Philanthropic Support Vital for UMSOM Rural-MD Scholars Program

The Rural-MD Scholars program would not be possible without the support of generous donors who have each provided significant funds to support full-tuition scholarships to medical students. These students have committed to training and practicing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland after graduation. Each of the following students have received named scholarships:

Amanda Bair ’29
The Ted Lewers, MD ’64 Rural Health Scholar

Ms. Bair is a fifth-generation native of historic Cambridge, MD with aspirations to return to her community to serve as a maternal health-focused family medicine physician. As the daughter of a general surgeon and a registered nurse, she was inspired to pursue medicine through her family’s deep passion for healthcare as well as witnessing the lack of women’s health resources and reliable information in the community.

DONOR: Patricia Lewers & Donald Theodore “Ted” Lewers, MD ’64

Dr. Lewers was a pioneering physician, medical leader, and community advocate born in Salisbury, Maryland, who served as a medic in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before graduating cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) in 1964. He became a trailblazer in kidney disease treatment at the University of Maryland Medical Center (then called Maryland General Hospital) and helped establish dialysis programs and early kidney transplants. He later chaired the Governor’s Commission on Kidney Disease in Maryland, eventually rising to national prominence as Chair of the Board of the American Medical Association.

Ann Thomas ’29
The Doetsch Rural Health Scholar

Ms. Thomas grew up in Salisbury, Maryland, affectionately known as “smallsbury”, after immigrating to the United States with her family in 2006, carrying with her the proud heritage of being Malayalee from Kerala, India. Her parents instilled in her a deep appreciation for culture and identity, which has shaped the way she approaches medicine and the importance she places on understanding diverse patient backgrounds.

DONOR: The Doetsch family

The Doetsches have been steadfast supporters of the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, combining philanthropy with personal experience. George L. Doetsch, Jr. launched the annual “Drive to Survive” fundraiser, raising over $1 million for lifesaving equipment and programs, and his son George “Chip” Doetsch III has continued the philanthropic tradition through his work at Apple Ford Lincoln in Columbia, MD. Together, their family’s generosity and leadership have strengthened trauma medicine and advanced the university’s mission to save lives. Chip Doetsch continues the philanthropic tradition through his service on the School of Medicine Board of Advisors.

Joseph Smoloski ’29
The Gudelsky Family Foundation Rural Health Scholar

Mr. Smoloski is from Wye Mills, MD in Talbot County. His journey to medicine is deeply rooted in family and perseverance. Inspired by his father, who began medical school in his thirties while raising a growing family, Joseph witnessed firsthand the sacrifices and resilience required to pursue a career in healthcare. Determined to follow in those footsteps, Joseph entered medical school at the University of Maryland School of Medicine with a clear vision: to serve his community on the Eastern Shore.

DONOR: The Homer and Martha Gudelsky Family Foundation

The Foundation, established in 1968, is a Maryland-based philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing health, education, and community services. Known for its transformative support of the University of Maryland, the foundation’s generosity is reflected in the Gudelsky Building at the University of Maryland Medical Center and ongoing financial contributions to the School of Medicine. With a strong commitment to improving healthcare access and education, the foundation continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of medicine and strengthening communities across the state.

Sarah MacDonald ’28
The Dr. James and Carolyn Frenkil Rural Health Scholar

Ms. MacDonald grew up in Salisbury, Maryland, where she witnessed firsthand the healthcare challenges faced by residents of the Eastern Shore. Her shadowing experiences in underserved areas, including a family medicine practice in Somerset County, underscored the importance of physicians understanding the barriers their patients encounter and the need for accessible medical services in rural communities.

DONOR: James Frenkil, ’37, and Carolyn Frenkil

The Frenkils have been robust donors to UMSOM for decades after establishing the James and Carolyn Frenkil Foundation. After serving as a medical officer overseas in World War II, Dr. Frenkil returned to Baltimore where he built Central Medical Centers, the largest pure occupational medical practice on the Eastern Seaboard. He served for several years on the UMSOM’s board of visitors, and in 1995, he donated his five-story office building on Eutaw Street to the medical school.  Mrs. Frenkil has continued her late husband’s legacy through continuing generosity using the Foundation to help fund the UMSOM’s Executive Health Program, the school’s Media Center, and a course in the cutting-edge field of pharmacogenomics (which is offered to all second-year medical students). She has also supported collaborative research in the medical school’s Program on Aging, Trauma, and Emergency Care and helped establish the Medical Alumni Frenkil-Passen Historical Scholar in Residence.

Rural-MD Scholars program students and faculty visit Smith Island on Maryland's Eastern Shore during a 2025 pre-matriculation program.

Meet the Rural-MD Scholars Class of 2028 and 2029