Annika Agrawal, MD candidate, Class of 2028

I want to be a pediatrician. For a long time, that felt out of reach. I come from a middle-class family, and I knew medical school meant taking on debt. I thought I’d have to make career choices based on my ability to repay loans. But because of this scholarship — because of your generosity — I have options. I can follow my passion. I can care for the most vulnerable patients in this country, and I can do it all because I don’t have to worry about my own personal circumstances thanks to this tremendous gift.

This kind of support comes with deep gratitude. I know that I’ll never be able to pay it back, and so the best thing that I can do is pay it forward.

This has absolutely inspired me to stay in academic medicine. It’s sparked a deeper interest in mentorship and education. And it’s motivated me to one day give someone else — someone like me — the same opportunity.

Knowing there are people who believe in medical education, and in lifting up students from middle- and lower-class backgrounds, makes me so incredibly proud to be part of that legacy. Thank you for believing in me and for giving me the freedom to pursue the future I’ve always dreamed of.

— Annika Agrawal, MD candidate, Class of 2028