Brody Scholars share commitment to service

Since the Brody Scholars program began in 1983, 163 medical students have received the university’s most prestigious medical scholarship to attend East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine.

The newest recipients of the full-tuition scholarship have completed their second semester as student doctors and are taking in all the opportunities, patient interactions and experiences the school and the Brody Scholars program provides them.

Rebecca Cloninger, Kamryn Henderson and Hailey Lewis, all native North Carolinians, are the Class of 2028 Brody Scholar award recipients. The scholarship, valued at approximately $118,000 each, provides each scholar four years of medical school tuition, living expenses and the opportunity to design a summer enrichment program that can include travel abroad. The award will also supports community service projects the students may undertake while in medical school.

The Brody Scholars program was created through gifts from the Brody family and the Brody Foundation. For more than 60 years, the Brody family has supported ECU, particularly its medical education and research programs. Michael Waldrum, dean of the Brody School of Medicine, CEO of ECU Health and president of the Brody Foundation, said the Brody family’s creation and support of the Brody Scholars program is building an incredible legacy in eastern North Carolina.

More than 70% of Brody Scholars remain in North Carolina to practice, and the majority of those stay in eastern North Carolina.

The newest medical school students said the mentorships with faculty and upperclass students, shared experience and friendships built between them have helpd them nagivate their first year.