Ushering in the Next Generation of Greatness 

In my last column, I wrote with anticipation of the upcoming Alumni Weekend, which was held in May. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Class of 1976 was welcomed into the Half-Century Club as it celebrated its 50^th reunion year. We were thrilled to also welcome members of the Northwestern University Dental School community for the first time at this event and celebrate their lasting connection to Northwestern throughout the weekend. In addition to drawing over 450 alumni and their guests, Alumni Weekend provided an opportunity for many (including myself) to explore areas of the campus that were new to us. A highlight for me was being able to tour the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago). This 1.2 million-square-foot facility is nothing short of amazing in its thoughtful use of light, space, and the innovative work being performed inside. I highly suggest you take some time to visit the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab the next time you’re on campus.  

I was equally impressed to learn of the strong student body that Feinberg continues to attract, as 8,610 students applied for admission to the fall 2029 class, of whom 704 were interviewed and 140 seated. Their mean GPA was 3.93 and mean MCAT 521 — quite remarkable and above national averages for applicants to medical school in this cycle. Sixty-three percent of the students took one or more gap years prior to matriculation, and about 25 percent intend to pursue a second degree during their time at Feinberg (MD/MPH, MD/MBA, or MTSP dual MD-PhD). Some arrived via early decision, while others entered through structured programs such as Premed Scholars (for Northwestern undergraduates in their junior year) and Premed Linkage (for Northwestern post-baccalaureate students) programs.  

Our graduates are impressive, too. Sixty-eight percent of the Class of 2026 who participated in the residency match secured a spot at a top 25 medical school program, continuing a strong tradition. We welcome them into the Feinberg alumni family and look forward to the new energy and ideas they will bring to our community. Our Young Alumni program is nascent, and this class is expected to play a big role in how it develops. 

At the dean’s Founders Society reception, we learned about a joint fundraising campaign between Feinberg and Northwestern Medicine, which is the first of its kind, and a new $200 million-plus Feinberg scholarship campaign that enables Feinberg to continue to offer financial assistance to all potential medical school students. This is part of a Northwestern University-wide fundraising initiative focused on student support at all levels, including graduate and professional education. Primed​​​​ by a major grant from Adam and Tonia Karr, Forever Shine brings the philanthropic focus back to our future — our students. I hope that you will make every effort to support these two initiatives aimed at enhancing our school’s future success. Your gifts allow the best and brightest to pursue their training at our great institution, and we appreciate your continued contributions. Thanks for all that you do to make our Feinberg alumni community vibrant!