Benefit Concert's Value Goes Beyond Money

Talent filled Kresge Auditorium Dec. 2 at the 2011 IvaDean Scholarship Benefit Concert, and entrance fees, gifts on behalf of the concert and silent auction bids brought in $3,378 for the scholarship fund. But the meaning of this event and its namesake, College of Medicine assistant dean IvaDean Lair, goes beyond money for many students.

Inuk Zandvakili, a student in the Physician Scientist Training Program, managed the silent auction at this year’s benefit concert. He shares his thoughts on the benefit, support for medical students and IvaDean’s service:

"The IvaDean Benefit Concert means three things to me. First, it means that the faculty and students at the College of Medicine are incredibly talented. Their performances of the fine arts are of such high caliber.

"Second, it means that we can come together as a college and acknowledge that financing a medical education is incredibly expensive and that students need support—more support—if we are going to keep our class shaped by scholarship rather than economics.

"Lastly, we, the students of the College of Medicine, are indebted to IvaDean and we appreciate her so much. She works tirelessly for us each day doing endless, often unnoticed, administrative work and is there for us to see us through all the big steps too. IvaDean, thank you!”

About the IvaDean Scholarship Fund
 
The IvaDean Scholarship Fund was initiated by the College of Medicine’s class of 2003 to honor IvaDean Lair’s 40-plus years of service to the college and to provide relief to students burdened by the escalating costs of medical school tuition. In the time since, individual donors—and student-led fundraisers, such as this concert—have raised more than $1.5 million, which is kept in an endowment at the UC Foundation.
 
From the 2004-05 academic year through the 2011-12 academic year, 72 medical students have received $379,500 in scholarships. In keeping with IvaDean’s preference, these scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need.