Michigan State University College of Human Medicine announced the establishment of the Daniel and Debra Edson Endowed Scholarship Fund. The Traverse City philanthropists donated $600,000 to establish the fund, the first fully funded endowed scholarship in the history of the medical school, which has a clinical campus based in Traverse City at Munson Medical Center.
“The significance of this gift cannot be overstated. The Edsons' generosity provides a new level of support for students who might not otherwise achieve their dreams,” said Aron Sousa, interim dean of the MSU College of Human Medicine. “This scholarship will help students and their future patients for years to come.”
Longtime supporters of the College of Human Medicine, Dan and Debra Edson established the endowment to provide scholarship opportunities to help talented and deserving students from the Traverse City region pursue their dream of a medical degree from MSU.
“I grew up in Antrim County and our family doctor was 25 miles away,” said Dan Edson, who earned a master's degree from MSU in 1979. “Debbie and I have long been passionate about health care in our area, so to provide a medical school education for an aspiring northern Michigan student is an honor and a privilege.”
Dan Edson is co-founder of American Proficiency Institute (API), a global laboratory medicine proficiency-testing firm with more than 19,000 clients around the world. API is located in Traverse City, where the Edsons raised their family and make their home.
The scholarship is intended to support four full years of education for in-state students who have been accepted into the College of Human Medicine through its Early Assurance Program (EAP), with preference for EAP students from Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City.