{"id":22647,"date":"2025-03-10T15:33:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T19:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/?p=22647"},"modified":"2025-03-10T16:32:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T20:32:45","slug":"geisel-md-phd-program-strengthened-with-generous-gift-from-carlos-li-med-86","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/2025\/geisel-md-phd-program-strengthened-with-generous-gift-from-carlos-li-med-86\/","title":{"rendered":"Geisel MD-PhD Program Strengthened with Generous Gift from Carlos Li MED \u201986"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth has received a $1 million endowed gift from Carlos Li MED \u201986 to support the medical school\u2019s MD-PhD program. The gift will establish the Li Endowed Fund for Geisel\u2019s MD-PhD Program<\/a>, ensuring stable financial support for students pursuing the school\u2019s rigorous dual-degree training in medicine and research.<\/p>\n

Li\u2019s philanthropic commitment will expand and sustain opportunities for aspiring physician-scientists to pursue their passion to combine clinical medicine with research. The endowment will provide ongoing funding for student stipends and research opportunities, strengthening the program\u2019s ability to attract and support top-tier physician-scientist candidates.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Li Family at Dartmouth Medical School graduation day June 1986. (From left: Carlos Li, Li\u2019s father Lien Chun, Li\u2019s brother Roberto, Li\u2019s mother Hiroko).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI know it\u2019s difficult for students to afford medical school these days,\u201d Li says. \u201cSome give up their research dreams because they can\u2019t afford to take extra time away from clinical work. I hope this gift helps remove that obstacle and encourages more students to follow their passion for scientific discovery and medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Li\u2019s generous gift will enhance our ability to support these exceptional students, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in both rigorous scientific inquiry and compassionate patient care.\u201d says Duane Compton, PhD, dean of Geisel School of Medicine. \u201cHe was very thoughtful in how he could make a strong impact on our students, and this endowment will have a lasting effect on our program and, ultimately, on the future of healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Li himself has a deep understanding of how participating in research can improve a clinician\u2019s medical practice. His gift comes at a pivotal moment, as physician-scientists are increasingly being called upon to advance medical knowledge and bridge the gap between research and critical care globally.<\/p>\n

Li\u2019s decision to give back to his alma mater stems from his love for medicine and innate scientific curiosity. As a medical student at Dartmouth in the mid-1980s, faculty mentors instilled in him a passion for inquiry and discovery. For example, during his training he conducted research in the lab of Dartmouth anatomy professor William Layton, MD, where he studied congenital heart defects in mice. Li\u2019s time there sparked his enduring interest in cardiovascular research.<\/p>\n

In fact, Li says that lab experience inspired him to join the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation between his second and third years of medical school at Dartmouth, where he conducted advanced studies in fetal cardiac physiology. After receiving his medical degree in 1986, he continued this research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), reinforcing his commitment to integrating academic medicine into clinical practice.<\/p>\n

These formative years, both within and beyond Dartmouth, cemented Li\u2019s path as a physician-scientist. Throughout his career in cardiothoracic surgery, including residency at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a fellowship at the University of Washington, Li saw firsthand the importance of merging patient care with research-driven innovation. He emphasizes that this integration fosters professional curiosity, leading to better patient outcomes by continually improving treatments and advancing medical understanding.<\/p>\n

Striking a balance between research and clinical practice is critical, Li emphasizes. \u201cI\u2019ve always believed curiosity is essential in medicine,\u201d he says. \u201cDoctors need to constantly ask questions\u2014why is this happening, how can we improve treatment? That\u2019s the essence of being a physician-scientist, and I want to support students who think critically and push medicine forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strengthening the MD-PhD Program<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At Geisel, MD-PhD students dedicate years to rigorous biomedical research before completing their medical training, a journey that prepares them to shape the future of medicine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis program affords us the independence to chase our interests and the support to get things done,\u201d says current Geisel MD-PhD student Lisa Francomacaro. \u201cI am not only getting a world-class education, but I am also becoming the type of physician-scientist, the type of person, I have always admired.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Geisel covers most tuition costs for MD-PhD students, additional philanthropic support is essential for sustaining and expanding the program. Li\u2019s endowed gift will enhance student stipends, fund innovative research opportunities, and strengthen mentorship initiatives. Reducing financial barriers will also open the opportunity for more students to enroll.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people who helped me along the way were more than just teachers or supervisors. We developed a strong bond through research and mentorship\u2014they became like father figures to me,\u201d Li reflects. \u201cThis gift honors their impact and ensures future students have similar opportunities. I hope it helps them find the same sense of purpose and guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Li\u2019s generosity reflects his lifelong commitment to medicine and mentorship. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he has devoted much of his personal life to caring for his family, a value deeply rooted in his upbringing. His dedication to service transcends the operating room, and he hopes this gift enables others to view medicine as both a profession and a calling.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, medicine is about more than just following procedures. It\u2019s about seeking knowledge, questioning, and improving patient care,\u201d Li says. \u201cI was very specific in my donation\u2014I wanted it to go to the students because they are the heart of the Geisel School of Medicine, especially the MD-PhD program.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Li wishes to shine a light on the importance of physician-scientists, his ultimate goal is to allow students the freedom to fully immerse themselves in their education. \u201cWhen students don\u2019t have to worry about money, they can focus entirely on learning and research. All that\u2019s left is to simply focus on becoming the best physician-scientists possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Founded in 1797, the\u00a0Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth\u00a0<\/strong>strives to improve the lives of the communities it serves through excellence in learning, discovery, and healing. The Geisel School of Medicine is renowned for its leadership in medical education, healthcare policy and delivery science, biomedical research, global health, and in creating innovations that improve lives worldwide. As one of America\u2019s leading medical schools, the Geisel School of Medicine is committed to training new generations of diverse leaders who will help solve our most vexing challenges in healthcare.<\/p>\n

Written by Jeremy Martin<\/em><\/div>\n
Jeremy Martin is an Advancement Writer in the Office of Medical and Healthcare Advancement at the Geisel School of Medicine.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Geisel School of Medicine has received a $1 million endowed gift from Carlos Li MED \u201986 to support the medical school\u2019s MD-PhD program. The gift will establish the Li Endowed Fund for Geisel\u2019s MD-PhD Program, ensuring stable financial support for students pursuing the school\u2019s rigorous dual-degree training in medicine and research.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":22653,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9,1],"tags":[1302,1301,955],"class_list":["post-22647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-news","tag-carlos-li","tag-md-phd-program","tag-philanthrophy","author-15"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/MDPhD_featured.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4r3h1-5Th","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22647"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22654,"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22647\/revisions\/22654"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}