Former lecturer donates $1Bn for tuition-free education at New York university

This gift is sourced from the legacy of her late husband, David 'Sandy' Gottesman, a distinguished Wall Street investor and Warren Buffet's protégé.

It is the biggest donation of its kind.

Sandy Gottesman, who passed away at the age of 96 in late 2022, left behind a vast fortune, notably including a significant amount of Berkshire Hathaway shares, each valued at over $600,000.

His will simply suggested to his wife of 72 years, "Do whatever you think is right." Dr. Gottesman, honoring her husband's memory and legacy, chose to invest in the future of medical education by making the Albert Einstein College of Medicine tuition-free starting August this year.

The announcement, made by Dr. Gottesman herself, a 93-year-old former lecturer at the college, was met with overwhelming joy and gratitude by the student body. The emotional moment, captured and shared on social media, quickly went viral, showcasing the students' tears of happiness and celebrations.

Dr. Gottesman's decision to direct this gift towards alleviating the financial burden of medical education was praised widely, including by Congressman Ritchie Torres, who recognized the unparalleled impact of her generosity on the Bronx community and beyond.

This gesture is hoped to enable new generations of doctors to start their careers debt-free, a significant shift from the norm where medical school debt often surpasses $200,000.

This donation surpasses previous records, including a $600 million contribution to the California Institute of Technology by Intel's Gordon Moore and his wife Betty Moore in 2001, further highlighting the transformative potential of Dr. Gottesman's gift to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and its future students.

This content was generated with the assistance of an AI model and verified by the author