KeyBank Foundation Pledges $1 Million for Medical School Scholarships for Minority Students at Cleveland Clinic

CLEVELAND, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- KeyBank Foundation has pledged $1 million to fund annual scholarships to minority students at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. This is the second $1 million gift that KeyBank Foundation has committed to support the KeyBank Minority Medical Student Fellowships at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.

"Strong doctor/patient relationships are essential to delivering quality healthcare," said James Young, M.D., Executive Dean, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. "Creating a diverse pool of students enhances our ability to understand and effectively communicate with all of the patients and families we serve. Through the generosity of organizations like KeyBank Foundation, scholarships of this kind are making a difference."

In his annual address to each graduating class, Delos M. "Toby" Cosgrove, M.D., C.E.O. and President of Cleveland Clinic, said the Clinic continues to offer employment opportunities to all graduates upon completion of their training.

Established in July 2002, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine delivers a unique five-year program ideal for aspiring physicians with a passion for blending clinical care with scientific inquiry. Cleveland Clinic faculty and staff designed the curriculum as an innovative approach to medical education and assessment.

"Diversity is at the heart of KeyBank Foundation's strategy," said Foundation chair Margot Copeland, "and this grant is one of many ways we invest in our communities to help them thrive.  We're very pleased to support exceptional young minority physicians in training, because we know they will return our gift 100-fold to the communities where they choose to serve."

Based on merit and/or financial need, the KeyBank Foundation-endowed scholarship will be awarded to an incoming student each year and follow that student throughout their education towards graduation.

Lerner College of Medicine students Donelle Cummings and Shanteria Dixon currently hold KeyBank Minority Medical Student Fellowships.

"There are plenty of people like me out there – students who seek the best this country has to offer – a good education, a rewarding career, and the simple pursuit of happiness," said Cummings, who will graduate in 2012. "What sets me apart, however, has been the generosity of academic institutions such as non-profit organizations like Cleveland Clinic and private enterprises such as KeyCorp."

Dixon, who is slated to graduate in 2013, said, "The KeyBank Foundation scholarship has opened more doors for me than my family and I could have ever imagined. Because of this privilege, I have been able to study medicine among the best physician-scientists in the world, while also making a great community impact as a medical student."

Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll. Media outlets can download video at ftp://139.137.221.100. (login: dailyvosots; password: dailyvosotsftp)

About Cleveland Clinic

Celebrating its 90th anniversary, Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. It was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. About 2,800 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic Health System includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, nine community hospitals and 15 Family Health Centers in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and opening in 2013, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2010, there were 4 million visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 155,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 100 countries. Visit us at www.clevelandclinic.org.  Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.

About Cleveland Clinic's Education Institute

Cleveland Clinic's Education Institute offers world-class training to physicians, nurses, medical students, residents and fellows, allied health professionals and outside healthcare executives as well as community education. The institute comprises 16 departments including Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, the Center for Consumer Health Information and one of the nation's largest graduate medical education programs. Education has been an essential part of Cleveland Clinic's mission since its founding in 1921. Guided by a solid tradition of "educating those who serve," the Education Institute continues to champion clinical training with the goal of delivering the highest quality healthcare possible to patients.

About KeyBank Foundation

KeyBank Foundation, a private foundation funded by KeyCorp, makes grants to charitable organizations in the communities Key serves. Grants from KeyBank Foundation principally support organizations and programs that promote economic independence through financial education, and workforce initiatives that foster diversity and inclusion. Visit https://www.key.com/html/A-12.html to access Key's Report on Philanthropic Investment, or download the report directly at https://www.key.com/pdf/philanthropicir.pdf.

SOURCE Cleveland Clinic