Distinguished Alumni Scholarships

Scholarship honorees, students mingle at luncheon

 
 

Distinguished Alumni Honorees and Scholars (l-r): Llewellyn Sale Jr., MD 40, Katherine H. Smith, George E. Murphy, MD 52, Samuel W. Reinhardt, Will R. Ross, MD 84, MPH, Joseph F. Ruwitch Jr., MD 66, Christopher T. Chen. Not pictured: Varun Chalivendra.

The Distinguished Alumni Scholarship Program (DASP), established in 1989 by the Washington University Medical Center Alumni Association, awards four-year, full-tuition scholarships named in honor of esteemed alumni of the School of Medicine.  

Honorees are selected by the Alumni Association Executive Council based on outstanding citizenship and leadership, and scholars are chosen by a faculty committee for their exceptional academic record and character.

“The caliber of applicants to the School of Medicine puts us in the desirable position of selecting the best of the best.” — Larry J. Shapiro, MD

“The caliber of applicants to the School of Medicine puts us in the desirable position of selecting the best of the best,” says Larry J. Shapiro, MD 71, dean of the School of Medicine and executive vice chancellor for medical affairs. “Helping top-notch students to afford the outstanding medical education we have to offer is one of my highest priorities.”

These merit-based scholarships are a significant factor in the decision process for each student when considering Washington University. Since the inception of the scholarship, 180 alumni and students have participated in the program. A recent celebration luncheon gave honorees and scholars a chance to get to know one another better.

“I am extremely thankful for my scholarship,” says Samuel W. Reinhardt, first-year medical student and DASP scholar. “It made attending Washington University School of Medicine a possibility, something I otherwise would not have been able to finance. The program has given me the chance to meet Dr. Ruwitch, my scholarship honoree. He and his wife have welcomed me to St. Louis, helped me gain perspective on Washington University’s role in St. Louis health care, and even sent me cookies during finals!”

Past honoree and student pairs have greatly enjoyed continuing their relationship throughout the students’ time at the School of Medicine.

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