Graduates' Gifts Help Future Generations

I truly appreciated the support you have given me. It is nice to know that someone perceives me to be worth investing in, that I have the potential to succeed and do great things with my medical school education. What you are doing to help medical students inspires me to do the same for the next generation of medical students."
– A thank-you note from a BCM medical student

A family physician convinced Baylor College of Medicine alumnus George Merriman, M.D., BCM '40, to pursue a career in medicine. A childhood battling illness stimulated Judith Craven, M.D., BCM '76, to take the same course.

The two came from different backgrounds, faced different barriers to achieving their goals, but are united in their dedication to their medical school and their desire to give back by sponsoring scholarships for those who follow in their footsteps.

FOCUS ON MEDICINE The scholarship funds created by alumnus George Merriman, M.D., and his wife, Lorwen, allow students to focus on their studies, not their funding.

Merriman, now 92, credits family and friends with encouraging him to pursue his medical career. "When I was a boy growing up, I had a close friend whose father was our family practitioner," Merriman said. "I would go by his office from time to time to see what he was doing and I just sort of fell into it. I have been interested in medicine ever since."

The Corpus Christi native began his career at Baylor University College of Medicine in Dallas.

"He started right after the Depression and was fortunate enough to receive financial help from his father," said his wife, Lorwen, whom he married while in his second year of medical school. "He had finished his four years in medical school and had just begun his internship when the war interfered. He spent five years away from anything that had to do with Baylor." During the war, Merriman served as a flight surgeon with the U.S. Army Air Force.

Upon his return, Merriman heard about a refresher course offered by Baylor University College of Medicine (which by then had moved to Houston) for medical students who had served in the military.

"We thought we would be in Houston for about three or four months," Lorwen said. "We have stayed ever since 1946." The Merriman's loyalty and career in family medicine with BCM extends longer than 60 years.

Fast forward 30 years, when Craven, formerly a teacher, came to BCM primarily to fulfill a childhood dream and left with an enriching experience and education.

MINORITY ASSISTANCE Alumna Judith Craven, M.D., is building the ranks of minority physicians by giving scholarships that help underrepresented students.

"I lived a few blocks from Baylor," Craven said. "I was on a three-year accelerated program." Craven's husband, already a practicing dentist in the area, was able to support her education. They still live close to BCM.

Most of Craven's medical career has focused on public health. She served as Chief of Family Health Services and then as Director of the City of Houston Health Department. Later, she was named Dean of the School of Allied Health Science at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Finally, she took over as President of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast during a turbulent time in the history of the United Way nationally. Currently, she is concentrating her efforts on community volunteering and serves on several corporate boards, including recently, The University of Texas Board of Regents.

While these alumni came to BCM at different periods of time and left different legacies, they credit their successful careers in large part to their experiences at BCM. They feel strongly about keeping the alumni scholarship program appropriately supported.

"We wanted to do something for Baylor because Baylor had done a lot for George," Lorwen said. "It is not a way of paying back, but of showing our appreciation to help students in need." In April 1989, the Merrimans established their scholarship fund with a stock gift. They have contributed more than $200,000 to BCM to date.

William T. Butler, M.D, BCM's second President and now Chancellor Emeritus, influenced Craven and other alumni to get involved with the current students.

"Dr. Butler reached out to the alumni about how we can be more involved on many levels," Craven said. "He truly involved us as an alumni group to make the students' experience worth-while." In December 1983, Craven established her scholarship with a cash and stock donation. In 2001, an additional $100,000 gift from her was directed to BCM.

Her scholarship is directed to minority students and enables the College to recruit more among those groups.

"The hardest thing right now is going to be the scholarships and the funding for the minority students," Craven said. "With the cost of education going up, we have got to be able to better fund each of these students so that they may be able to attend medical school and not come out in tremendous debt."

Craven and the Merrimans feel there must be stronger programs in place to provide support to each student. "The schools have made our success possible," Craven said. "We believe in giving back." The Merrimans have a similar pride in their efforts.

"We hope that our contributions will help students who need assistance," Lorwen said. "That allows the student to put his mind on his studies without worrying from where his tuition is coming or who is going to buy his books."

"I have wanted to become a doctor since I was a little kid," said Yuemi, a fourth-year medical student at BCM. "I am not exactly sure what motivated me in my early years, but as I grew older, I held fast to that goal and became more and more interested in the health care profession and how many lives you can touch with such a profession."

Maureen Alikah, a Craven scholar, combined her passion for science and helping people in deciding her career.

"As a doctor, I would be able to combine my desire to have a direct impact on the lives of individuals with my interest in science," said Alikah, a first-year medical student.

