Help me stay in Medical School

Hello! I am Akhenaton and I am from the Caribbean Island of St Lucia. 

I want to tell you a little about a black man, and why I am approaching you, someone who may feel passionate about leveling the educational playing field for aspiring Black doctors, from developing countries who have a dream, buoyed by a track record of accomplishments. 

Since boyhood I loved science and wanted to become a professional athlete. Growing up on an island that has a 25% poverty rate, and 32% youth unemployment rate, I saw how professional athletes could leverage their training to overcome the limited options existing for youth from a tourist destination island. From early on, I knew serious dedication to track and field, was my ticket out of a systemic cycles of poverty. I wanted a better life for my family and knew I had a distance to go. My determination and athletic training, garnered me national and international achievements. Yet, my greatest award came in the form of a full National Collegiate Athletic Association scholarship to Morgan State University in Baltimore MD. 

Why Medical School?

At 17, I left my family, my culture, and a tropical climate to attend MSU, a Historically Black University, performing with the men’s track and field team. Here I learned I could hurdle obstacles of many kinds. My sophomore year, brought painful and debilitating chronic ocular migraines. During multiple hospital stays, I witnessed people much worse off than myself. I became fascinated with the doctor’s capacity for diagnosis, restoration of health and, more importantly, their sincere displays of compassion. With each hospitalization, the personal caring of the medical staff touched a heart string. I found myself reconsidering what I thought was my only option out of poverty.  Because I made it to a university in the United States, more options opened for my future. I felt a flame ignite; and a fervent desire to pursue medicine.

I graduated from Morgan State in December 2018, with a BS in Biology. As an international student, I interned with doctors in New York City See Letter of Recommendation .   Hard work and determination, as well and the grace of God, paid off. I was accepted in July 2020, to Ross University School of Medicine with a 25% tuition-paid scholarship(which includes housing). After clearing quarantine, I began 18 months (5 semesters) of classroom experience at this internationally designated university in Barbados. The second part of Ross University’s medical school clinicals are in the U.S. (FL and NY), where Ross’s administrative centers are located.

Ross University is accredited by the National Committee for Foreign Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA) through the Department of Education. This helps American students participate in the US Federal Direct Student Loan program. However, as an international student in the United States, I am ineligible to participate in this same program or, for that matter, any kind of student or personal loan program from an American lending institution even with a US co-signatory. A ‘no loan’ option was not on my parenting team’s radar. They investigated St. Lucia loan options, but St. Lucia banks have high stipulations, for which I am unqualified.  I turned to the St Lucia Ministry of Education where a high-ranking official told me there were no grants or aid available. With the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on tourism, Caribbean private and governmental agencies are prioritizing food security and basic services. 

My parenting team is currently exploring private foundations, so if you have any leads, please let us know. My tuition during clinicals rotations each semester is about $25,000 for 5 more semesters. My scholarship brings the total down to about $75,000.

Academically, I've ranked in the top percentile of my class!

 Yet, without loan options, it feels daunting to find tuition payments for this year alone. I am committed to this course. I love my classes and remain focused in my studies, aware, it’s going to take more than hard work and a flame to get me to the finish line.

Education Equity: This is where you come in.  Goal: $75,000 

We need to recruit ‘the village’ to help raise funds to cover the overall $75,000 tuition required to complete these FOUR years of medical school. We hope this Go Fund Me campaign inspires you to offer what you can afford.  Particularly, those of you who can become “Angel Ambassadors” willing to sponsor a semester.  I have made it this far, yet, know potential alone is not going to get me there. I need your assistance and generosity.

And a prayer and a share!

Thanks for your consideration. For sharing this campaign with your circles, and for any amount you can afford to give.    

Akhenaton Pierre  

Undergraduate Graduation 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh0wl7OV40w