Albert Einstein College of Medicine Becomes Tuition-Free After Receiving $1 Billion Donation

Albert Einstein College of Medicine receives a donation of $1 billion from a former professor, Ruth Gottesman, making the tuition free for all students going forward.

The 93-year-old widow makes a historic $1 billion donation to a Bronx medical school. The donation holds particular significance as it targets a medical institution in Bronx, one of New York City's poorest boroughs.

Ruth Gottesman is known to have studied learning disabilities, developed a screening test and ran literacy programs in the institution. Her contribution is one of the largest charitable donations to an educational institution in the United States and most likely the largest to a medical school.

The donation came from her late husband, who she recalled telling her, “Do whatever you think is right with it,”. In an interview, Ruth Gottesman mentions that after some time to think, she had remembered that she wanted to fund the students at Einstein for them to receive free tuition.

The donation, obtained from her late husband David Gottesman's fortune, allows aspiring doctors to pursue their careers without the burden of medical school debt, which often exceeds $200,000. This may also broaden the student body itself to include those who can’t afford to go to medical school.

The contribution will not only reduce financial burdens for future medical students but also promote greater inclusivity within the medical profession, ensuring that talented individuals from all backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue careers in medicine.