With the cost of medical education continuing to rise, scholarships are a much-needed resource for future physicians. Thanks to a $5 million private donor gift in support of scholarships, UF students rotating through the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville will have another opportunity to ease that financial burden.
Steven and Donna Overly have created the Steven and Donna Overly Scholarship in support of medical students at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville regional campus. The bequest pledge is the largest single scholarship gift the campus has received. The scholarship will help remove financial barriers and access to medical education for deserving students.
“Steven and Donna have chosen to enrich this community and are making a gift that will impact generations of medical students,” said Linda Edwards, M.D., FACP, dean of the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville. “We are so grateful for their enthusiastic support of our students and trust in our medical education programs. They understand that private gifts are an incredible resource for institutions such as ours, and I am deeply thankful for their commitment to UF.”
For first-year medical students, the national average for one year of tuition is $34,547, before fees and other costs, such as living expenses. Over the last decade, the national average cost of medical tuition at public schools has risen nearly 25% for residents, and 16% for nonresidents, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Private support such as scholarships defrays the level of debt students incur to complete their training.
“Donna and I are very concerned about the level of debt that young people are accruing to finance their education,” said Steven Overly, who has credited his successful career to a strong education.
A Pennsylvania native, Overly holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Gettysburg College, and a master of public administration degree from Penn State Harrisburg. He then went on to earn law degrees from both the Stetson University College of Law and Georgetown University Law Center. His career spanned several leadership roles for a number of companies, including General Electric, Lockheed Martin, American Casino & Entertainment Properties, and Textron.
He and Donna relocated to the Jacksonville area and intend to plant roots in the community. They both feel it’s important to give back locally and lend support where able. A testament to service in action, Donna Overly is an accomplished painter and published novelist. She received her bachelor’s in studio art from the University of Texas, Austin. This follows a 20-year career in critical care nursing, where she also earned her associate’s degree from St. Petersburg College, and her critical care nursing certification.
Because of their shared passion for both education and community, they hope their scholarship for medical students will allow students to follow the path of their own passions – particularly if it leads them to public or rural health, education, or research.
“While an education at the University of Florida will enable students to secure well-paying positions upon graduation, we know the debt burden is a significant influence when it comes to choosing between private or public practice,” Donna said. “Through our scholarship, we hope to reduce that debt for deserving students in our community.”
After relocating to the Jacksonville area, Steven established care and relationships with physicians and others at UF Health Jacksonville. From his perspective as a patient, UF providers have offered a welcoming and humanistic approach to his health care needs, which he notes can be a departure from other institutions.
“Donna and I have had the opportunity to interact with a number of physicians during our lives, and the UF doctors have been among the very best that we have entrusted for our health care,” he said. “While the medical expertise of UF physicians has been outstanding, the true difference has been the compassion that the UF doctors have shown.”
Donna’s career as a critical care nurse has also influenced her perspective of UF Health. Their outlook bolstered their trust in UF’s ability to train the next generation of empathetic and compassionate physicians who are as skilled in medicine as they are compassionate in demeanor.
“We take great pride in training physicians who care for the whole patient and listen for understanding when treating patients,” said Jennifer Hunt, M.D., M.Ed., interim dean of the UF College of Medicine. “Steven and Donna’s generous gift signals that we are on the right track in preparing physicians who will shape the future of medicine.”