$1 Million Gift Establishes Scholarship in Prosthodontics at CDM and Fellowship at Barnard
May 23, 2018 — Dr. Howard P’17 and Ina Drew P’17 made a $1 million joint gift to Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (CDM) and Barnard College in celebration of their children’s educational experiences. Their son, Alexander Drew, DMD, MS, received his master of science in prosthodontics from CDM in 2017, and their daughter, Sarah Drew Peterman, graduated from Barnard in 2013.
The gift establishes the Drew Family Scholarship in Prosthodontics at CDM. This fund will provide gifted post-doctoral students in prosthodontics, particularly those considering careers in academic dentistry, resources to pursue world-class training at Columbia. A new Drew Scholar will be named every three to four years, upon graduation of the prior scholarship recipient.
“With a Columbia education and reduced debt, there is no limit to what these students will be able to achieve,” said Ina Drew, who is a trustee at Barnard College. Howard Drew, DMD, is a periodontist as well as the Director of Implantology and Vice Chairman of the Department of Periodontics at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. Adds Howard, “After seeing how much Alex accomplished through his time at Columbia, we wanted to open doors for other exceptional dental students. We are proud of Alex’s devotion to making a difference through both patient care and scholarly research. I am glad that we can help others pursue such an important path.”
At Barnard, the gift will establish the Drew Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship in English. The gift also honors Professor James G. Basker, a professor of Sarah’s, and will be awarded to a recently graduated senior to spend a fifth year at Barnard working within the Department of English.
The Drews’ scholarship support has a special importance for the College of Dental Medicine, according to Christian S. Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent, Dean of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and Senior Vice President of Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
“New technologies have brought dental medicine to the cusp of dramatic transformation. It is critical that Columbia train a cadre of clinician-scientists to unleash the potential we foresee,” said Dr. Stohler. “Thanks to the new Drew Family Scholarship in Prosthodontics, we will train tomorrow’s leaders both for our field as a whole and for the very patients we and our graduates treat. We are deeply grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Drew for their vote of confidence in our work and investment in our future.”
Dr. P. Roy Vagelos, Chair of Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Board of Advisors and Co-Chair of the current University campaign, The Columbia Commitment, echoes these sentiments. “Ina and Howie understand the power of endowed scholarship support. They are giving CDM students a chance to be able to do what they really love in the specialty of prosthodontics. I can think of no greater gift to these students or their future patients.”
“The Drew Family Scholarship is an important new resource for the College of Dental Medicine,” said Laureen Zubiaurre, DMD, Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs at CDM. “It will help talented dentists deepen and expand their knowledge by specializing in prosthodontics. And given the fact that our most outstanding trainees are often recruited to become junior faculty members, the impact of the scholarship could extend far beyond the awardee and his or her patients. Growing outstanding students into faculty helps to ensure that Columbia remains at the forefront of dental care, research, and education.”
To learn more about supporting students at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, please contact Maureen Agostini, Executive Director for Development and Alumni Relations, at ma3644@cumc.columbia.edu or 212-305-4782. View the original article.
