ÎÞÂëȺ½» is leveling the playing field by ensuring access to healthcare education. Our commitment to providing scholarships increases the diversity of our student body and of eventual professional cohorts. We’re meeting population health head-on by counteracting health inequities across communities, and we are fulfilling the occupational demand of urgent healthcare needs.

In the summer of 2021, the Chicago Medical School (CMS) was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Michael Reese Research and Education Foundation to recruit two students from underrepresented populations in medicine. The full-ride scholarships will provide a unique opportunity for Chicago-area students who aspire to provide care for the region’s underserved communities and populations. The inaugural Michael Reese Research and Education Foundation Scholars will matriculate at CMS in fall 2022.

The Dr. Scholl Foundation renewed its loyal support with a grant of $450,000. The foundation's support continues the Scholl Scholars Program, which is the marquee scholarship program at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. It also provides support for inaugural students in the planned College of Nursing. The Dr. Scholl Foundation’s scholarship commitment facilitates the pursuit of unique learning and mentoring opportunities that will help mold future leaders, compassionate clinicians and researchers driving innovation in podiatric medicine and nursing care.

Horizon Pharma committed $700,000 to RFU’s health equity in the workforce partnership with Lake Forest College. Thanks to Horizon’s generosity, three economically disadvantaged students of color from Lake County or greater Chicago will receive four-year, full-ride scholarships to further their education in the Lake Forest College–RFU Health Professions Program. The undergraduate students will have unique opportunities provided by our partnership to prepare students for cutting-edge careers in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy and the entire range of health professions.

Other recent named scholarship commitments that will help to empower scholars, excellence and compassionate care among RFU students were provided by Theresa I. Kepic, MD ’85, and Frank Naeymi-Rad, PhD; Spencer Koerner, MD ’62; the APMA Educational Foundation; the Washington Square Foundation; P.A. and Elliot Rubinstein, MD ’69; Tung Cheng, DPM ’80; former trainees of Martin Yorath, DPM ’94; the family of Dimin (Tammy) Zhou, MD ’20; Cynthia Harris, in tribute to Matthew N. Harris, MD ’56; and the CMS Class of 1970.