Help This Student Doctor Finish Medical School

Tiffany Lemuz is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi, I’m Tiffany. I’m a first-generation college grad, a mother, and a medical student just one year away from becoming a doctor. But I’ve just lost access to the financial aid that got me this far.

I started college when my son was six months old. I’ve relied on federal loans to get through undergrad, a year of a master’s program, and now medical school, all while raising my child. Each year, my school increased my cost of attendance to help cover childcare and basic living expenses. But no one ever explained that borrowing more to support my family would quietly push me toward a lifetime federal loan cap I didn’t even know existed.

This spring, with one year left to go, I hit that cap.

I had no warning. No advisor ever sat me down. Just an email saying I had no more aid left.

I applied for a Grad PLUS loan to cover the gap, but I was denied because of a single unpaid medical bill from years ago that went to collections. They said I could reapply with a cosigner, but my parents have both passed away, my mom while I was in undergrad, and my dad during my first week of medical school. I don’t have anyone else to step in to cosign.

I’ve dedicated my life to serving others. I’ve supported families as a community-based doula, conducted public health research on maternal mortality, LGBTQ+ health, and vaccine equity, and worked on COVID-19 clinical trials to expand access in vulnerable communities. I’ve advocated for policy change in healthcare and education, all while raising my son, navigating grief, and pursuing a dual DO/MPH track. I’ve come this far against the odds. Now I need your support to cross the finish line and become the kind of doctor who never forgets how hard it is to get there.

What Your Support Will Cover

▪️ Tuition & Fees: $10,500 (this semester)

▪️ Clinical expenses (licensing exams, supplies, travel)

▪️ Basic living expenses for me and my son

To paint the full picture, the total cost of attendance for my final year is roughly $50,000 which covers $21,000 in tuition and $29,000 in living expenses. I’ve set this current goal to cover just this upcoming semester, while I continue to search for a more sustainable path forward.

I’ve applied to more than 75 scholarships. I’ve shared my story publicly through AACOM and begun advocating for policy change. I’m doing everything I can to stay enrolled and challenge a system that was never built for students like me.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just about me. It’s about every student navigating systems never built for us. When we say we want a healthcare system that reflects the people it serves, this is what it takes: support for students without wealth, without cosigners, without backup.

Want to help beyond a donation?

Click here to urge Congress to protect Grad PLUS loans, oppose federal borrowing caps, and prevent harmful risk-sharing measures that threaten access to medical education for students like me: https://www.aacom.org/advocacy/action-center?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f120503%2frespond

Thank you for reading, sharing, and standing with me. Every bit of support gets me closer to that finish line, and to becoming a doctor who never forgets how hard it is to get there.

More on my story, as shared by AACOM here: https://www.aacom.org/news-reports/news/2025/04/21/how-federal-loan-cuts-threaten-tiffany-lemuz-s-future-in-medicine