Scott Jaben, M.D. ’77, has fond memories of his student days at the School of Medicine, and he wants to make sure future medical students have the same positive experience. He and his wife Hillary have established a new endowment at the school, with the proceeds funding a distinguished speaker for the annual Freshman Pinning Ceremony.

The Freshman Pinning Ceremony, one of the most important events for first-year medical students, is their official welcome to the School of Medicine and to the profession of medicine. It’s similar to the “white coat ceremony” held at other medical institutions. The freshmen are pinned by 4th year students, and alumni of the School of Medicine. If a student’s relative is an alumnus they can request that they do the honors.

“Hillary and I were most interested in enriching the lives of the medical students at UM,” said Dr. Jaben. “We remember our time in Miami so fondly, and we both agreed that a speaker series for the medical students would be a terrific way to making a lasting contribution to the School of Medicine.”

After receiving his medical degree Dr. Jaben served as chief resident and completed a fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He’s now in private practice as an ophthalmologist at Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Associates in North Carolina.