Alumnus Establishes Endowment for Rural Medicine

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine is the recipient of a $500,000 pledge from William Swallow, DO '79, (MS/FM '19) and his wife, Elizabeth, to establish the William and Elizabeth Swallow Endowed Fund for Rural Medicine.

Once fully funded, monies generated annually from the fund will be available to PCOM students completing rural medicine rotations and may be used to cover travel, living expenses, transportation and other associated costs. By providing aspiring physicians with the financial support to complete rural medicine rotations, the William and Elizabeth Swallow Endowed Fund for Rural Medicine hopes to increase the number of physicians practicing in rural areas. According to the National Rural Health Association, only 10 percent of doctors practice in rural areas where a quarter of the U.S. population lives.

With many of PCOM's graduates specializing in family medicine in Pennsylvania and Georgia—two states with very large rural populations—establishing a fund to assist students during rural medicine rotations seemed like the perfect way for the Swallows to give back to PCOM. As a family physician, Dr. Swallow has practiced all but two years of his 38-year career in rural medicine, and he recognizes some of the unique challenges to practicing in these areas.

"Rural medicine is an area of tremendous need," says Dr. Swallow. "Because there are fewer specialists in these areas, patients expect more from family physicians. You practice a much more comprehensive form of family medicine because patients only want to see one doctor."

The William and Elizabeth Swallow Endowed Fund for Rural Medicine was established through a unique and flexible structure.

"The Swallows were excited to make such a substantial commitment through three distinct pledges," explains Carrie Collins, chief advancement officer at PCOM. "One pledge was for an outright gift to establish the fund, one was for a distribution directly from Dr. Swallow's IRA and one was for a bequest that will be added to the fund after death. This combination allowed them to easily accomplish their philanthropic goals, and PCOM is so very grateful for their generosity."

The Swallows hope that their gifts inspire others to find ways to give back to PCOM.

"Between existing funds and how easy it is to establish your own fund, it's not hard to donate to PCOM in a way that is personally meaningful," says Dr. Swallow.

Ensure that What You Value Endures

Contact Carrie Collins, JD, PhD, FCPP at 215-871-6120 or carrieco@pcom.edu to learn how your gift to PCOM can make a meaningful difference in the lives of students, their future patients and communities.