Carl Myers, MD, FAAFP believes in accessible and affordable education. Since he graduated from the MU School of Medicine in 1974, he's watched the price of tuition go up steadily.
"Tuition was $250 a semester for four years of undergraduate school, and $350 a semester for four years of medical school,” Myers said. “Students in those years had the gift of affordable tuition, which is just not true for current students."
So, when he went to his class’s 40th reunion in 2014, he was shocked to learn there was less than $10,000 in his class’s scholarship fund. Honestly, he was embarrassed, and decided to launch his own efforts to raise money. Through Myers requesting donations via letters to former classmates, the Class of 1974 has collectively raised the scholarship total to around $425,000 in the last 10 years alone.
Myers is confident that they’ll be able to reach their goal of $500,000 by their 50-year reunion this fall. Besides donating monthly to his class's scholarship fund, he and his wife, Janice, also fully endowed a scholarship in chemistry in the University of Missouri College of Arts & Sciences. Myers encourages all alumni classes to start and grow their own scholarship funds.
“I strongly believe we need to help future medical students afford the excellent education we received,” Myers said.
The couple continues to stay connected to the MU community. Most recently, the couple hosted Richard Barohn, MD, Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, along with other area alumni in their home in June 2023 for a Kansas City Outreach Reception.
Carl Myers is currently a family practice geriatric physician in his hometown of Platte City, Missouri, which is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. He has been practicing there since completing his residency in 1977.
