Ontario Medical Student Bursary Fund 2001 annual report

by Lisa Clements, OMA Public Affairs and Communications Department

The Ontario Medical Student Bursary Fund (OMSBF) completed it second successful year of operation in November 2001. Established by the Ontario Medical Association through its charitable organization, the Ontario Medical Foundation (OMF), the OMSBF was developed to provide funding to students who require financial assistance to complete their medical education.

To date, the OMSBF has raised nearly $3.2 million toward its $4 million campaign goal.

OMSBF background
Since the deregulation of medical school tuition in 1998, tuition fees have skyrocketed.

In September 2001, first-year medical tuition in Ontario averaged $12,840 per year. Tuition for 2002 is expected to average $13,600.

Meanwhile, government assistance for students has not increased in more than a decade, leaving some medical students with debt-loads as high as $100,000 upon graduation.

Worried that this new financial reality could force students from lower socio-economic backgrounds to abandon their plans of attending medical school, in November 1998 the OMA Student Section appealed to OMA Council delegates for help.

Council responded to the students' concerns by passing a resolution in May 1999 approving the formation of an OMA Student Bursary Fund. Since then, the OMF has been working hard to raise money to help as many financially needy medical students as possible.

The campaign was activated with seed funding provided by the OMA, Canadian Medical Association, and MD Management Inc. (through the Canadian Medical Foundation).

OMSBF in 2001: fund-raising activities, special events
Since the inception of an annual OMSBF spring telemarketing campaign in February 2000, more than 2,800 physicians contacted by phone have pledged almost $1.1 million to the Fund. In 2001,1,330 physicians committed a total of $745,000 (see table opposite).

Other fund-raising appeals, such as a direct mail campaign and various special events, have been successful in raising additional funds. A total of $137,000 was raised through pledges enclosed with the 2001 OMA Members' Dues Notice.

Fund-raising initiatives have also resulted in generous donations from Abelsoft Corporation, AstraZeneca Canada Inc., KPMG LLP Charitable Foundation, MDS Inc., Merck Frosst Canada, and the Royal Bank of Canada.

The OMSBF Corporate and Foundation Campaign continues. The OMF is approaching various industry sectors to offer private companies an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to maintaining an accessible, quality medical education system in Ontario by providing financial support to the OMSBF.

Other individuals and groups have also demonstrated their support for the OMSBF with generous donations.

At a special presentation held during the April 2001 OMA Council Meeting, the Ontario Medical Secretaries Association-Health Care Associates (OMSA-HCA) presented a cheque in the amount of $3,375 to the OMSBF.

The Bursary Fund was the OMSA-HCA's fund-raising project for 2000-2001, and involved the teamwork of six branches and the organization's house of representatives.

Golf tournaments have proven to be another successful fund-raising endeavour for the OMSBF.

The Academy of Medicine Ottawa hosted its second annual charity golf tournament and dinner in June 2001, raising more than $6,000 for the Student Bursary Fund.

Charity golf tournaments held in Toronto last August and September raised a total of $12,200 for the Fund. In addition, during the reception that followed the August event, a cheque for $10,000 was presented by AstraZeneca Canada Inc. to the OMSBF. The generous donation by AstraZeneca is the first instalment of a five-year, $50,000 pledge.

Last fall, the OMF was contracted by the University of Toronto Medical Alumni Association to contact a portion of its alumni in order to raise more funds for the OMSBF. The eight-week U of T campaign raised more than $270,000 for the OMSBF/ U of T fund.

Among the highlights of 2001 was the announcement in November of the inaugural disbursement of bursaries from the OMSBF to Ontario's medical schools.

That same day, then-OMA President Dr. Kenneth Sky had the privilege of presenting a cheque in the amount of $44,000 to U of T Medical Alumni Association President Dr. Jay Keystone, and first-year U of T medical student David Kelton.

A total of $174,000 was distributed in 2001 in the form of $2,000 bursaries provided to each of 87 students through their respective medical schools. Bursaries for the 2002-2003 academic year will be distributed later this year.

To cap off an exceptional year, the OMSBF hosted its second annual Donor Reception during the November OMA Council Meeting, held at the Toronto Hilton Hotel. Approximately 65 people enjoyed refreshments and the company of fellow donors and medical students, as OMSBF committee members took the opportunity to honour physicians and others who had donated $2,000 or more to the OMSBF in the previous year.

Two new major sponsors were recognized for their commitment to the future of medicine: both AstraZeneca and Merck Frosst have committed significant amounts of money to the Bursary Fund, and representatives were on hand to receive their plaques, and the appreciation of OMSBF team members.

The Royal Bank of Canada was also recognized for its continuing generosity to the Fund. Not only did the Royal Bank sponsor the 2001 Donor Reception, but representatives also presented a $25,000 cheque to the OMSBF, part of Royal Bank's ongoing pledge to assist medical students in financial need.

Staff of the OMF and OMSBF wish to thank all donors who contributed to the Fund in 2001.

For further information about the program, or to make a donation, visit the OMSBF link on the OMA Home Page (www.oma.org), or contact OMSBF campaign manager Sandra Zidaric at 1-800-268-7215, ext. 2913, (416) 340-2913, or via e-mail (sandy_zidaric@oma.org).