Inside the medical school that's now free-ninety-nine

For years, Ruth Gottesman worked as a professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, a medical school in the Bronx, New York. 

While teaching at Einstein, Ruth developed new diagnostic modalities and treatments for children with learning disabilities, The Guardian reports. She also ran an adult literacy program. 

Her latest big move: The 93-year-old widow just ensured the school would be completely tuition-free moving forward, donating $1 billion to the school in honor of her late husband.  

• “I’m happy to share with you," the former professor announced to the student body last week, "that starting in August this year, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine will be tuition-free." The auditorium burst into applause👇.

Ruth's donation is one of the largest charitable donations to an educational institution in the US, and most likely the largest ever to a medical school.

• She received the funds from her late husband David Gottesman, known as Sandy. He grew his wealth as an early investor in Berkshire Hathaway, the multinational conglomerate that was built by the billionaire Warren Buffett.
• Upon Sandy's passing in 2022 at the age of 96, he left his wife with his fortune and the simple instructions to “do whatever you think is right with it." 
• Ruth didn't even think twice. “I wanted to fund students at Einstein so that they would receive free tuition,” she shared. 

👀 Looking ahead... Ruth's donation is extra significant because of the medical school's Bronx location, which is surrounded by one of the poorest congressional districts in the country. With over half of the school's population being New Yorkers and a majority women and people of color, Ruth hopes her donation alleviates some of the financial burden students may face upon graduation.