Third-year medical student Gwen Fitz-Gerald’s connections to the University of Vermont run deep — besides the seven years she has spent on campus, her siblings, father, grandparents, and great-grandfather have all called UVM their alma mater.

Even deeper than her connection to UVM is Gwen’s commitment to a career in medicine, which started when she was just a child watching “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” on television, and continued through getting her Emergency Medicine Technician license while in high school, and earning her undergraduate degree in sociology, with a concentration in medicine and health care.

In addition to the support of her family and friends, Gwen is helped in the attainment of her medical education by generous scholarship philanthropy — Gwen is the recipient of the John Mazuzan, M.D.’54 Scholarship, which was established to honor the former chair of the Department of Anesthesiology by his friend, James Andrew.

“The cost of higher education continues to rise, and having scholarships available, through the generosity of the Burlington and UVM community, means so much to me,” says Gwen. “I am honored to be a beneficiary of the community’s support and encouragement.”

For more information about supporting the College of Medicine and its students, please contact the Medical Development and Alumni Relations Office at (802) 656-4014 or at www.med.uvm.edu/giving .