Members of the 2026 class at the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University will graduate with one major burden lifted from their shoulders.
An anonymous family has donated $1.8 million to cover the students’ spring semester tuition, according to a university announcement.
Dr. Stuart D. Flynn, the school’s founding dean, shared the news with students over Zoom.
“Rarely do I get to share such an amazing gift,” Flynn said. “Each of you is about to receive from an anonymous donor family. This family has agreed to pay your tuition for your last semester of medical school.”
He added, “The donors hope that this alleviates some of the financial stress of being a medical student and allows you to make the best choices possible as you head into residency.”
The class of 2026 is currently in the final stage of the school’s Empathetic Scholar curriculum, completing clinical rotations and preparing for residency interviews.
In a video shared by the Burnett School of Medicine, student Angela Abarquez expressed how meaningful the donation is for the class. “It’s one thing to know that people are rooting for us and cheering us on,” she said. “But it’s a whole other thing to know that a family is giving their hard-earned money and investing in our futures and our careers.”
Fellow fourth-year student Cort Ewing said the gift was “really inspiring.” “I’m really grateful that we have people here to support us,” he said. “I can’t wait until I’m in a position one day to do that for the school and for future students.”
Dr. Flynn described the donation as a “transformative gift” that will allow students to pursue medical specialties that truly resonate with them. “It also is a valuable demonstration of paying it forward,” he said. “It teaches our students the importance of giving back as they move forward in their careers.”
Founded in 2019 and based in Fort Worth, Texas, the Burnett School of Medicine currently enrolls about 180 students.
