A Celebration of Scholarship 2023

A

Celebration of Scholarship Support

Your impact on RUSH University students and the future of health care

October 2023

Scholarship Impact by the Numbers: 2022-23 Academic

Year

$12.2 million in scholarships, grants and awards to students — representing the highest amount ever distributed in RUSH University’s history

923 students received a donor-funded scholarship, award or institutional grant, with an average award amount of $13,265

29% of students received a scholarship, grant or award

80% of students received some form of financial assistance

Scholarship Breakdown by College

Message From the President

Dear Donor Partner,

Larry J. Goodman, MD Interim President RUSH University

Thank you for your generous support of RUSH University scholarships. As a RUSH University donor, you are helping to ensure that our students, the health care leaders of tomorrow, obtain a world-class education.

RUSH students are part of many of the highest-ranked degree programs in the country. They gain hands-on experience alongside esteemed faculty at RUSH, a national leader in health care excellence. And they are invested in the communities we serve, advancing the long-standing commitment to health equity that permeates every component of our mission and our academic health system.

Together, we are preparing the change agents needed to transform health care for the better. In fact, they’re already doing it. Through the RUSH Community Service Initiatives Program, our learners volunteer roughly 15,000 hours to activities that address health disparities. RUSH students lead our health system in embracing wellness programs, creating a healthier future for the workforce. They also bring enthusiasm to clinical and research settings where they train, invigorating their faculty mentors as they generate new knowledge and evidence-based practices.

I hope you share my confidence that RUSH students receive the highest quality health sciences education in the country. Through your support of scholarships, you are helping them obtain this extraordinary experience at the highest value.

RUSH University is working tirelessly to reduce the debt burden students face. We do this by minimizing tuition increases to the greatest extent possible without ever compromising on the quality of our programs. We also rely on scholarship support.

Your selfless gifts open the door to health professions for many of our students. By alleviating students’ financial stress, you enable them to pursue their passions and careers where their skills are most needed in the community. Ultimately, your impact has a much larger ripple effect, touching countless people who will live healthier lives thanks to the work of a RUSH alum.

Once again, thank you for your commitment to RUSH and our exceptional students.

With gratitude,

College Spotlight RUSH Medical College

Cynthia A. Brincat, MD, PhD

Henry P. Russe, MD, Acting Dean, RUSH Medical College

Your support of scholarships at RUSH Medical College improves students’ lives and the future of medicine. Thank you.

I am motivated every day to reduce the debt burden for RUSH medical students because I know, firsthand, how removing financial stress frees people to follow their passions and be the best they can be. It’s why the college has worked to limit tuition increases from year to year and keep costs below other private medical schools in our region.

Your support of scholarships makes a difference in so many ways. By minimizing the debt of future doctors, scholarships enable more physicians to make time for research. They encourage emerging physicians to pursue lower-paying specialties, such as family medicine, where, unsurprisingly, there are the biggest projected workforce shortages. Above all, they make medical education more accessible to people from backgrounds underrepresented in our field fueling RUSH’s mission to create more doctors who look like the patients they treat. This, in turn, creates healthier people, healthier families and a healthier world. It’s that simple.

Frank W. and Barbara J. Merrick Scholar

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Bachelor’s Degree: Biochemistry, University of Southern California

My parents immigrated to the U.S. before I was born and worked long hours in exhausting, labor-intensive jobs so that I could study full-time my whole life.

As a medical scribe in a geriatric primary care clinic, I served primarily Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients who were Black and Latino. The physicians at the clinic reflected the community they served with appropriate translation services and bilingual physicians. The model of preventive care at the clinic was a shock to me, and even more shocking was the high rate of compliance in the Latino patient population except for specialist visits. Whenever we needed to refer a patient to a specialist especially cardiology and gastroenterology they would request a Spanishspeaking provider.

I attempted to meet their preferences and couldn't find anyone in the Chicago area. The provider I scribed for echoed the same finding: There are minimal to no Spanish-speaking providers for certain specialties. I want to fill this void, serve this patient population and increase adherence to cardiology appointments to improve the overall health of Latino patients.

I have always appreciated my parents' sacrifices, and because of their efforts, I always put 100% towards my educational goals. With this scholarship, I am now even more motivated to become a culturally competent specialist and proudly serve the Latino patient population as a bilingual provider.

Fernando Sigala, M2

College Spotlight

RUSH University College of Nursing

It is a privilege to thank you for your support of our extraordinary students. Your enduring commitment to scholarships in the College of Nursing opens doors for more talented individuals from all backgrounds to join the critically needed nursing profession and pursue a career that compassionately elevates individuals, families and communities.

I am incredibly proud of our inclusive learning community and what we are accomplishing together. Our students work alongside faculty who are changemakers in the field fueling excellence in nursing education, practice and research. As they learn in degree programs that are again ranked among the very best in the nation, our scholars are helping to lead a transformation in health care that will ensure health equity across the continuum of care.

