Albert Einstein College of Medicine, a medical school in the Bronx borough of New York City, announced it will now offer free tuition to all students following a $1 billion donation from Dr. Ruth Gottesman.
The donation, one of the largest ever made to a US medical school, will remove the financial barrier for future students and allow them to focus on their studies without the burden of debt.
Dr. Gottesman, a former professor at the school, stated her desire to support future doctors who will provide healthcare "here in the Bronx and all over the world."
Previously, tuition at the school was nearly $59,000 per year. This donation will not only cover tuition for incoming students but also reimburse current students for the spring 2024 semester and eliminate tuition costs for all future semesters.
The school's dean, Dr. Yaron Yomer, called the gift "transformational" and said it would allow them to attract students "committed to our mission, not just those who can afford it." He further noted that the free tuition will "free up and lift our students, enabling them to pursue projects and ideas that might otherwise be prohibitive."