Donor Spotlight: Tal Frank, President of Physician Loans, currently serves on the SOMA Foundation's Advisory Board. His company is a long time supporter of the foundation and currently sponsors the AT Still Memorial Scholarship.
Why I feel it is important to be involved in philanthropy?
Short answer – Why not? That is how I was raised. My parents, who founded PhysicianLoans, taught that helping others, financially or otherwise, is simply the right thing to do. I love it when I come across doctors with the same approach. Doctors have a huge capacity to do a lot of good in this world. Why giving is important to me? A primary motive is that I am thankful for those that had helped my family 40+ years ago when we came to the United States and over the many years since. My siblings and I were beneficiaries of scholarships and financial aid through college. Why I support the SOMA Foundation? Working first hand with young medical students and doctors over 20+ years, I see the impact every dollar can have during a financially challenging period. Of course the hope is that that each doctor then helps so many others once his/her education is complete and on more solid financial footing. How I hope my donation have helped others? I don’t have to hope, I know. We received so many thank you notes from SOMA recipients over the years. Some have shared truly inspiring stories about their studies and how their work will help others. We are happy to be a small part of making it possible for DO students and doctors to become future leaders. Tell us something not everyone knows about you? I have a small collection of Dogs Playing Poker artwork. The highlight of the collection is the large velvet Dogs Playing Poker painting hanging in my office. |
Donor Spotlight: Karen Nichols DO, former AOA president and current dean of Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. She serves on the SOMA Foundation's Advisory Board and is a yearly supporter of the foundation.
Why I feel it is important to be involved in philanthropy?
Being an osteopathic physician is a wonderful gift and one of the best ways to pay it back is to pay it forward through philanthropy. Why giving is important to me? Giving is a joyful act that provides more pleasure to the giver than to the recipient. Why I support the SOMA Foundation? Our osteopathic students deserve our focus and our attention as part of our osteopathic family. How I hope my donation have helped others? I received support at times that I really needed it so I want to return that kindness. Tell us something not everyone knows about you? I bungy-jumped in New Zealand! |
Donor Spotlight: Tyler Cymet DO, Chief of Clinical Education for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. He is one of the founding members of the SOMA Foundation and a yearly supporter.
Why I feel it is important to be involved in philanthropy?
Donating money to trainees of a profession is a clear statement for me, that I am in, I believe and belong, and want to bring in new recruits to keep the profession vibrant and strong. Why giving is important to me? The Talmud (Baba Batra 9a) says: "Greater than one who does a mitzvah, is one who causes others to do a mitzvah." If you really want to be effective, wake others up to an issue (the high cost of education) and mobilize. When people have chosen to become your colleagues we need to do what we can for them to join the profession and not be overly burdened. Why I support the SOMA Foundation? I helped create the SOMA Foundation in the mid 90's when tuitions were increasing. Student loans weren't able to cover everything and the thinking about careers was being influenced by finances in a way it hadn't before. How I hope my donation have helped others? My main hope is that scholarships show students that the profession supports them. That it makes students feel good about the profession they are about to enter. The recognition and the money both matter. Tell us something not everyone knows about you? I love key lime pie. 
Donor Spotlight: Paul Teget DO. He was National VP of National SOMA when he attended Medical School. He is a long time supporter of the SOMA Foundation and currently sponsors the Marvin H. and Kathleen G. Teget Leadership Scholarship.
Why I feel it is important to be involved in philanthropy?
Philanthropy is the ultimate expression of caring for humankind. It is the opportunity to direct giving, whether that is time, financial resources, or knowledge to help those less fortunate or those who need a bit of help. Moreover, the act of giving and participating in a community forces more self-awareness and allows for personal growth as well as understanding the intricacies of the community and what is really needed, appreciated, and will be accepted which allows for positive change to occur. Why giving is important to me? I hope that by giving back to those organizations that helped me I will lead by example. Hopefully recipients of the Teget Scholarships, when they are graduated and have completed residency will remember the help that was provided them and they too will 'pay it forward' to help others not only in SOMA, but, in life as well. Why I support the SOMA Foundation? I support the SOMA Foundation because I truly understand the expense and stress of medical school. Educational expenses and the sacrifices necessary to attend medical school are considerable. If I can help with Teget Foundation to ameliorate some of that stress for dedicated and committed medical students I am helping a community and students who are dedicating themselves to helping others. How I hope my donation have helped others? I hope my donations have made it a bit easier for those individuals who have elected to choose specialty medicine. I also hope that these donations have encouraged people to strive for more to be better people, students, and ultimately better physicians. Tell us something not everyone knows about you? I really love Italian Renaissance Art. One of my all-time favorite painters is Tintoretto. His masterpieces hanging the Scuola Grande San Rocco in Venice are awe inspiring. |
Donor Spotlight: Shoja Rahimian OMSIV, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He currently serves as Research Director on the SOMA National Board and is a yearly supporter of the foundation.
Why I feel it is important to be involved in philanthropy?
It is an honor to contribute to a big cause that is certain to help others. Why giving is important to me? Giving is a method of indirect help to a cause. Why I support the SOMA Foundation? SOMA represents the voices of Osteopathic students, and SOMA Foundation propels those voices forward. How I hope my donation have helped others? I hope that the Foundation has been able to help those in need with service projects. Also, I hope fellow Osteopathic medical students have been able to reach their goals with SOMA Foundation to aid them. Tell us something not everyone knows about you? Strawberries are my favorite fruit. |