A West Virginia University School of Medicine alumnus and his wife are paying tribute to his alma mater with a planned gift to benefit future students.
Dr. Roger and Linda Lewis pledged an estimated $2 million to WVU as part of their estate. Half of those funds will be used to establish a new scholarship for students from Preston County pursuing a medical degree. The other half will go toward the existing Fund for Medicine, which provides unrestricted support for the School of Medicine at the discretion of leadership.
“Our students are always so grateful for the financial support from alumni-sponsored scholarships,” Dr. Norman Ferrari III, chief academic officer for medical education, vice dean for education and academic affairs at the School of Medicine and chair of the Department of Medical Education, said. “This is a huge stress reliever as they navigate the pathway to become a physician.”
Roger Lewis was born and raised in Terra Alta, a rural community about an hour from Morgantown in neighboring Preston County. His mother battled chronic illness, and he always looked up to the local family doctor who treated her.
Roger established his independent practice in Terra Alta after graduating and completing his residency at WVU. He has practiced family medicine at Cranberry Medical Clinic for 41 years.
Linda, also a native of Terra Alta, was by Roger’s side for 37 years as his office nurse. She joined the clinic in 1983, after working in a variety of other health care settings as a registered nurse.
Linda received a scholarship from Preston Memorial Hospital, which allowed her to complete a three-year nursing program in Martinsburg in exchange for one year of service. She worked there for seven years before moving on to other roles.
Roger also earned a scholarship that helped reduce his debt load and alleviate the financial stress of paying for his medical education. He feels obligated to give back to show his gratitude to WVU, and he encourages other physicians to do the same.
“The chance that the School of Medicine took when they accepted me as a student gave me the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream, and I feel I owe some of it back,” he said. “I hope to make it easier for a medical student to get through med school from a financial standpoint. It’s certainly a whole lot more expensive now than when I went to school. And, I want to provide some funds to the School of Medicine to fulfill areas that they deem necessary.”
Gifts to the School of Medicine can be made online at give.wvu.edu/medicine.
The Lewis family’s gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.