From wall street to school halls: A legacy of generosity changes lives in the Bronx
In an unparalleled act of generosity, 93-year-old Dr. Ruth L . Gottesman has donated a staggering $1 billion to ensure free tuition for students at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York’s most impoverished borough. The colossal sum, left to her by her late husband David Gottesman, a savvy Wall Street financier with early stakes in Berkshire Hathaway, marks the largest donation ever made to a medical school in the United States.
Dr. Gottesman, who began her career at the esteemed medical school in 1968 and now serves as chair of trustees, was taken aback by the vast fortune her husband had amassed. “He left me, unbeknownst to me, a whole portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway stock,” she shared with The New York Times.
The transformative gift will relieve the financial burden for current fourth-year students, refunding their spring 2024 semester fees, while future enrollees will benefit from free tuition starting this fall. With tuition exceeding $59,000 annually, this move opens doors for aspiring medical students who might have otherwise been deterred by the cost.
Dr. Gottesman’s joy is palpable as she considers the impact of her contribution: “We have terrific medical students, but this will open it up for many other students whose economic status is such that they wouldn’t even think about going to medical school. That’s what makes me very happy about this gift.”
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, home to 1,070 students and 239 research fellows, is poised for a new era of inclusivity and excellence. Dr. Yaron Tomer, the Marilyn and Stanley Katz Dean at the college, hailed the donation as a “radical revolution” in their ability to attract students dedicated to their mission of compassionate care and community transformation.
In a world often marred by greed and self-interest, Dr. Ruth L. Gottesman stands as a beacon of altruism, her monumental gift forever changing the landscape of medical education in New York’s Bronx borough
