The NUS Medicine Class of 1995 commemorated their 20th anniversary in 2015 by setting up a class bursary.
The Dean of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Associate Professor Yeoh Khay Guan (Class of 1987), is a firm believer in the power and enduring impact of class giving.
“Throughout our history, NUS Medicine has been a medical school started and supported by the local community. Our students come from all levels of society to pursue medical education. While many are financially supported by their parents and families, there are about 200 students every year who need financial assistance. Unfortunately, we do not have enough bursaries to help every one of them,” he explains.
Prof Yeoh initiated the establishment of the MBBS Class of 1987 Bursary and championed the cause among his classmates.
“We want to do this because we want to make sure that no deserving student is deprived of a medical education because of financial constraints. The Bursary not only helps bright young men and women to achieve their dreams of becoming doctors but also serves as an enduring, meaningful legacy for those who come after us. It is a collective gift that espouses what we believe in and preserves the memory of our time and friendship as the Class of 1987,” he affirms. Besides helping future generations, giving as a class is a statement of the values the classmates uphold. It also
affirms their strong belief in their alma mater.
At a well-attended 20th anniversary dinner of the NUS Medicine Class of 1995, alumni immensely enjoyed catching up on the good old days. At the same time, fundraising efforts for an endowed bursary began in earnest, thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of Associate Professor Gerald Koh (Class of 1995) and other classmates.
“As beneficiaries of heavily subsidised fees ourselves when we were medical students, my class wanted to help ensure that our best, brightest and most deserving students could access a quality medical education regardless of financial background. So on this special occasion, we decided to leave a meaningful legacy in the form of an endowment fund, the NUS Medicine Class of 1995 Bursary, which will help worthy but needy medical students become doctors,” says Prof Koh, who is currently teaching at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
Class alumni Dr Lye Tong Fong (Class of 1995), who is firmly committed to the fundraising, is proud of his class and appreciates the champions who made the Fund possible. “We have probably reached the age when it is time to contribute back to society in whichever way we can. At this stage of life, most of us are in the prime of our careers. Giving back is a small part we can do for society. I also had a great time getting together with my
classmates and talking about the good old days,” shares Dr Lye, the Founder and Medical Director of Central 24 HR Clinic group.
“We were a small class but we managed to pull it off and establish a named bursary. I hope we can inspire future generations to do the same. It would be great if beneficiaries become donors one day,” he added.
Considering a class bursary? Visit our online donation portal, contact us at giving_med@nus.edu.sg or call 6772 3737.
Story reproduced with permission of the NUS Development Office.