Ontario Medical Student Bursary Fund hosts 6th annual Donor Reception

by Nancy Dale, OMA Public Affairs and Communications Department

"Generosity and Kindness” was the theme of the 2005 Ontario Medical Student Bursary Fund (OMSBF) Donor Reception, held November 25 at the OMA office in Toronto.

More than 50 guests attended the event, which was sponsored by RBC Financial Group.

The reception provided an excellent opportunity for corporate and individual donors to meet the medical students who have benefited from their contributions, while offering OMSBF bursary recipients, staff and volunteers a chance to personally thank donors for their generosity.

Guests also had an opportunity to discuss the issues of medical school accessibility, and the growing financial burden experienced by many medical students.

Reception highlights
Following are highlights from the 2005 OMSBF Donor Reception:

• In a thank you speech to donors, University of Toronto second-year medical student Suzanne Turner told guests of the anxiety she sees among student colleagues as they try to cope with the tremendous financial burden incurred as a result of their medical education, and of the importance of the bursary fund in providing some financial relief.
  
  The following is an excerpt from Ms. Turner’s address:
  
  “Programs such as the OMSBF allow us some breathing room to think a little more about the kinds of doctors that we want to be, and a little less about where the money is going to come from for our ophthalmoscopes. While $2,000 may not seem like a lot of money, I am here to assure you that it helps immensely. A $2,000 bursary easily covers my food budget for 52 weeks of the year — with perhaps a little left over to go out for dinner once in awhile. Or, with a $2,000 bursary, a first-year medical student can buy all of his or her required medical equipment, including a decent stethoscope and a diagnostic set, with money left to spare on the books that are ‘strongly’ recommended by professors. Or, $2,000 covers ancillary and mandatory fees for the year, and takes a little pressure off the dreaded tuition bill.”
  
  
• OMA President Dr. Greg Flynn offered a special thanks to RBC Financial Group representatives Bill Clementi (senior account manager, LTC, not for profit, public sector, Ontario commercial markets) and Gus Kotsiomitis (vice-president, commercial banking, public sector & not for profit markets, GTA) for their organization’s continued financial support.
  
  
• Dr. George Yee, the largest single contributor to the OMSBF ($100,000 to date), pledged to continue — and increase — his support in 2006.
  
  
• Canadian Medical Association Holdings has agreed to donate an additional $100,000 to the OMSBF in 2006.
  
  
• RBC Financial Group representatives presented a gift to OMA President Dr. Greg Flynn, commemora- ting the 125th anniversary of the OMA.
  

The following donors were presented with plaques in recognition of their generous contributions to the OMSBF in 2005:

• Patron Level ($2,000 to $4,999)
  Dr. David Barrett
  Dr. John Carruthers
  
  
• Builder Level ($5,000 - $9,999)
  Dr. Kenneth Arnold
  Dr. Daniel Fleming
  Dr. John Gray
  Dr. Ciaran Kealy
  Dr. Albert Schumacher
  
  
• President Level ($250,000 - $499,999)
  RBC Financial Group (accepted by Bill Clementi and Gus Kotsiomitis)
  
  
• 1st Annual OMSBF Golf Tournament Sponsor Awards
  - Silver Tee
    AstraZeneca
  
  - Bronze Tee
    RBC Financial Group
  

The OMA would like to once again thank all OMSBF donors for their generous support.

OMSBF Reception Photos

To obtain further information on the Ontario Medical Student Bursary Fund, please contact Terri Mitchell, administrator, at 1-800-268-7215, ext. 2259, (416) 340-2259, or via e-mail (omsbf@oma.org), or visit the OMA website (www.ssoma.org/students/assistance.htm).