| Scholarship recipients share their stories |
The 2008 Scholarship Celebration From global health to basic science research, snoring to sleep apnea, Feinberg School of Medicine scholars had an opportunity on April 27 to share their stories on how and why they were drawn to medicine. Along with these scholars, faculty and staff gathered with medical alumni to celebrate scholarship and "a legacy of learning" at the annual scholarship celebration luncheon. After a warm welcome from vice president for medical affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean, J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, and Dean for Education, Raymond Curry, MD, the crowd, including many alumni visiting Chicago for their class reunion weekends, was treated to personal thank yous from student scholarship-recipients.  | Michael Newman (c) and Birtukan Belew pose with an alumnus (l) |
The afternoon began with a speech from Dimitar Zlatev, the Class of 1958 Scholar, who described how his father's snoring and sleep apnea had led him to tie his interest in computer science to medicine. He thanked the entire class of donors, saying "Having found my way to medicine through a non-traditional path, I'm honored to be supported and welcomed by the school's many accomplished and dedicated alumni. Your support feels like an investment in me and a vote of confidence in my future."
A similarly gracious sentiment was reflected in the speech of Birtukan Belew, the Freddie Peterson Scholar, named in honor of a medical school alumna who dedicated herself to serving the underserved. Ms. Belew stated, "I am daily reminded that I can afford to look forward to a rewarding life as a physician because the burden of debt is lessened by the selfless gifts each of you make, and for that, my fellow scholarship recipients and I will be forever grateful. Although Dr. Peterson is no longer with us, I will continue her mission by caring for the most vulnerable and impoverished." | Camellia Asgarian with representatives from the Class of 1955 |
Michael Newman, one of four recipients of a Medical Alumni Scholarship, explained how basic science research led him to the Feinberg School and why he felt so lucky to study here: "I strongly believe in the importance of basic research, and both Feinberg faculty and donors like you have facilitated what I believe to be a productive transition from basic science to medicine. Your generosity has helped make it possible for me to attend a school that not only provides an outstanding medical education, but encourages me to grow as both a physician and a researcher." The scholars' comments came to an end with a speech from Camellia Asgarian, the Class of 1955 Scholar. Representatives from the class, Drs. J. Richard Crout, James F. Eggert, and David B. Stevens, celebrating their 50th reunion, ended the afternoon in remembrance of their late classmate honored with this scholarship, Bruno Epstein. Ms. Asgarian also spoke of Bruno Epstein, saying, "Being awarded a scholarship in honor of Bruno Epstein is truly moving. It's a great feeling to know that Dr. Epstein has been warmly remembered throughout the years by his classmates, and that through my own work in the future, I will be helping to ensure that he will not be forgotten. This scholarship is a profound statement about the values that the members of the Class of 1955 share—generosity, loyalty, and a commitment to their friends and to the future of medicine."  | Dean Jameson with the medical scholarship recipients |
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