Gift to UC College of Medicine covers tuition for 10 students
Webster-Gustin Scholarship Fund renewed with $2 million gift
A $2 million gift from an anonymous donor will fund the tuition of another 10 medical students in the incoming class at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. In 2020, a generous donation of $6.9 million established the Webster-Gustin Medical Scholarship Fund. Four classes of 10 medical students received scholarships, and a subsequent gift in May 2025 supported a fifth class.
This life-changing gift will continue to provide opportunities for Ohio students. Webster-Gustin scholarship recipients are selected from students who have completed their high school or undergraduate education at Ohio institutions, with preference given to students interested in pursuing a primary care specialty. To date, 20 scholarship recipients have graduated and are pursuing their residencies.
“This extraordinary gift doesn’t just change the lives of our students — it changes the lives of the patients they will one day serve,” said Gregory C. Postel, MD, FACR, dean of the College of Medicine, Christian R. Holmes professor, executive vice president for health affairs at UC and chair of the UC Health Board of Directors. “At the UC College of Medicine, we are deeply committed to training physicians who are not only highly skilled but also deeply compassionate. The Webster-Gustin Scholarship ensures that financial barriers never stand in the way of a deserving student’s dream to become a doctor and make a lasting impact on the health of our communities.”
Webster-Gustin scholars are the future
Student scholarship support provides UC medical students with the gift of education, enabling them to balance rigorous coursework, learning opportunities and immersive clinical experiences. Investing in future physicians is also an investment in patients and medical research.
“It has been a privilege to work with the Webster-Gustin scholars since this program began,” said Philip M. Diller, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for educational affairs, professor, and interim department chair of Medical Education. “I’ve been able to witness the trajectory of 20 bright individuals since 2020 who are dedicated to making a difference in their future communities. It’s truly gratifying to know this life-changing program will continue to support the next generation of physicians.”
The Class of 2029 includes the following Webster-Gustin recipients:
- Lane Bokros, A&S ’25, Dayton, Ohio
- Kristin Duma, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Rose Kurian, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Rena Lenchitz, A&S ’23, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Ilona Ovestrud, Dublin, Ohio
- Dray Remy, Wellston, Ohio
- Matthew Schuetz, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Nicolas Shul, Fairfield, Ohio
- Kevin You, Uniontown, Ohio
“It’s an unbelievable privilege to be selected, and there isn’t a day that I am not grateful for the opportunity to further my education without financial burden,” said Lane Bokros. “I recognize how finances can be an intense barrier to educational goals. The incredible grace it is to navigate medical school with one less thing on my plate is not lost on me.”
Scholarship honors College of Medicine faculty
Lane Bokros, A&S ’25.
The Webster-Gustin Medical Scholarships honor two College of Medicine alumni of the Class of 1970: Warren Webster, MD, and Byron Gustin, MD, who both also completed their residency training at UC Health. Webster, an internist, and Gustin, a cardiologist, both have practiced in Cincinnati throughout their careers.
Webster, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, completed his undergraduate education at Youngstown State University. Following his residency, he completed a fellowship in infectious disease at UC. Webster was in private practice in Cincinnati from 1977 until his retirement in 2011. For much of that time, he served as a clinical instructor at the UC College of Medicine.
Gustin was born in Dayton, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University. He received his postgraduate medical training in Cincinnati and at Columbia University in New York. Gustin practiced cardiology at Deaconess and Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital, where he was head of cardiology. He is past president of the Cincinnati Society of Internal Medicine. Gustin was president of his medical school class and has served on the College of Medicine Alumni Council.
Featured image at top: Webster-Gustin Medical Scholarship recipients, Class of 2029. Photo/Colleen Kelley for the UC Foundation.
This is how breakthroughs happen
Your generosity has illuminated what’s next: Student success beyond the classroom. Bearcats winning on the Big 12 stage. The gift of discovery for the health of our community. When you give to the University of Cincinnati and UC Health, you invest in the problem-solvers of tomorrow.