Julian & Myra Hurt: Endowing Bridge Scholarships

Reprinted from the College of Medicine’s 2011 annual report

Senior Associate Dean Myra Hurt was one of the creators of the College of Medicine’s Bridge program, designed to expand the pool of successful medical students. In 2012 she put her money where her heart is. She and her husband created an endowment for Bridge scholarships.

In recognition of the Hurts’ longtime support, the third-floor suite for Bridge students was named the Julian E. Hurt, MD and Myra M. Hurt, PhD Bridge to Clinical Medicine Learning Community. It was the first of the medical school’s learning communities to be named.

“I can’t imagine anything more apropos than to have your name on the Bridge suite,” Dean John Fogarty told the Hurts, “and for you to leave for posterity a gift to our Bridge students. Thank you for being examples to this community.”

The Bridge to Clinical Medicine master’s program serves as a pipeline into medical school for applicants from medically underserved, rural and inner-city communities, with the expectation that many eventually will provide medical care to those communities. More than 100 students have entered medical school through Bridge.

“If it were not for this program, many of us would not have the opportunity to serve as physicians,” Bridge graduate Angela Green told the Hurts. “Because you have invested in us, you are impacting communities. And we are extremely grateful.”