Donor seeks to generate matching scholarship gifts

During their first days of medical school, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine students are ceremoniously cloaked in a white coat and take an oath of professionalism and empathy.

The rite of passage symbolizes the students’ commitment to become compassionate healers.

This patient-centered focus inspired the parents of one TCOM Class of 2014 member to make an unprecedented gift to help ensure that financial burdens do not interfere with the unlimited potential of these future doctors.

The parents, who wish to remain anonymous, have offered to fund seven full-tuition scholarships – known as St. Luke, the Physician Scholarships -for future TCOM students in financial need.  They want their commitment to serve as a catalyst to additional scholarship gifts, particularly from TCOM alumni.  To underscore this desire, the donors have structured their gift as a 2:1 match against new alumni scholarship commitments, to a ceiling of $200,000.  The matching amount of $400,000 will generate $600,000 or more in total scholarship support to TCOM students.

"This very generous gift will open doors of opportunity to talented students by removing the burden of a large debt for the cost of their educations," said Don Peska, DO, Dean of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. "The gift also will help the UNT Health Science Center continue to recruit the best and brightest students from diverse backgrounds."

The scholarships will be directed toward students with demonstrated financial need and whose strength of character is documented through essays and personal interviews.

Financial concern is the primary cause of college attrition. While UNTHSC strives to make medical education affordable for all students, the average TCOM graduate leaves school with $126,318 of debt.

Aside from causing stress, debt burdens also exacerbate the shortage of primary care physicians by steering new doctors into more lucrative specialty fields.

"These scholarships will help inspire them to enter the field of primary care and practice in rural areas because they won’t have as large a debt hanging over their heads," said Joel Daboub, Assistant Dean of Admissions. "We are very grateful for this generous student support."

Recent News

Usha Sambamoorthi
  • Our People
|Apr 17, 2025

Dr. Usha Sambamoorthi awarded top faculty honor at UNTHSC’s Spring 2025 Faculty Assembly, among six finalists

On Thursday, Dr. Usha Sambamoorthi, professor of pharmacotherapy in the College of Pharmacy, was awarded The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s prestigious faculty achievement award. Each year, UNTHSC faculty nominate one of their own to be considered by the Faculty...
Image
  • Community
|Apr 16, 2025

TCOM to be a pilot for Phase 3 of NBOME’s Core Competency Capstone project

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine is continuing its work with the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners as a pilot for Phase 3 of their Core Competency Capstone for Osteopathic Medicine project. Known as C3DO, the pr...
Screenshot 2025 03 19 082539
  • Community
|Apr 11, 2025

UNTHSC students take health care to underserved communities through medical missions

Three trips, thousands of miles and hundreds of students exporting health care from Fort Worth to numerous locations in Texas and Guatemala on medical mission trips offering free clinics to rural and underserved communities. More than 120 students and faculty from the Texas College of Osteopathic Me...
Mark Cunningham 40 Under 40
  • Community
|Apr 8, 2025

Dr. Mark Cunningham named one of Fort Worth’s 40 Under 40

Dr. Mark Cunnigham holds three advanced degrees. He established a thriving research lab that explores cardiovascular health in pregnant women and new mothers. He mentors future scientists, serves as a minster at his church and volunteers at local schools sharing his passion for science with kids.  ...