A transformational $10 million gift from the Brody family will expand the Brody Scholars Program, North Carolina’s premier medical school scholarship, creating new opportunities for future physicians committed to serving communities across the state. This investment strengthens the Brody School of Medicine’s mission to increase the supply of primary care physicians, particularly in rural and underserved areas, while advancing a proven pathway for training community-focused, service-driven clinicians.
The impact is far-reaching, reducing financial barriers for students, strengthening the pipeline of highly trained physicians and supporting long-term improvements in health outcomes across North Carolina. Current Brody Scholars point to expanded opportunities, experiences and access made possible through this generosity.
The Brody Scholars Program completely covers academic costs for medical students, who are selected through an objective process coordinated by the Brody Scholars Steering Committee, who seek to award the scholarship to the ‘best of the best’ of the incoming class. The school’s commitment to the scholars totals approximately $133,000 annually, or nearly $500,000 a year per class to cover the financial cost of attendance.
As Brody Scholar Christian Smallwood, ’27 shared, “The Brody Scholars Program impacts a lot more than the students. The program impacts the community and all of eastern North Carolina, and I am so thankful for their gift, which allows me and my classmates to make a difference in this community. It’s pretty special, and I take pride in being a part of this program.”
In recognition of this extraordinary generosity, the new Center for Medical Education, opening in fall 2027, will be named the Brody Center for Medical Education, honoring a legacy of philanthropy that will benefit patients and communities for generations.
Click here to watch a special video from current Brody Scholars.