As a first-year medical student at the NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM), Charles De La Rosa has strived to take a leadership role in order to make a positive impact on his journey to becoming a physician. His determination to help others is one of the reasons he was named a recipient of the Dr. Bradley I. Silverman Endowed Memorial Scholarship.
In thanking Mrs. Marilyn Silverman, who established the scholarship in 2006 with her late husband Stanley Silverman, De La Rosa shared his gratitude for the opportunities he has been afforded thanks to the scholarship and NSU.
De La Rosa served as the M1 representative for the Zafonte Society, one of KPCOM’s student societies that support students academically and emotionally throughout their medical training at NSU. In this role, De La Rosa served as a liaison between his class board and the society, and also hosted Spanish tutoring sessions in order to help fellow students pass the Spanish test required for graduation.
De La Rosa is also a member of the Student Government Association, and will take on the role of treasurer in July 2020. He was an integral member of the leadership team that raised more than $16,000 to purchase FDA-approved personal protective equipment for Florida hospitals and care package supplies for families of health care workers affected by COVID-19. The team worked with other organizations and clubs on campus to surpass their initial goals and help as many people as possible.
“This leadership position has helped improve my teamwork skills by working with a diligent SGA team that strives to make a difference in the world,” said De La Rosa. “I am grateful that KPCOM gave me this chance to make a positive impact on others.”
In addition to embracing leadership opportunities, De La Rosa also enjoys being able to participate in medical mission trips. In December, De La Rosa traveled to India to lend a hand at a clinic there. In spite of a language barrier, De La Rosa established a connection with his patients and was grateful to be helping people in need of treatment.
“For the first time ever, I got a taste of what being a physician feels like, and as a first-year medical student, it reassured me that all my hard work and efforts towards becoming a board-certified physician were well worth it,” he said.
De La Rosa hopes to be able to continue participating in mission trips and serving as a leader during his time at NSU. He credits the scholarship to allowing him to join NSU in working with underserved communities and for enabling him to pursue additional extracurricular activities that help him grow as an individual.
“Thanks to donors like yourself, I can develop into a better physician for my patients in the future. I want to personally thank you for believing in me and supporting me throughout my medical school journey,” wrote De La Rosa. “The Bradley I. Silverman Endowed Memorial Scholarship has truly been a blessing for me, and my family and I would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
The Dr. Bradley I. Silverman Memorial Scholarship was established in 2006 to honor outstanding COM students who participate in cancer-related community service and showcase compassion, commitment, and other laudable traits exemplified by Silverman.
Silverman, who passed away in 1999, was a member of COM’s charter graduating class in 1985. During his career, he became passionately involved in the breast cancer field and went on to become chief of surgery and then chief of staff elect at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center.
For more information on scholarships for students in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, please contact Nathalie Sloane, Director of Development, at nsloane@nova.edu