UH College of Medicine Receives First Scholarship Endowment

The University of Houston College of Medicine has received a $25,000 gift from The Indian Doctors Association (IDA) of Houston to establish its first scholarship endowment.

Administered by the University of Houston Foundation, The Indian Doctors Association of Houston Endowed Scholarship will be given to students of Indian descent or who are members of an active student South Asian organization.

Founded in 1986, IDA is a non-profit, networking forum for physicians of Indian origin to provide support for charity health care in the greater Houston area, raise funds to support college and medical school scholarships for local high school and medical students, and provide health education for residents throughout the community. With a growing membership, IDA provides its members with opportunities to attend free educational seminars, mentoring programs, volunteer within and outside the United States as well as participate in social, networking mixers.

IDA President, Dr. Jignesh Shah hopes their gift will foster the growth of caring and compassionate physicians among the prevalent Indian physician community in Houston. “We want our scholarship to attract students of strong, ethical character who will go on to become future leaders in medicine,” said Dr. Shah. We value the diversity at the University of Houston and look forward to future collaborations with the College of Medicine.”

Dr. Shah has been with IDA for six years and values the education, mentoring and philosophy of giving back that is inherent in the organization’s mission. “In working with our members and various student groups, I want to pass on the importance of paying it forward,” said Dr. Shah. That is my wish for the UH medical students who receive our scholarship.”

“We are delighted that The Indian Doctors Association wants to play a role in the College of Medicine and provide our students with the financial means to become caring, ethical physicians,” said Dr. Stephen Spann, founding dean of the UH College of Medicine.

Recipients of The Indian Doctors Association of Houston Endowed Scholarship will be invited to attend The Indian Doctors Association’s annual gala on May 2, 2020.