In the Bronx neighborhood, in New Yorkan unusual situation happened last week: Albert Einstein College of Medicine will now offer free education to all students.
This feat was made possible thanks to a donation of US$1 billion (R$5 billion) from Mrs. Ruth Gottesman, former teacher and current president of the institution’s board.
The donation not only represents a historic achievement, but will provide unprecedented educational opportunities for future health professionals. Medicine in the region.
The teacher made a donation so significant that it is one of the largest ever seen in the United States for a school.
She is even famous for creating tools that help discover learning problems in children and also for starting a program to teach adults how to read and write.
At 93, Ms. Gottesman is the widow of billionaire investor David “Sandy” Gottesman. The couple have been supportive of the medical school over the years.
Sandy Gottesman, who passed away in 2022 at age 96, was an early investor in Berkshire Hathaway and a close friend of Warren Buffett.
According to Ruth Gottesman, the resources for this billion-dollar donation came from her husband’s estate.
To help more students enter the field of healththe school announced that the donation will be used for those for whom the price of medical school would be too high.
Students with lower purchasing power will benefit from the donation – Photo: Canva Pro/Reproduction
Prices for studying in the region
In 2023, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average national debt for medical students who took out loans was $200,000. Of this group, 84% took out loans of at least $100,000.
Tuition at Einstein for this year reaches almost US$60,000. In addition to this amount, the institution advises that students set aside at least another US$35,000 annually to cover housing, books and other additional costs. The program has a total duration of four years.
Dr. Yaron Tomer, director of the medical school, commented on the importance of the donation:
“This gift radically revolutionizes our ability to continue attracting students who are committed to our mission, not just those who can afford it.”
This is not the first initiative to make access to medical schools more democratic in the USA.
New York University’s medical school already offers full tuition coverage for all of its students, and the Columbia University fully assumes the costs of attendance for medical students with financial need.
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