Ruth Gottesman makes $1.5b donation to New York medical school

Ruth Gottesman, a former paediatrics professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, made the large donation to the school earlier this week. According to a statement from the private college, it is the largest gift made to a US medical school in history and one of the largest donations made to an educational institution.

On Monday, students were gathered in a large hall when a representative of the college announced “starting August, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine will be tuition free.”

Students erupted into tears and leaped out of their seats. Students in their final year at the school will be reimbursed for their spring tuition this year. Starting August, every student — including those who are currently enrolled, will receive free tuition.

The college’s Dean, Dr Yaron Yomer described the donation as a “transformational” gift that “radically revolutionises our ability to continue attracting students who are committed to our mission, not just those who can afford it”.

“This…gift is intended to attract a talented and diverse pool of individuals who may not otherwise have the means to pursue a medical education,” Dr Yomer said in a statement.

Her latest donation is especially signifiant as it’s going towards a medical school in the Bronx, which is New York’s poorest and most unhealthy borough.

According to the college’s own data, roughly two-thirds of first-year students are women. The majority of students across all years are white (48 per cent), with 29 per cent Asian, 11 per cent Hispanic, and 5 per cent Black.

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine is now the second tuition-free medical school in New York. New York University School of Medicine announced in 2018 that it would go tuition free.

https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/ruth-gottesman-makes-1-5b-donation-to-new-york-medical-school/