Generous Bequest Will Support Education for the Next Generation of Physicians
2 min read
A School of Medicine alum encourages former classmates to join him in giving back.
“The one thing that really stood out during my career was how the UConn School of Medicine impacted everything that I became,” says David Gannon ’80 MD. Now, he is using his success to ensure the School will continue to make an impact for years to come.
Gannon, who is the chief medical officer of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals and a board-certified critical care pulmonologist with Nebraska Medicine, plans to leave a multi-million-dollar bequest to support students enrolled in the UConn School of Medicine.
“I’ve never been married. I don’t have children. I’m just on my own. But I’ve done very well in my career,” Gannon explains. “UConn is such a driving force in my life and such a positive force that my decision was to leave everything, outside of one or two carveouts, to UConn School of Medicine for scholarships for students.”
“Dr. Gannon’s generosity will make a medical school education accessible for students who thought that dream was out of reach,” says UConn School of Medicine Dean Bruce T. Liang, MD, FACC. “We are hopeful this new endowment will support several students each year who would otherwise be unable to attend.”
Gannon has seen the effects of the high levels of debt that medical students are saddled with. He has known doctors who pick up the worst shifts and work extensive hours just to earn enough to make their loan payments. Others decided against going into the specialty they are passionate about because it did not make financial sense.
Gannon hopes to become an example to other alums who are considering giving back.
“I think other potential donors should really think seriously about how UConn School of Medicine impacted their careers and gave them the foundation they need to be successful,” says Gannon. “When people think of it that way, they will realize it needs to be in their will.”
“I would also like to see people in the younger classes, more recent classes, start to donate as a habit,” he continues. “It doesn’t have to be at a high level, but people should begin to think about UConn as a place to donate money to every year.”
