’ lives. “The world needs good doctors,” he says, “and there is no finer place to get a medical degree with the invaluable guidance of excellent mentors than the Perelman School of Medicine.” Naidu chose to establish two new scholarships: the Rachna P. Naidu Scholarship Fund in honor of his wife, and the Sanjiv H. Naidu, M.D., Ph.D. Scholarship Fund.

David M. and Kathleen M. Guarnieri Scholarship

Mentorship and immediate access to hands-on learning opportu­nities were two important consider­ations for Adina Singer, C’20, M’26, when choosing a medical school. Singer worked as a strategy consultant in biopharma for nearly two years before enrolling at PSOM, where she is a recipient of the David M. and Kathleen M. Guarnieri Scholarship. “I love human stories, and I love science,” says Singer. “I feel so lucky to be a student here. When I was going through the admissions process and found out I was awarded a scholarship, it changed everything. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

David, M’84, and Kathy Guarnieri, both anesthesi­ologists, have always placed great value on education. “My Penn degree was a wonderful beginning for my profession,” says David. He and Kathy want future generations of medical students to experience the high-caliber education and pride that a Perelman School of Medicine education can deliver. They recently added to their scholarship fund, taking advantage of PSOM’s commitment to match donations. “We want to give others the same opportunities we had,” adds Kathy.

Barry M. Berger, M.D. Family Scholarship Fund

Barry Berger, M’76, echoes Kathy Guarnieri’s sentiments. “I was a scholarship student myself,” he says. “My experience at Penn created the foundation for a diverse and satisfying medical career, but without scholarship support, I would have been unable to attend.” He decided to establish the Barry M. Berger, M.D. Family Scholarship Fund to ease the debt burden for students, so they can choose their specialty without financial consideration. “Sharing resources in this way allows me to materially express my appreciation for the people who have preceded me and made a place like Penn and a career like mine possible.”

For Phoebe Cunning­ham, M’26, MPH’26—a Berger Scholar­ship recipient—this support gives her the freedom to explore her passion for public health. Cunningham decided to pursue medicine for the human element. “The career path that I’m interested in isn’t the most well-funded or financially rewarding,” says Cunningham. “But I’ll be able to graduate with less financial stress, which will give me the freedom to pursue those interests.”

The Perelman School of Medicine is currently offering matching opportunities to donors who wish to maximize their philanthropic impact. Eligible gifts include establishing new scholarships, adding to existing scholarships, and annual fund giving at certain levels. To learn more, contact Kobie Smith, GR’24, Executive Director of Development, at kobies@upenn.edu or (215) 898-7986.

Header photo by Dan Burke.