Once again, thank you for your partnership. In addition to supporting the deserving students, your generosity touches every patient these scholars treat in their careers, benefits every trainee they go on to mentor and fuels every solution they devise to the challenges they will encounter. All of this is possible because of the RUSH nursing education you helped them attain.

The Elizabeth Douglass Shorey Endowed Scholar

Generalist Entry Master’s Clinical Nurse Leader Program

Hometown: Chicago

Bachelor’s Degree: Finance, Northern Illinois University

I would like to thank you for your kind generosity in supporting my dreams and current journey to become a nurse and graduate from the GEM program within the College of Nursing here at RUSH University! I first learned of RUSH when my sister attended, and it has been my first-choice school for many years.

For nearly a decade, I worked in health care management, which included responsibilities like developing policies, overseeing regulatory compliance and leading quality improvement tasks. While these tasks within hospitals are integral, they helped me realize that nurses are the true unsung health care heroes in caring for patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic renewed my commitment to pursue nursing school and become part of a team

where I could directly impact care, particularly in emergency medicine, transplant surgery and orthopedics.

I was beyond nervous to take this leap of faith to pursue school fulltime. I am a divorced, single mom and the sole provider for three children. My oldest is a high school senior and actively applying to colleges (yes, we will both be in college). I have a set of fraternal twins who are freshmen in high school. I pursued this degree because of my children who encouraged me and asked, "Mom, if not now, when?!”

I am eternally grateful for your investment in me and my education to become the best nurse, and provide the best care, for the most vulnerable patients and communities

Christine Kennedy, PhD, RN, FAAN John L. & Helen Kellogg Dean, RUSH University College of Nursing

Interim Provost, RUSH University

Trena Burke

College Spotlight College of Health Sciences at RUSH University

Charlotte

Royeen, PhD,

OTR/L, FAOTA Dean, College of Health Sciences

A. Watson Armour III and Sarah Armour Presidential Professor

In the College of Health Sciences, we can never thank our donors enough. It is because of your generous support that we are able to prepare the next generation of allied health professionals and minimize the cost burden our students face.

It is estimated that roughly 60% of all health care is delivered by allied health professionals. Yet these professions have not always received the visibility they deserve as part of the health care workforce. Together with your support, we are changing that narrative and cultivating experts who forever embody RUSH’s ICARE values: Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.

We pride ourselves on recognizing our students’ potential, and scholarships make educational opportunities available to many of them. Scholarships also advance our tradition of preparing learners in an intimate environment one that is deeply integrated into a leading health system. Put simply, your gifts influence our students’ lives, make our communities a better place and directly create a stronger health care workforce. On behalf of our learning community, thank you.

Laura Ríos-Coste

Mary

Beth and Philip Canfield Scholar

Doctor of Audiology Program

Hometown: Ticumán, Mexico and Chicago

Bachelor’s Degree: Spanish Education, University of Illinois at Chicago

Once I was accepted to RUSH, I attended an open house for the Audiology program and I fell in love. I cried on the way home because I knew it was the start of my profession in health care.

I was born in Mexico, and when I was nine years old, my parents immigrated to the United States and settled in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. I had developed a love for science and technology in high school and wanted a career in health care, but my options were limited because of my undocumented status. Even after completing my bachelor’s in teaching of Spanish at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I was not able to work legally as an educator in the U.S. until former President Obama enacted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. Once I adjusted my status,

I wanted to go back to school to pursue a career in health care.

RUSH has made me more resilient and willing to take risks. The Audiology program has supported me in becoming a well-rounded audiologist, and my clinical experiences have helped me feel confident where it matters most: in one-on-one encounters with patients.

I aspire to work in a diverse place where I can interact with all age groups, and where I also can use my Spanish-speaking skills. I sometimes cannot believe that a former undocumented immigrant has been able to reach her dreams. Thank you for making it possible.

College Spotlight The Graduate College at RUSH University

Scholarships play a vital role in helping The Graduate College achieve our vision to promote diversity and inclusion in the field of biomedical sciences; foster innovation and discovery in health care; and support students’ career and professional development. Your investments in our students 100% of whom qualify for financial aid help level the playing field and provide more equitable opportunities for individuals who are underrepresented in science. By actively supporting students with financial need, we aim to address the barriers that limit access to higher education and careers in the biomedical sciences, contributing to greater equity and social mobility.

We proudly lead RUSH University in terms of diversity and celebrate the unique experiences of our students. Their diverse perspectives benefit our field, leading to creative and innovative solutions to complex health challenges.

Philanthropy equips our students with tools and experiences to excel in their careers and drive health care forward. Thank you for helping us create an environment that nurtures excellence, innovation and the advancement of biomedical sciences.

Jennifer Watson

Master of Science in Clinical Research Program

Hometown:

Arlington Heights, Illinois

Bachelor’s Degree: Neuroscience, DePaul University

I am so grateful to have an opportunity to be a graduate student and to have a meaningful career at RUSH. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a health care provider and researcher, and The Graduate College at RUSH has allowed me to take that step in reaching my goal.

