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Dr. Esther T.C. Liu REACH Scholarship

at Harvard Medical School

Benefactor Report

March 2026

Table of Contents

01.

Letter from the Dean for Medical Education 

02.

Student Profiles

Letter from the Dean for Medical Education 

March 9, 2026
Dear Margaret,
Thank you for your generous support of Harvard Medical School’s REACH Scholarship Program through the Dr. Esther T.C. Liu REACH Scholarship. Your commitment enables admitted students with significant financial need to pursue an HMS education without incurring additional debt, allowing them to focus fully on their studies and follow their passions. Our REACH scholars—who embody the values of Resilience, Excellence, Achievement, Compassion, and Helping the underserved—strengthen our community with their diverse experiences and dedication to advancing health care. I’m pleased to provide you with updates on the 2025–2026 recipient of the Dr. Esther T.C. Liu REACH Scholarship, who can pursue his medical education with greater confidence thanks to your generosity. 
Bernard S. Chang AB ’93, MD, MMSc ’05

Bernard S. Chang,

AB ’93, MD, MMSc ’05

Bernard S. Chang AB '93, MD, MMSc '05 | Dean for Medical Education | Daniel D. Federman, MD Professor of Neurology and Medical Education
 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115 | t: (617) 432-6250 | e: Bernard_Chang@hms.harvard.edu
This year, 23 first‑year medical students received REACH scholarships, bringing the total number of current recipients to 85. Together, these 85 students will receive almost $2.2 million in REACH support during the 2025–2026 academic year. This funding reduces their student loan debt by the same amount, allowing them to move forward in their training without overwhelming financial pressure. Because of you, these students can pursue careers that reflect their passions, values, and commitment to service. 
Your generosity shapes not only the lives of these future physicians but also the well-being of the patients and communities they will care for throughout their careers. By bolstering financial aid for exceptional students with demonstrated need, you help cultivate compassionate, thoughtful leaders who will serve our increasingly diverse society with sensitivity and insight.
On behalf of the entire Harvard Medical School community, thank you for believing in our students and investing in their promise. We hope you will share this letter with SallyAnne, as we know Paul would have wanted her to read it.
 
Sincerely,​

Research and

Community Service

Christopher is interested in cardiology, cardiac surgery, anesthesiology, and health policy.

Talat Aman

BA, Yale University (2024)
MD, Harvard Medical School (Class of 2029)
2026 Dr. Esther T.C. Liu REACH Scholar
MD Program (Pathways track) 
Talat Aman
Financial aid has given Talat the freedom to explore his interest in health equity and research without the burden of long-term student debt. He is grateful for the opportunity to shape his career based on passion and impact rather than financial necessity. 

Impact of Financial Aid 

Pathway to Medicine and Research

Talat Aman was born in Schenectady, New York, and raised in Wakefield, Massachusetts, where his family moved frequently as his parents searched for work and navigated life with limited English proficiency. These early experiences of instability and responsibility sparked his interest in law, policy, and health. He graduated from Yale University in 2024 with a bachelor’s in political science, but also gained medical research experience through the Yale Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit and the Yale School of Public Health, where he contributed to studies on Alzheimer’s disease and societal attitudes toward aging. At the same time, he immersed himself in community organizing for climate and health care justice, serving as a lead organizer for several successful political campaigns.  
Talat is interested in a career that weaves together clinical practice, advocacy, social justice, and health policy. Growing up with financial insecurity and helping his parents navigate public benefit systems shaped his commitment to marginalized communities. His work at Yale deepened his focus on how structural inequities affect health across the human lifespan, and he hopes to combine direct patient care with policy work that advances equity for low-income, immigrant, and otherwise underserved populations. His commitment to these communities has extended into both legal and clinical settings, including investigative work for low-income clients at the public defender’s office in Washington, DC.

2026 Dr. Esther T.C. Liu REACH Scholar

Office of Alumni Affairs and Development


25 Shattuck Street
Boston, MA 02115
giving@hms.harvard.edu

Thank you!