UMass Chan Giving

03/10/2026

Known for her generosity and compassion for others, Kerri Appleton’s life was tragically cut short in January 2025 by cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and incurable cancer.

To honor her memory, last summer’s inaugural Kerri Appleton Legacy Golf Tournament raised essential funds for cholangiocarcinoma research at UMass Chan Medical School—with the goal of advancing earlier detection, better treatments and improved outcomes for this devastating disease.

The inaugural Kerri Appleton Legacy Golf Tournament, held last summer, raised critical funds for cholangiocarcinoma research at UMass Chan Medical School—with the hope of changing the course of this intractable disease.

02/26/2026

UMass Chan Medical School has licensed an adeno-associated virus gene therapy to the Raiden Science Foundation to develop a clinical treatment for UBA5 disorder.

The foundation is named after 5-year-old Raiden Pham, diagnosed in 2021. Tommy and Linda Pham founded the Raiden Science Foundation to advance research and treatment for the disease soon after learning Raiden had UBA5 disorder.

UMass Chan has licensed an adeno-associated virus gene therapy to the Raiden Science Foundation to develop a clinical treatment for UBA5 disorder.

02/19/2026

Gerald Chan, venture capitalist, scientist and philanthropist responsible for the $175 million transformational gift to UMass Chan in 2021, will address the Medical School's Classes of 2026 on May 31.

Gerald Chan, philanthropist and founder of The Morningside Foundation, will deliver the Commencement address on May 31.

02/09/2026

Several years after endowing a scholarship at UMass Chan Medical School, Donna Grogan, MD, R'87, P'18, and her husband, Paul Grogan, P’18, have made a generous new donation that will offset the full cost of tuition for an in-state medical student, beginning this academic year.

Donna recently shared her thoughts on the couple’s thoughtful philanthropy—and the significant impact it will make on the life of aspiring physicians at UMass Chan, now and for generations to come.

The Grogans have endowed a second scholarship that, when combined with their first, will fully offset the annual tuition of an in-state medical student, starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

02/03/2026

UMass Chan medical students are leading a monthly culinary workshop at the Barre-Hardwick Senior Center to teach hands-on cooking skills tailored to common senior dietary needs.

The project is made possible thanks to a 2025 Remillard Family Community Service Fund award.

The students are leading “Cultivating Connections,” a monthly, hands-on culinary workshop for area residents at the Barre/Hardwick senior center.

01/26/2026

A gift from Dan Sullivan, MD ’86, MPH, and his wife Anne Melvin, will support medical students committed to family medicine and help address the statewide shortage of primary care physicians (P*Ps).

The scholarship reduces tuition burden for third- and fourth‑year students pursuing careers in primary care—an area facing growing pressure as fewer medical students enter the field. Dan’s experience as a longtime primary care physician highlights the urgency of this need, as many patients struggle to find a P*P in Massachusetts.

In addition to their current support, Dan and Anne have included a future bequest to expand the scholarship and fully fund tuition for multiple students, strengthening UMass Chan Medical School's ability to prepare the next generation of primary care physicians.

Dan Sullivan, MD’86, MPH, and his wife Anne Melvin set out to make a lasting impact—driven by concern over the shortage of primary care physicians in Massachusetts and gratitude to UMass Chan for launching Dan’s rewarding medical career.

01/13/2026

As a UMass Chan Medical School medical student, David B. FitzGerald, MD ’00, R’04, spent several weeks in Vellore, India—an experience that reshaped his view of medicine and inspired him to create his family’s fund for international education.

This fund now helps T.H. Chan School of Medicine students pursue life changing global health opportunities, including recent recipient Jaein Jung, MD’25, who spent summer 2024 working to expand health care access in rural India.

In honor of his 25th reunion, David and his wife, Coleen O’Brien, made a second major gift to strengthen the fund’s impact.

David B. FitzGerald, MD’00, R’04, was inspired by a global health experience in India to create a family fund for international education at UMass Chan. In honor of his 25th reunion, he and his wife, Coleen O’Brien, made a second major gift this past May to expand its impact.

12/23/2025

UMass Chan has two new endowed chairs, made possible by the generosity of the Meyers Primary Care Institute, Inc. and Mrs. Betty Brudnick.

The UMass Board of Trustees voted to approve the establishment of the Meyers Chair in Geriatric Medicine and the Brudnick Family Chair in Neuropsychiatry.

12/16/2025

Accentuating an extraordinary career in public service, Carolyn Clancy, MD’79—recent recipient of an honorary degree from UMass Chan Medical School—has established a scholarship alongside her husband, Bill Kaplan, to help medical students at UMass Chan pursue their own dreams of serving others through compassionate health care.

In addition to the recent gift, Dr. Clancy and her husband have included UMass Chan in their estate plans, with a generous bequest intended to fully support the tuition of multiple in-state medical students in the future—a profound legacy that will help shape the future health care workforce.

Accentuating an extraordinary career in public service, Carolyn Clancy, MD’79 has established a scholarship alongside her husband, Bill Kaplan, to help medical students at UMass Chan pursue their own dreams of serving others through compassionate health care.

12/02/2025

Today is ! 💙

Your generosity makes a difference. When you give to UMass Chan Medical School, you help advance groundbreaking research and train the next generation of health care leaders.

Every gift—big or small—fuels discoveries that improve lives and strengthens our mission to create a healthier future for all.

Join us and make an impact today: https://ow.ly/seEk50XAkuT

11/21/2025

Firefighters face unique physical and mental health risks.

UMass Chan Medical School and the Last Call Foundation are working together to bridge the gap between care providers and the fire service through research, education and advocacy.

“By building knowledge that can be replicated and serve as a model for others, there’s potential for monumental change in the fire service,” said Jason Burns, executive director of the Last Call Foundation and a Fall River firefighter. https://www.umassmed.edu/giving/impact/stories-of-giving/2025/05/last-call-foundation/

While firefighters risk their lives each day on the job responding to emergencies, they also face long-term health risks due to repeated exposure to toxic chemicals and other hazards. To help care providers better recognize, understand and treat the distinct physical and mental health impacts of the...

11/13/2025

We recently spoke with Jane Lizotte, who initiated Shrewsbury’s Turkey Trot for the Memory in honor of her father, the Honorable Francis P. O'Connor, following his passing from Alzheimer’s disease in 2007.

A generous portion of funds raised through the 2024 event are supporting the research of Honghuang Lin, PhD, professor of medicine and co-director of the Program in Digital Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School.

Learn more about this growing Thanksgiving tradition and how it unites a community to take a stand against Alzheimer’s disease.

Since 2011, Shrewsbury’s Turkey Trot for the Memory has united the local community on Thanksgiving morning to run or walk in support of people and families facing Alzheimer's disease.