Middlesex District gives money for students in unanticipated financial emergency.
The Middlesex District Medical Society has announced the contribution of $100,000 to each of the four Massachusetts medical schools, in order to establish endowed funds for the benefit of Massachusetts medical students during an unanticipated financial emergency.
Recipients are the medical schools of Boston University, Harvard University, Tufts University and University of Massachusetts whose medical school is based in Worcester.
Baystate Medical Center functions as the western campus of Tufts Medical School.
The endowed funds at each school will be known as the Middlesex District Medical Society Student Emergency Fund.
Dr. Barry M. Manuel, secretary/treasurer of the society, said in a release that the district has for years has been contributing funds to each of the four Massachusetts medical schools to help meet the unanticipated financial needs of medical students.
“Our district felt we had the necessary funds to make a major commitment to our medical students,” Manuel said. “It is our hope that others will see this as an important safety net for our medical students and contribute to these funds.”
Dr. Karen H. Antman, dean of Boston University School of Medicine, said, the "generosity" of the society "will assist medical students at a crucial, and often urgent, junction in their lives."
She said the university was "grateful" for the society's "considerate foresight of the unanticipated financial needs of our students."
In the same release, Dr. Jeffrey S. Flier, dean of Harvard Medical School, said:
"One of the most powerful catalyst for progress in our efforts to alleviate human suffering caused by disease is the philanthropic partnership of those like the Middlesex District Medical Society who commit to making a difference at this institution.
"We appreciate the Society's interest in providing assistance to students who face unanticipated financial emergencies. This fund will make a real difference to many students in the coming years."
Dr. Harris A. Berman, dean of Tufts School of Medicine, said the money would help medical students burdened with "unexpected emergencies" be able to "regain some level of normalcy in their busy lives."
Dr. Terence R. Flotte, Dean of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, said, “We are most grateful to the Middlesex District Medical Society for their ongoing commitment to supporting the training of the next generation of physicians to care for the people of the Commonwealth.
"An unanticipated financial crisis can have a devastating effect on medical students. We are pleased that the Middlesex District Medical Society recognized this potential problem and has made a major commitment to help alleviate it.”
The Middlesex District Medical Society is a component of the Massachusetts Medical Society, with more than 2,000 physician members living or practicing in Allston-Brighton, Arlington, Belmont, Burlington, Cambridge, Charlestown, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn.
For more information about the Middlesex District Medical Society, please visit www.massmed.org/middlesex. The Massachusetts Medical Society is the state’s professional association of physicians and medical students.