Dear Fellow Alumni,
Happy Holidays to you and your family. We wish you good health, happiness and peace. On behalf of the School of Medicine Alumni Board, I am delighted to update you on our latest activities and continue to invite you to get involved by reaching back to help our current students.
Our Careers in Medicine is a hallmark of how we, as alumni, can help our first and second-year medical students. Do you remember how confusing it was for us to try to determine which path we should choose? By participating in Careers in Medicine, we can offer real-life experience and work/life balance advice. Please consider joining us next fall.
I also had an opportunity to attend the University’s Alumni Association Board meeting this fall. I was joined by my counterparts from the Schools of Nursing, Social Welfare and Dental Medicine. It was enlightening to feel a part of the entire University. Great things are happening throughout our University as you will read in this edition of Medicine Today.
We are currently planning for reunions for the classes of ’78, ’83, ’88, ’93, ’97 and ’98. If you’d like to help plan a reunion for your year, please contact Mary Hoffmann.
And finally, we are proud that, as a board, we lead by example in supporting our students with scholarships as Dr. David Silberhartz recently did. Collectively, our board has donated more than $300,000 to the Stony Brook School of Medicine for scholarships and awards.
When Dr. Jack Fuhrer, associate dean of admissions, presented at our last board meeting, we were astounded at how much we are in need of scholarship donations so that we can continue to attract the best and the brightest to our School. This year’s incoming class of 136 students was the largest in our history with an average GPA of 3.75 and an average total MCAT score in the 88th percentile. However, the low tuition rates that many of us enjoyed are now gone.
You may be surprised to learn that in-state tuition rates have increased dramatically since 1997 when students paid $10,800 per year. Since 2000, SUNY has decreed that tuition must increase each year and at this point the tuition is approximately $42,000 in state. Out-of-state tuition is $65,000 for first-year medical students and $65,000 for international students. This does not include the estimated $25,000 for room, board, books and supplies for which many students require financial aid. Students can graduate with over $300,000 in loans. So, we ask you to please join us in supporting our students.
If you haven’t had a chance to make a donation, please consider making a gift before the end of 2017 to receive your tax benefit.
For further information about the School of Medicine Alumni Chapter, please check out our website.
Sincerely,
Debra Messina, MD ’88
President, Stony Brook University School of Medicine Alumni Board
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