BENEFACTOR REPORT

Class of 1973 Endowed Scholarship

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George Q. Daley, MD, PhD
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Caroline Shields Walker Professor of Medicine

June 2026
George Q. Daley, MD, PhD

Dear Dr. Zitin,

Sincerely,

Our financial aid program reflects our core belief that cost should never be a barrier to attending Harvard Medical School. Because of you, we can welcome outstanding students regardless of their financial means and enable them to begin their training with purpose and focus. 

As the representative of your class’s fundraising efforts, thank you for your generous commitment to financial aid at Harvard Medical School and for your support through the Class of 1973 Endowed Scholarship. I am grateful for your leadership and for your classmates' collective philanthropy. I’m pleased to share this report on how your class’s philanthropy is making a difference in our students’ lives and in the future of medicine.

Harvard Medical School is proud to offer one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country. In fiscal year 2025, we awarded $31.2 million in MD financial aid, placing HMS sixth nationally in total MD scholarship funding awarded. Seventy-one percent of our MD students receive aid, with an average annual scholarship of $61,758, and half of our scholarship recipients qualify for our Middle Income Initiative, which adjusts the parental contribution expected from HMS families with the greatest financial need. Your class’s support is essential to maintaining this level of aid and directing resources to those with the greatest need.

Even in a current challenging financial environment, with uncertain federal support, we remain steadfast in our commitment to financial aid. With your class’s partnership, we can continue to prioritize access and opportunity for outstanding students.

Financial aid does more than ease financial pressure—it enables our students to fully engage in their education, research, and clinical experiences, and to pursue careers guided by impact and service rather than by financial constraints. Thank you to your class for helping to educate and inspire the next generation of physicians and physician-scientists.

Besmira Alija

Class of 1973 Endowed Scholarship

Pathways, Class of 2026

Path to Medicine

Besmira immigrated to the United States from Albania in 2001. Her parents worked long hours in construction and housekeeping to create opportunities for their children. As the first in her family to graduate high school and college, she initially ruled out medicine. Mentorship and financial aid convinced her to pursue medical school.

Training & Development

At Massachusetts General Hospital, Besmira co-chairs the Austen Surgical Society, building community through skills workshops, panels, and research events. She serves on the HMS Surgical Education Committee and the Association of Academic Surgery Medical Student Task Force. She also mentors HOPE Medical Scholars, co-founded a large pre-health mentoring program, and volunteers with the Medical Justice Alliance.

Access & Opportunity

Scholarship support at HMS allows Besmira to choose roles based on impact, not income. As a first-generation, low-income student, she views aid as granting access and belonging. Donor support sustains her commitment to surgical research, advocacy for incarcerated and underserved patients, and mentorship for future students from similar backgrounds.

BA, Hunter College (2020)

Your support of financial aid ensures that the world’s most promising students can attend Harvard Medical School, regardless of their financial means. In turn, these students, representing a wide range ofbackgrounds and perspectives go on to become innovators and leaders in the field of medicine. HMS is proud to have one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country.

 Thank you

We could not do this without you.

Class of 2029

HST

165

Students

PATHWAYS

135

30

15 students are pursuing both an MD and a PhD (MD-PhD)

14%

From groups historically underrepresented in medicine

62

Colleges

31

U.S. States

09

Countries

The Impact of Financial Aid

Average annual scholarship

$61,758

Qualify for the HMS Middle Income Initiative, which adjusts the parental contribution expected for HMS families with the greatest financial need.

50%

Come from a family whose annual income is $50,000 or less

1 in 5

Receive financial aid

71%

Student Beneficiary

The Impact

Office of Alumni Affairs and Development


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