HWCOM Medical Student Scholarships

Student Scholarships

Scholarship funding is critically important to provide deserving medical students with the necessary financial assistance to enable their medical education. Our medical school student population consists of some of the highest percentages of economically disadvantaged students in the nation. Building a strong, supportive scholarship program in partnership with generous philanthropic benefactors makes a meaningful difference in their lives.

The average financial debt upon graduation of our students who receive financial aid is approximately $200,000. With your support, we can continue to educate the most diverse and deserving medical students and make significant strides in easing their financial burden. You can make a tremendous impact by designating your gift in support of student scholarships.

Gifts designated for scholarships can be directed to support students in specific areas of study, or directed to the College’s general scholarship fund. A scholarship may be based on academic and/or financial need.

For gifts into permanently endowed funds, the principal of the endowment fund will not be invaded.  Annual earnings from investment will be expended only for the stated purpose of the fund.

Give Today:

• College of Medicine General Scholarship
  College of Medicine Student General Scholarship Fund  
• Carmel J. Barrau, MD Scholarship Endowment

  Dr. Carmel J. Barrau and wife Josee Barrau have established the Carmel J. Barrau, MD Scholarship Endowment for underrepresented students in medicine. The Scholarship is awarded to students underrepresented in medicine who demonstrate experience with, or commitment to living, working or serving the community in South Florida and who have accomplished academic achievements despite challenges faced, made significant contributions to the College, and demonstrate financial need.

  Dr. Carmel Barrau is a longtime supporter of the college of medicine. He is a college founder and chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council which he has served on since 2008. Dr. Barrau, the first Haitian-American physician appointed to the Florida Board of Medicine, is the founder and president of UniHealth of South Florida, Inc.  He is board certified in internal medicine and is on the board of North Shore Medical Center. Dr. Barrau is past president of the AMHE Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad, South Florida Chapter.

• Christine Matthews Dalton, MD Memorial Scholarship Endowment

  Created in memory of Dr. Christine Matthews Dalton ‘13, a member of the HWCOM inaugural graduating class who later joined our HWCOM faculty before she passed away in 2014.

  This scholarship is awarded each year to a 4^th year medical student that plans to concentrate in Family Medicine. The recipient will exhibit the following qualities which Dr. Matthews Dalton so profoundly displayed: integrity, resilience, strength of character, a passion for patient care and student education.

• John A. Rock, MD Founding Dean Scholarship Endowment

  College of Medicine Student Scholarship Endowment created in honor of Founding Dean Dr. John A. Rock.

• Judy & Fred Schild, MD Scholarship Endowment

  Dr. and Mrs. Schild have established the Judy and Fred Schild, MD Scholarship Endowment. The purpose of this scholarship is to support second year medical students who have excelled in both clinical skills and patient centered skills with their cost of attendance while attending HWCOM.

  Dr. and Mrs. Schild are generous supporters of HWCOM and are committed to supporting the next generation of physicians. Dr. Schild, Professor of Surgery at HWCOM, is an accomplished surgeon, professor, and researcher.  He completed his surgical residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, served as Professor of Surgery at the University of Miami for many years and was a founder of a general and vascular surgery group practice.
• Peggy O’leary Seigler Award Endowment

  Peggy O’Leary Seigler ---- Mother, Wife, Sister, Aunt, and Daughter, fought Cancer, but cancer being inherently evil, cheated and her life ended prematurely at the age of 42.  It seems somehow unjust that the rest of the world has been deprived of her infectious smile, her enthusiasm, and her moral compass that permeated all of her relationships. She is missed.  It is in her memory that this award is endowed.

  Each year the graduating class at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine selects from among their peers that student who best demonstrated those traits that exemplified her life including leadership, mentorship, ethics, perseverance, and caring for others while showing promise of becoming a physician of the highest caliber.

  In other words, that student who, by giving of themselves allowed their classmates to reach their greatest potential.