Rowan University alumnus Dr. Marque Allen made the trek from his home in Texas to South Jersey this week to spend Thanksgiving with his family–and to announce his $100,000 donation to Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
The gift by Dr. Allen, a podiatric surgeon, and his wife, Yvette, is the first gift to the new medical school and will create a scholarship fund for first-year Rowan alumni who are attending Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
Named the Dr. Richard Meagher Medical Scholarship at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, the gift honors the 38-year career of Dr. Meagher, a biological sciences professor who retired from the University in 2007. Dr. Allen credits Dr. Meagher with inspiring him to pursue a career in medicine.
Likewise, Dr. Allen credits the $100 million gift in 1992 by Henry Rowan and his wife, Betty, with inspiring him to give back to the University through the Rowan University Foundation. At the time, the Rowans’ transformative gift was the largest ever made to a public university.
“I believe there is a common misconception that large donors are privileged and thus they can give,” he said. “I can assure you that my story is as simple as it gets. I want the common person to identify with me and maybe this will move (him or her) to pledge to the University.”
Dr. Allen earned his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Rowan, magna cum laude, in 1991. He went on to earn his degree in podiatric medicine from Temple University and to complete his internship at the University of Pennsylvania and his residency in foot and ankle surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Health System. His formal training was completed as a fellow at the University of Texas Health Science Center.
Today, Dr. Allen serves as the foot and ankle consultant/team physician for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars, the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage, the University of Texas-San Antonio, Trinity University, and multiple high schools throughout south Texas.
Marque Allen along with his wife, Yvette, and Rowan President Donald Farish discuss the donation of $100,000 for a scholarship fund for the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
Gov. Jon Corzine signed an executive order in June that called for the creation of the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. It will be South Jersey’s first four-year allopathic medical school and the state’s first medical school in more than 30 years. Rowan expects to admit the first class of approximately 40 students in 2012.
For more on Dr. Allen and the Dr. Richard Meagher Medical Scholarship to Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, visit www.rowan.edu.
For information on giving to the University or to read other donors’ stories, visit www.rufoundation.org.