I am most interested in conducting clinical research and working to advance the latest approaches, therapies and treatments for diagnosing and treating health conditions. Through my work as a clinical research coordinator, I am working on a Phase I clinical trial to treat a rare disorder in

Andrew Bean, PhD Dean, The Graduate College Judd and Marjorie Weinberg Presidential Professor Interim Vice Provost for Research

children for which there is currently no cure. I have had the opportunity to leverage knowledge from my position in conjunction with what I have learned in my graduate studies to be more of an asset not only to my department, but the families I work with. My ultimate goal is to earn a PhD and work on a study team at a clinical research organization writing protocols that guide the research.

I am excited for the future and would like to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for making this possible.

“ In Their Words Sharing Gratitude from Scholars

My parents immigrated to the U.S. from Morocco and have always been so grateful for the educational opportunities this country gives to its people. At first, I was a first-generation undergrad student, and now I’m a first-generation graduate student. It’s a beautiful experience and very humbling to think about what my life could have been like if I didn’t go to school in the U.S. and have opportunities like coming to RUSH and going to the top DNP program in the country.

Scholarship support has meant everything to me. It was life changing. It’s a big reason why I’m here, and I don’t know if I’d be here without it.

Wafaa Tali College of Nursing

“Health care provides a unique opportunity to not just address people's medical needs, which obviously influence their health and quality of life, but also to connect people with other resources to address social determinants of health. It creates a sense of belonging and community involvement. Community engagement is a central part of the RUSH experience, and it is by far one of the meaningful parts of my academic experience at RUSH.

” “ ” “

I was born with a congenital condition for which I had to undergo surgery. I gained an appreciation for advances in medicine at a young age and was inspired to pay it forward. Living with a "silent" condition, I want to show children and adolescents that their conditions and assumed "limitations" are in no way a definitive measure of who they are.

I come from a first-generation, lowincome background and have always had to balance supporting myself financially with my academic aspirations. Because of this scholarship, that challenge is one less thing I have to worry about while becoming the best physician-in-training I can be. Thank you!

— Jason Kim, M2 RUSH Medical College

This scholarship has empowered me. I am grateful and appreciative of all the support I have received to pursue my dreams.

Anonymous

The Graduate College

”

Your investment in me has changed many lives.

My family has faced a long history of trauma. From living in poor conditions to battling addiction and gang violence, we have endured more than the average family. Yet, I was given an opportunity to change my family's trajectory and now serve as a new example for young people. I have been fortunate to serve as president of Men in Nursing at RUSH and fulfill my passion for helping people. I would never have accomplished these things had it not been for your generosity. From my family, from my community and sincerely from myself, thank you!

Deshawn Jones College of Nursing

“My decision to attend RUSH University was solidified by its connection to the academic medical center. In my occupational therapy classes, we are far ahead of other programs in gaining experience with patient interactions. I love the care and dedication occupational therapy puts into understanding each patient and supporting their individual needs and goals. I feel that RUSH is preparing me to be a leader in the field and pushing me to bring positive change to the profession.

I am extremely grateful that RUSH takes the steps to support its students with institutional loans and scholarships because without them, I would be dependent on high-interest graduate school loans. Thank you!

Brigid Bendig College of Health Sciences

“”Recently, I had to take a year off from school for medical reasons and required care. I have learned so much from being a patient. I know the type of empathetic and kind physician I want to be, and I can't wait to hit the ground running again to care for patients. There are so many barriers to a career in medicine. My greatest barrier has always been a financial one. I and all my future patients have you to thank for enabling me to be the empathetic physician I seek to become.

Thank You

In the face of rising student loan interest rates and increasing education costs, scholarship support for future health care professionals is more important than ever. RUSH’s donor community has made a powerful difference by combatting these trends and alleviating the financial burden of higher education on our students.

Your support makes careers in the health care workforce accessible to people from diverse backgrounds and communities. As the founder of RUSH Medical College, Dr. Daniel Brainard, shared in his first address to students in 1843: “The health, the happiness and the life of your dearest friends and your own may and will depend on the skill of some member of this profession.” Brainard and his colleagues firmly believed that driven people from all walks of life should have the ability to gain these skills. Student scholarships truly make that possible.

Thank you for supporting RUSH University students and the future of health care.

ANoteAbouttheFamilyEducationalRightsandPrivacyAct(FERPA)

RUSH University is committed to protecting the rights of our students. One way we honor this commitment is through strict adherence to FERPA, a federal law that prohibits universities from releasing student information to anyone other than the student without their authorization.

Some donors ask why we cannot, in certain cases, share more personal details including the names of students who have been supported by specific scholarship funds. This is typically because a student scholar has not provided the Office of Financial Aid with permission to share their information as required by FERPA. We ask all scholars to consider granting this permission when they receive notification of their scholarship award.

RUSH University and the Office of Philanthropy are continually striving to strengthen a culture of philanthropy at RUSH, so that more scholars feel comfortable sharing their names and stories with members of our donor community who support their education.