DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Photo: Honorees Anthony Baumann (l., large photo) and Syllissa Duncan (right, large photo), celebrated with Carol Cannon (center, large photo) at the inaugural scholarship announcement. Scholarship recipient Mairim Avila (inset photo) was unable to attend, due to an academic commitment.
THE JAY A. GERSHEN SCHOLARSHIP FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES BY ELAINE GUREGIAN
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uilding a culture of inclusivity was always important to Jay A. Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., the sixth president of NEOMED. When Dr. Gershen passed away in November 2020, a year after his retirement from a distinguished decade-long tenure, his widow, Carol Cannon, decided to advance Dr. Gershen’s legacy by establishing a scholarship endowment for underrepresented minority (URM) students through the NEOMED Foundation. Each year, underrepresented minority
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students at NEOMED will be eligible to apply for the Jay A. Gershen Memorial URM Scholarship. One student from each of NEOMED’s three Colleges (Medicine, Pharmacy and Graduate Studies) will be selected annually for a nonrenewable $1,000 award. “Jay felt very strongly that health care professionals should reflect the diversity of our community,” said Cannon. “He always encouraged students of color, and I think he would be extremely pleased to see the direction that NEOMED is taking
with this scholarship as well as other important initiatives to promote diversity, inclusivity and opportunity. Jay wanted NEOMED to lead in this direction, and this URM scholarship award both honors his wishes and advances them in a meaningful way.” In October, students — including members of the Black Student Association and Student National Medical Association — faculty, staff and NEOMED friends, including members of President John Langell’s Diversity and Equity Advisory
Photos: Chris Smanto
