Benefit for UC Medical Student Scholarship Fund Set for Feb. 8

The University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine will host the 15th annual IvaDean Scholarship Benefit Concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 in the Medical Sciences Building’s Kresge Auditorium, 231 Albert Sabin Way.

The event, which features musical performances from College of Medicine faculty, staff and students, supports the IvaDean Medical Student Scholarship Fund for medical students in need of financial assistance. It is open to the public. Tickets are $5 for students and children under 12 years old and $20 for non-students.

The fund, named after IvaDean Lair, associate dean emeritus, was created by the outgoing medical class of 2003 as a way to honor Lair’s more than 50 years of service to the college and provide relief to students burdened by the escalating costs of medical school tuition. The scholarship fund has awarded nearly $1 million in the form of 186 scholarships to medical students since its inception.

Nationally, the average medical school debt for a student surpassed $190,000.

“We see students increasingly concerned about debt when they come in as prospective students for interviews through admissions and we talk to them,” says John Stiles, director of student financial services in the UC College of Medicine. “Especially those who are first-generation or come from lower socio-economic backgrounds being able to receive a need-based scholarship helps them be able to bridge that gap. Those donating to the IvaDean Scholarship have certainly helped both in our recruiting and being able to retain students.”

John Farag, a fourth-year medical student who received the IvaDean Scholarship, says the award offers some breathing room for students trying to balance expense with the need to have a momentary break from the pressures of studying.

“The scholarship has been a great help to me throughout my medical school tenure,” says Farag. “With some of my loans having close to 7 percent interest, I’ve tried to remain very frugal in spending. I enjoy going out with friends occasionally and the IvaDean scholarship eases some of my worries about taking that break. More and more research comes out every year discussing burnout amongst physicians and medical students, so this bit of recreation is definitely therapeutic. I am grateful to have been selected to receive this scholarship.”

For more information, call 513-558-5577 or email Lair at ivadean.lair@uc.edu. A silent auction starts at 5:30 pm. outside of Kresge Auditorium.

Photo by Dan Davenport