When Aaron and Aviva Stauber watched their daughter Alyssa don her white coat at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in 2014, they were nervous parents, braced for the grueling medical school experience. Instead, they found a school that nurtured Alyssa’s dream of becoming a doctor. It also sparked a commitment by the Staubers to the college that has transformed the lives of medical students through the Aviva & Aaron Stauber Scholarship Award and the Office of Student Affairs Activities Fund.
Since establishing the scholarship in 2019, the Staubers have supported 16 students. The award helps cover the cost of attendance, easing the financial and emotional strain many students face. Alyssa, now a practicing physician in New York after graduating from FIU Medicine in 2018, inspired her parents’ giving.
“We saw how much the school supported her,” says Aviva, who is a meeting planner at QOS Meetings. “But we also saw her classmates—many first-generation students, some far from home, carrying loans and heavy expectations.” The Staubers wanted to ensure others could thrive as Alyssa did.
Their generosity extends beyond scholarships. Recognizing the emotional toll of medical school, the Office of Student Affairs Activities Fund was created with an initial gift from the couple. The fund supports wellness programs, student breakfasts before exams, educational travel and community initiatives like the student-led Mammography Art Initiative, which promotes breast health services for women in South Florida.
“A coffee, a meal, a moment to connect—it matters,” Aviva says. “These students are under so much pressure. We want them to feel cared for.”
The Staubers’ involvement with FIU Medicine goes beyond financial contributions. They attend white coat ceremonies, setting up tables to reassure anxious parents.
“We share our story and let them know it’s going to be okay,” says Aaron, a real estate developer. They’ve offered their contact information to families, especially those not local, as a lifeline.
“Just knowing we’re there helps,” Aviva adds. They also participate in the scholarship selection process, reading essays from candidates.
“Their stories of resilience are incredible,” Aaron says. “These students are rock stars, overcoming family and financial challenges to pursue medicine.”
The couple is deeply invested in FIU Medicine’s role in South Florida’s growth. They applaud the school’s partnerships with Baptist Health and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, which are expanding residency programs to keep graduates in the region and attracting top medical talent to the area.
“South Florida is growing fast,” Aaron says. “We need more doctors and hospitals, and FIU is making that happen.”
They’re especially proud of the college’s NeighborhoodHELP program, which sends students into the community to work with families.
“It’s not just about care—it’s about showing kids in those neighborhoods what’s possible,” Aviva says. “They see role models who look like them, are from their own streets.”
For the Staubers, giving to FIU Medicine is personal. At scholarship breakfasts, recipients often share how the support motivates them to pay it forward.
“They tell us it inspires them to give back one day,” Aviva says. “That’s what drives us.”