The 4th Annual OUWB Corewell Health Classic was held Monday, drawing golfers to the links in the name of a good cause: scholarships for medical students.
Held at the Katke-Cousins Golf Course on the campus of Oakland University, more than 100 golfers participated in the event.
Including this year, more than $200,000 has been raised since 2022 for scholarships at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, according to Claus Weimann, director, Philanthropy.
Christopher Carpenter, M.D., Stephan Sharf Dean, called it a “great day” and noted that there was “a lot of fun, all around.”
“The best part is that while we’re out here having fun, it’s for a great cause — to help our students be successful,” he said.
During an afterglow event at the end of the day, Carpenter noted that two of the participating foursomes consisted of OUWB alumni: one from the Class of 2015 and another from the Class of 2018.
“More than anyone in this room, they understand the costs associated with being medical students in the last decade,” he said. “Thank you for paying it forward so that our current students may one day achieve their dreams of being OUWB-trained physicians, just like you.”
Among the Class of 2018 golfers was Harjivan Kohli, M.D., now a urologist in private practice in Fullerton, California.
Kohli flew to Michigan specifically to participate in the golf outing.
“It’s a really great feeling to know that all of the money that’s being raised is going to scholarships,” he said. “It’s a great cause and we’re all having fun while doing it, too.”
Kohli said participating in the outing has been in the works for some time. The other members of his foursome were: Kevin Serdahely, M.D.; John Fortunato, M.D., and Tom LaRouere, M.D.
“We’ve been eyeing this event every year and wanted to make it happen,” he said. “This was the first year that we were able to all get the day off and make it.”
The inaugural version of the outing was held in 2022. Duane Mezwa, M.D., emeritus dean, OUWB, led the effort and viewed it as part of his commitment to “put dollars back into students’ pockets.”
He and several members of his family continue to participate in the event.
“I promised the students that we’d put money back in their pockets and this is one great way to do it,” said Mezwa. “It couldn’t be better either…the camaraderie, seeing all our friends and colleagues from Corewell and Oakland…it’s great.”
Corewell Health was the title sponsor of the event. Among the Corewell participants at the event was Jay Fisher, M.D., an OB/GYN and president, Medical Staff, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak.
Fisher called it a “remarkably wonderful event.”
“Anything that we can do to foster the relationship and partnership between the medical school and the hospital system is really important,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to bond and build relationships.”
Presenting sponsor for the day was Arvon CIN, while Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan was a cart sponsor and Michigan Health & Hospital Association was future physician sponsor.
Pixley Funeral Home was par sponsor. Vern Pixley, Dignity Memorial Senior Managing Director, Central Business Unit, has close ties to OUWB. He is a member of the OUWB Dean’s Advisory Board, works closely with the school through its Body Donation Program, and he regularly supports the golf outing, both as sponsor and participant.
“It feels great to support the students, especially since OUWB offers such a fantastic program,” he said. “Any way we can help support the future of medicine is great.”
That’s exactly why DTE Energy wanted to sponsor the outing’s lunch, said Erica Schlenker, principal program manager, Community Engagement and Outreach.
“Oakland University has been a strong partner for us for many years, and this particular event is supporting the next generation of physicians in our community…this is a wonderful opportunity to support both,” she said.
Appreciation for the sponsors and participants was expressed by OUWB staff and students.
Weimann said they helped make it the “most successful” outing that OUWB has hosted to date. He said a big part of it is because the community believes in the kind of physicians that receive their training at OUWB.
“We’re growing and more people know more about us…word of mouth exists, and we continually get positive feedback about the wonderful, caring physicians who train at OUWB and set us apart from others,” he said.
Aaryan Patel, M2, vice president, Medical School Government, spoke on behalf of the student body at OUWB and expressed gratitude.
“Scholarships have made a lot of our dreams possible to pursue medicine and try to make a positive difference in broader society,” he said. “On behalf of the entire student body at OUWB, we really appreciate it…it will have so many effects down the line.”
For more information, contact Andrew Dietderich, senior marketing specialist, OUWB, at [email protected].
To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & Marketing webpage.
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