Support Scholarships
Introduction
Donating in support of scholarships at the University of Illinois College of Medicine can help students realize their dream of a medical education and set them on course to become excellent clinical practitioners, researchers, and healthcare leaders.
You can foster the promising futures of deserving and exceptional students by contributing to an existing scholarship fund or by establishing a new one in your name or the name of someone you wish to honor.
Anna Staudacher, MD ′24
Scholarships have been nothing short of life-changing for me. The financial burden of medical education can be overwhelming, but scholarship support has alleviated this stress significantly, allowing me to focus wholeheartedly on my studies, clinical rotations, and pursuit of excellence in medicine.
| Recipient of Dr. Ralph E. Beck and Mrs. Joan L. Beck Scholarship
Your Gift Can
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Break Tuition Barriers
The total cost of medical school can reach $352,000 for an in-state UI College of Medicine student and up to $488,000 for an out-of-state student. Your support helps eliminate tuition as a barrier to a career in medicine.
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Empower Talented Students
Help keep our classrooms filled with the most gifted, motivated, and hardest-working students, regardless of their financial circumstances. Scholarships enable a broader pool of future leaders to enroll in our programs and contribute to advancing health for everyone.
Your gift can
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Relieve Financial Stress
On average, our students graduate with a debt of $250,000. Many of these students also carry significant pre-medical education debt. This burden can distract from their studies. Your gift allows students to focus fully on their education.
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Support Purpose-Driven Careers
Scholarships enable graduates to pursue careers in fields like primary care or pediatrics—areas of great need—without being deterred by financial pressures. Your support helps them follow their passion and serve their communities without worrying about incurring insurmountable debt.
Ways to Support Scholarships
Support an Existing Scholarship Fund
Join other generous donors in supporting one of our existing scholarship funds. Make a gift in any amount to the UI College of Medicine Scholarships Fund to benefit enrolled students with general medical school scholarship support. Or contact us for more information about funds dedicated to providing scholarship support in an area of specific interest to you.
Ways to support scholarships, create new fund
Establish a New Scholarship Fund
Creating a scholarship fund is a meaningful way to make a lasting impact on students’ lives and support the future of medical education. Whether you want to honor a loved one, celebrate a legacy or support students in a particular field of study, establishing a named scholarship provides a powerful opportunity to make a difference.
To begin the process or learn more about how you can create a lasting legacy through a named scholarship, please contact the Office of Advancement at SupportMed@uic.edu or 312-996-4470.
Types of scholarship funds
Current Use Scholarship Funds
When establishing a named scholarship fund for current use, you can immediately see your gift in action. Expendable scholarships are awarded in the same year in which the funds are received or in the following year, depending on the awarding cycle and schedule. These funds last until all principal funds are distributed to students. No further scholarships are awarded unless the gift is renewed.
As a current use scholarship fund donor, you will receive a report with information about the recipient(s) of your scholarship.
Endowed Scholarship Funds
Endowments are invested and produce spendable income each year. Establishing an endowed scholarship requires a contribution of $25,000 or more and an agreement signed by the donor and the University of Illinois Foundation (UIF). Gifts can be a one-time payment or paid over a period of time (up to five years). When the endowment is fully funded, scholarship awards can be made.
As an endowed scholarship donor, you will receive annual reports with updates on the fund’s financial performance as well as information about the scholarship recipients.
Kahaan Shah
Kahaan Shah was inspired to become a physician when he witnessed his blind grandfather’s condition begin to deteriorate. As he became closely involved with caring for his grandfather, he was confronted with the difficulties and barriers that immigrant communities face when trying to access healthcare.
Today, Kahaan is a student at UI COM, where he is gaining a premier medical education thanks in part to scholarship support made possible by generous donors. His scholarship reduced the burden and stress of having to take out loans. Now he is on his way to caring for communities that are overlooked.
| 2023-2024 Recipient of the Dr. and Mrs. William H. Kaufman Scholarship
Contact Us
Interested in learning more about making a scholarship gift? Please contact the Office of Advancement.