Sunnybrook cardiologist Dr. Ching Lau knows how important bursaries and scholarships are for students from less privileged backgrounds.

Dr. Lau and his brother Bernard, attending U of T was a dream made true thanks to access to financial aid. “It was really the only way we could afford completing our undergraduate and medical degrees,” says Dr. Lau.

When his brother Bernard, a family doctor, passed away, Dr. Lau wanted to honor his memory while also helping students from similar financial backgrounds. The Bernard Lau Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a student who best exemplifies the qualities of Dr. Bernard Lau.

“My brother had a real passion for helping others, and spent much of his time working with underserved and Aboriginal populations in Northern Ontario,” says Dr. Lau. “With this award, I want to encourage students from these populations to pursue their studies, and to have confidence in receiving support from Bernard to help them go back and serve their communities.”