MEDPREP - Medical/Dental Education Preparatory Program

Your gift supports our MEDPREP students' dreams of a medicine or dentistry career through financial assistance and program support.

At MEDPREP, we aim to increase the number of socioeconomically and educationally disadvantaged students, especially from southern and central Illinois, who will enter and graduate from health professions schools, and go on to serve in health professions shortage areas and communities in need.

The MEDPREP program has successfully served this mission since 1972. We are proud of our 50+ year history of educational innovation and achievement. MEDPREP has helped over 1,300 students become physicians, dentists and other health professionals, and our alumni serve patients and communities throughout the United States.

Many MEDPREP students have great financial need, and scholarships make a real difference in helping our students focus on academics and attain their goals. Please consider donating to one or more of our scholarships.

MEDPREP Program Support: This general fund supports program efforts to recruit and retain promising MEDPREP students and provides opportunities for faculty and staff professional development.

MEDPREP Scholarship: This is the general MEDPREP scholarship fund, providing annual awards to MEDPREP students with financial need.

MEDPREP Benefactors’ Endowed Scholarship: This endowed scholarship fund provides yearly scholarships to MEDPREP students. All donations to the Benefactors’ Endowment increase MEDPREP’s ability to give annual scholarships in perpetuity.

MEDPREP Faculty & Staff Scholarship: Several scholarships are awarded each year thanks to annual contributions from current and former MEDPREP faculty, staff, alumni and friends of MEDPREP. Anyone may contribute to the Faculty & Staff Scholarship, and contributions go directly to scholarships awarded in the next academic year. 

Harold and Lana Bardo MEDPREP Scholarship Endowment: Dr. Harold Bardo served as MEDPREP director for 30 years. Dr. and Mrs. Bardo have made great contributions to SIU, MEDPREP and the Carbondale community. Please join them in funding these awards in support of MEDPREP students who will go on to serve the community in the health professions.

Tamara O'Neal Memorial MEDPREP Endowed Scholarship: Dr. Tamara O’Neal (MP Class of 2009) served as an Emergency Physician at Mercy Hospital in Chicago before her untimely passing at age 38 in 2018. We honor Dr. O’Neal’s selfless dedication to others, whether it was family, friends, or patients, with this named scholarship. 

W.G. Robinson-McNeese MEDPREP Endowed Scholarship: Initially funded by Dr. Wesley Robinson-McNeese, with continued support from family and friends, this scholarship is awarded to MEDPREP students with financial need.

LeKeisha Burnside-Brantley Scholarship: A lifelong resident of rural Philadelphia, MS, LeKeisha Burnside-Brantley was a loving and supportive mother, wife, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. This memorial scholarship gives preference to MEDPREP students with an interest in rural healthcare.

Shirley McGlinn MEDPREP Endowed Scholarship:  This scholarship will carry on Shirley’s legacy of unwavering support for MEDPREP students. Shirley was a dedicated educator, who brought a wealth of experience and passion to all she took on. She worked tirelessly to provide more than 1,000 MEDPREP students with an outstanding education through her innovative teaching. Shirley believed strongly in supporting students not just through teaching, but through mentorship and financial support.

Jonathan Buck Giving Back Scholarship Fund:  Founded by Dr. Jonathan Buck (MP Class of 2011), these scholarships support current students at MEDPREP, provided in the spirit of "paying it forward" by MEDPREP alumni.

John S. Lewis Memorial MEDPREP Endowed Scholarship: From contributions by the Lewis family, this scholarship commemorates the life and work of Dr. John Shelby Lewis, a Carbondale physician who helped found Doctor's Hospital, now Memorial Hospital, in Carbondale after World War II.

Pat Covington Memorial Endowed Scholarship: This scholarship has been established by Shari “Dusty” Rhode in memory of her partner of 44 years, Pat Covington. Pat was a trusted consultant, advisor, and board member of numerous organizations and a dedicated educator and administrator at SIUC. She loved art, music and people, and was dedicated to knowledge, kindness, and doing good in the world. Her full and extraordinary life will be remembered through these yearly awards provided in support of MEDPREP students.

Elaine Boone-Greer Endowed Scholarship: This scholarship has been established by Jason Greer in honor of his mother Elaine Boone-Greer, who served as an LPN for 30 years. Mrs. Boone-Greer was dedicated to providing quality care for all people, regardless of color or creed, even when she herself faced discrimination. The Elaine Boone-Greer scholarship supports MEDPREP students in their pursuit of health professional careers, and ensures that her heart and commitment to health care will forever be honored.  

Paul and Carol Henry MEDPREP Endowed Scholarship: A long-time MEDPREP faculty member, Dr. Henry, served as a tireless and passionate advocate for generations of MEDPREP students prior to his retirement in 2012. Dr. and Mrs. Henry continue to support MEDPREP students through this scholarship fund.