Best Minds Best Medicine

Features

Spotlight

Briefs

Volume 4, Issue 1, Summer 2008


	Graduates' Gifts Help Future Generations by Glenna Picton I truly appreciated the support you have given me. It is nice to know that someone perceives me to be worth investing in, that I have the potential to succeed and do great things with my medical school education. What you are doing to help medical students inspires me to do the same for the next generation of medical students." – A thank-you note from a BCM medical student A family physician convinced Baylor College of Medicine alumnus George Merriman, M.D., BCM '40, to pursue a career in medicine. A childhood battling illness stimulated Judith Craven, M.D., BCM '76, to take the same course. The two came from different backgrounds, faced different barriers to achieving their goals, but are united in their dedication to their medical school and their desire to give back by sponsoring scholarships for those who follow in their footsteps. FOCUS ON MEDICINE The scholarship funds created by alumnus George Merriman, M.D., and his wife, Lorwen, allow students to focus on their studies, not their funding. Merriman, now 92, credits family and friends with encouraging him to pursue his medical career. "When I was a boy growing up, I had a close friend whose father was our family practitioner," Merriman said. "I would go by his office from time to time to see what he was doing and I just sort of fell into it. I have been interested in medicine ever since." The Corpus Christi native began his career at Baylor University College of Medicine in Dallas. "He started right after the Depression and was fortunate enough to receive financial help from his father," said his wife, Lorwen, whom he married while in his second year of medical school. "He had finished his four years in medical school and had just begun his internship when the war interfered. He spent five years away from anything that had to do with Baylor." During the war, Merriman served as a flight surgeon with the U.S. Army Air Force. Upon his return, Merriman heard about a refresher course offered by Baylor University College of Medicine (which by then had moved to Houston) for medical students who had served in the military. "We thought we would be in Houston for about three or four months," Lorwen said. "We have stayed ever since 1946." The Merriman's loyalty and career in family medicine with BCM extends longer than 60 years. Fast forward 30 years, when Craven, formerly a teacher, came to BCM primarily to fulfill a childhood dream and left with an enriching experience and education. MINORITY ASSISTANCE Alumna Judith Craven, M.D., is building the ranks of minority physicians by giving scholarships that help underrepresented students. "I lived a few blocks from Baylor," Craven said. "I was on a three-year accelerated program." Craven's husband, already a practicing dentist in the area, was able to support her education. They still live close to BCM. Most of Craven's medical career has focused on public health. She served as Chief of Family Health Services and then as Director of the City of Houston Health Department. Later, she was named Dean of the School of Allied Health Science at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Finally, she took over as President of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast during a turbulent time in the history of the United Way nationally. Currently, she is concentrating her efforts on community volunteering and serves on several corporate boards, including recently, The University of Texas Board of Regents. While these alumni came to BCM at different periods of time and left different legacies, they credit their successful careers in large part to their experiences at BCM. They feel strongly about keeping the alumni scholarship program appropriately supported. "We wanted to do something for Baylor because Baylor had done a lot for George," Lorwen said. "It is not a way of paying back, but of showing our appreciation to help students in need." In April 1989, the Merrimans established their scholarship fund with a stock gift. They have contributed more than $200,000 to BCM to date. William T. Butler, M.D, BCM's second President and now Chancellor Emeritus, influenced Craven and other alumni to get involved with the current students. "Dr. Butler reached out to the alumni about how we can be more involved on many levels," Craven said. "He truly involved us as an alumni group to make the students' experience worth-while." In December 1983, Craven established her scholarship with a cash and stock donation. In 2001, an additional $100,000 gift from her was directed to BCM. Her scholarship is directed to minority students and enables the College to recruit more among those groups. "The hardest thing right now is going to be the scholarships and the funding for the minority students," Craven said. "With the cost of education going up, we have got to be able to better fund each of these students so that they may be able to attend medical school and not come out in tremendous debt." Craven and the Merrimans feel there must be stronger programs in place to provide support to each student. "The schools have made our success possible," Craven said. "We believe in giving back." The Merrimans have a similar pride in their efforts. "We hope that our contributions will help students who need assistance," Lorwen said. "That allows the student to put his mind on his studies without worrying from where his tuition is coming or who is going to buy his books." These generous contributions are helping to produce our future medical leaders. Yuemi An, a Merriman scholar, saw medicine in her future at an early age. "I have wanted to become a doctor since I was a little kid," said Yuemi, a fourth-year medical student at BCM. "I am not exactly sure what motivated me in my early years, but as I grew older, I held fast to that goal and became more and more interested in the health care profession and how many lives you can touch with such a profession." Maureen Alikah, a Craven scholar, combined her passion for science and helping people in deciding her career. "As a doctor, I would be able to combine my desire to have a direct impact on the lives of individuals with my interest in science," said Alikah, a first-year medical student.		Search all issues: Best Minds Best Medicine BCM Campaign Seeks to Raise $1 Billion Attracting Stars: McNairs Give $100 Million To Recruit Top Scientists Lester and Sue Smith Gift Tackles Breast Cancer in the Clinic and Lab Two Alumni Share Commitment to Scholarship Support Features Taking Personalized Medicine to New Heights Creating Culture While Building Walls Changing Complexion of Medicine Spotlight Click for your Doctor: New eVisits Trade Exam Room for Inbox Kjersti Aagaard: 2007 Winner of NIH New Innovator Award Getting World-Class Breast Cancer Care...With or Without Insurance James Lupski's Tenacity Founds New Field of Genomic Medicine Briefs BCM Named National Diabetes Research Center DeBakey Takes the Gold The Trash is no Place for Expired Medication Removing Brain Tumors Through the Nose SPORE Spawns New Lymphoma Efforts The Coffee-Cholesterol Connection BCM Campaign puts Personalized Medicine on the Fast-Track

	Volume 4, Issue 1, Summer 2008



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