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May 4, 2009
Endowment will fund medical school degrees

From Staff Reports

A $1 million commitment in honor of an Emory medical school graduate and physician will establish the Dr. G. Keith Pilling Scholar Endowment at Emory School of Medicine.

Named for the late Keith Pilling ’92M, the scholarship was established by Pilling’s father, Garet Pilling. Keith Pilling practiced as an interventional radiologist in New Jersey before his death in 2001 from a rare pancreatic tumor at age 35. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Kraus ’92M, and two sons.

Once fully funded, the scholarship will cover four years of medical education for one student in each incoming medical school class who demonstrates merit and need.

Keith Pilling was regarded as an excellent clinician, diagnostician, teacher and mentor by his patients and colleagues in and around Medford, N.J.

“I hope I will be able to help those who have the same passion about medicine as Keith did. Sadly, he was taken from us too early, and he could not fulfill all of his dreams. I hope that those who receive this gift will be able to fulfill theirs,” says Garet Pilling.

In conjunction with Emory School of Medicine’s state-of-the-art medical education building and innovative curriculum, the Pilling Scholars Endowment will improve Emory’s ability to attract the best students, train medical leaders, advance the field of medicine and influence health care practice exponentially.

This gift is part of the private support being sought for Campaign Emory, a $1.6 billion fundraising endeavor that combines private support and the University’s people, places and programs to make a powerful contribution to the world.