More than 80 guests participated in the School of Medicine’s annual Dinner With the Stars in November, 1999. This event brings together donors with the medical students who have benefited from their endowed scholarships and loan funds.

Valerie Beito thanks Chuck Pokriefka for the financial aid he helped provide.

Chuck Pokriefka, director of facilities at the WSU School of Medicine, established a scholarship in honor of his parents in 1995. "Medical school is extremely expensive," said Pokriefka. "We hope these funds will be awarded annually to a student who needs assistance with his or her educational costs."

Dr. John Crissman discusses the cost of medical school with Brian Dolsey, III.

Financial aid is provided to approximately 80 percent of the medical students at Wayne State. In fact, during the 1998-99 school year, students received $20 million in assistance through scholarships, loans, grants and award funds. Nearly 90 percent of the financial aid is in the form of loans, and most students graduate from medical school with an average debt of $80,000.