STUDENTS
Donors and families recognized at annual Human Gift Registry memorial
PAX International Festival raises funds for trip
more than 70 people who donated their bodies to
explore different cultures all while raising
PAX Club members gave WVSOM students, faculty, staff and their families a chance to
First-year medical students at WVSOM honored the school this year for teaching and research.
money for a mission.
Families of the donors were invited to attend and
The club raised more than $4,500 during the January event, according to Elspeth
were provided an opportunity to share special
Clark, PAX treasurer. The money went
memories of their loved ones. Students in the
toward medicine and other medical
Class of 2016 conveyed their appreciation for this
supplies for an annual mission trip to the
profound contribution to their medical education and expressed how this final act of generosity from
Dominican Republic during Spring Break.
the donors has impacted their lives.
“The International Festival is a night
“With gratitude and deep thoughts we all thank
to celebrate the diversity within our community as well as raise cultural
you from our hearts,” Slava Agafonoff, Class of
awareness. By focusing on what makes us
2016 president, said on behalf of the first-year
and our cultures unique we are provided
students.
with an opportunity to identify what is
Cheryl Rozario said the donations are invaluable to
universal to us all,” Clark said of the
students’ education.
event. “Underscoring the evening is that
“One of the ultimate ways to give back to society is
ultimately all the proceeds go to funding
to donate a body for medical education,” she said.
the club’s international mission trip.
“This gives us knowledge and understanding that
The financial success of the evening is
goes beyond the textbook.”
reflected in having enough medications, clinic supplies and other critical items that
Mary Hamra, Ph.D., Human Gift Registry director,
are needed and used on the mission trip.”
said the student journey to becoming a physician
The evening included cultural dishes from
begins with the donors’ gift.
across the globe — highlighting countries
“This is a day for remembering, expressing
in Europe, South America, North America
gratitude and saying goodbye,” she told the
and Asia. WVSOM President Dr. Michael
families. “The decision of this gift was not an
Adelman offered magic tricks and others
easy one. We are honored and humbled by that
offered musical performances. Dancing,
decision. Please remember this gift lives on in
a fashion show and a silent auction were
each and every one of our students.”
also part of the event. The International
The service included words of appreciation from
Festival is the club’s largest fundraising
local pastor Mike Estep, a veteran appreciation
event.
by WVSOM military students and musical presentations by students and faculty. 34
WVSOM MAGAZINE
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SUMMER 2013
