Dr. Roslyn Herst says she and her husband Dr. Murray Herst followed unconventional paths after graduating from U of T Medicine. And through their financial support, medical students today are finding their own paths that lead to successful careers. The Hersts have been supporting the Faculty of Medicine since 1985 and jointly established two awards in support of undergraduate MD students, one in 2012 under the Boundless Promise Matching Program and another in 2006 under the Ontario Trust for Student Support program. Their remarkable commitment has helped U of T honour its pledge that no qualified undergraduate student will have to decline admission or withdraw from studies due to financial circumstances.

The Hersts recently met Paige Zhang, a 2014 winner of the Dr. Murray and Dr. Roslyn Herst Award at the Faculty of Medicine Student Awards Reception this spring. “I’m very appreciative to Dr. Murray and Dr. Roslyn Herst for their generous support – it means that I can focus on my studies and not the financial stresses of pursuing an education,” said Zhang. “It was great to meet the Hersts at the awards dinner — they were both very kind and supportive and full of great advice that I will use as I continue my medical education.”

The Boundless Promise Program matches the annual payout on donations of $25,000 or more in support of needs-based awards at the University. These matching funds, drawn from the University’s operating fund, go above and beyond what U of T already commits to student financial aid annually. When a donor makes such a gift, that benefaction is invested in the endowment, which in turn generates a permanent annual payout for the student award.