Philanthropy in Action:
Student Initiative Fund
Alumni support of the Annual Fund is helping the MAA meet the evolving needs of today's students
As part of its mission to support the UVA School of Medicine and foster meaningful engagement, the UVA Medical Alumni Association established the Student Initiative Fund to meet the evolving needs of students outside the classroom.
Eligible initiatives must have broad appeal to a group of students; contribute to participants’ personal, academic and/or professional growth; and provide leadership opportunities for program organizers. Funding applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Past projects supported by the fund include VMed Strength gym equipment at both the Charlottesville and Inova campuses, the Compassionate Awareness and Living Mindfully (CALM) Retreat, student participation in regional medical conferences, and a Urology Match Day celebration (seen above).
The CALM Retreat, an event that focuses on student wellness, received funding that made it possible for attendees to participate in a variety of mindfulness activities.
“The annual CALM wellness retreat provides time and space for medical students to step away from their daily lives and engage in mindfulness and relaxation,” says Marietta Kocher, MD’26. “The support we received from the MAA allowed us to secure a beautiful venue for the retreat, as well as provide food to our attendees.”
The Graduate Biosciences Society First Year Picnic in summer 2025 also received funding and focused on welcoming new students. The picnic brought together incoming BIMS, BME, MSTP, and Biology students, along with current students who helped facilitate new connections.
Cate Liverman, director of constituent relations for the UVA Medical Alumni Association, is grateful for the support alumni give to the Annual Fund, which makes the Student Initiative Fund possible. “The Student Initiative Fund is one of my favorite initiatives of the UVA Medical Alumni Association. This fund brings awareness to new projects and passions of our student body and allows us to support and celebrate them in new ways each year,” she says. “Additionally, it cements our role in the lives of our students as an accessible, supportive, and collaborative partner. Each spring, about half of the graduating students who participate in the Fourth Year Giving campaign choose to support the Annual Fund to ensure that the Student Initiative Fund, among other programs, continues to positively impact the student experience.”
Make a gift to the Annual Fund and support the Student Initiative Fund here.
