Title:Shrinking financial barriers for future physicians

When Dr. Stephen “Ray” Mitchell (W’86, MBA’13, P’15) concluded his 22-year tenure as Dean for Medical Education at Georgetown University School of Medicine, he was celebrated as a beloved teacher, a community builder, a caring clinician—and an ardent advocate for improving access to medical education. Mitchell, the first in his extended family to attend college, had made the expansion of financial aid a top priority during his time as dean. 

Seeking to build on Mitchell’s leadership and commitment to educational opportunity, the School of Medicine’s alumni community established an endowed scholarship fund named in his honor. The Mitchell Scholars Endowed Scholarship Fund provides critical tuition assistance for students who have demonstrated financial need, and are uniquely able to contribute to the School of Medicine and the communities they will serve throughout their careers.

Through the generosity of nearly 300 Georgetown alumni and friends, the Mitchell Scholars fund has raised more than $820,000 as of December 2024—with the goal of reaching $1M. By reducing financial hurdles for talented students, endowed scholarships like these advance Georgetown’s ambitions for building a thriving community of future medical professionals and empowering them to address our society’s greatest health needs.

Competing for top students, unlocking career options

Increasing the number of available medical student scholarships is the School of Medicine’s foremost philanthropic priority. Generous financial aid packages are essential as we work to attract and enroll accomplished students whose ambitions align with Georgetown’s mission.

The Mitchell Scholars Endowed Scholarship Fund helps ensure that financial considerations do not dictate whether or not students will choose Georgetown. Enrolling students from an array of backgrounds improves the learning experience for all students, and better prepares them to care for a range of patient populations.

In addition to helping Georgetown compete for top talent, Mitchell Scholars awards help shrink students’ loan obligations across all four years of medical school, increasing the likelihood they will be able to choose specialties based on passion, rather than income potential.