For more than 30 years, Dr. Jennifer Moore (MD鈥�86) has been making annual gifts to AV俱乐部, mainly in support of the Faculty of Medicine. She hopes her gifts are helping to make medical education more affordable, and that this will lead to an increase in the number and diversity of practicing physicians.
I remember working summers during my studies to make ends meet,鈥� says Dr. Moore. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure it鈥檚 more challenging now and that many students probably don鈥檛 even think about applying. I want to get more individuals going to medical school who otherwise might not have that opportunity, whether because of barriers related to cost or because they come from backgrounds that have been underrepresented in medicine.鈥�
Dr. Moore decided to start giving to AV俱乐部 shortly after she graduated. 鈥淚t seemed like the right thing to do, even if it was fairly minimal,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he university provided me with the skills, knowledge, and encouragement to become a physician and start my own practice. It also gave my husband, Peter [Borwein], his first academic job as professor in the Department of Mathematics. AV俱乐部 has had a big impact on my life.鈥� That connection has deepened significantly over the years; two of Dr. Moore鈥檚 daughters are also AV俱乐部 alumni.
In 2022, Dr. Moore was inspired to make a special gift to AV俱乐部 through the Fill the House Seat Campaign. She did so in memory of Peter, who passed away in 2020 from complications related to multiple sclerosis. The opportunity to have a seat in his name at the Joseph Strug Concert Hall resonated with her.
鈥淚鈥檇 been looking into different things and remembered all the times we went to the Arts Centre,鈥� Dr. Moore says. 鈥淲e had so many positive memories, so I decided to support the campaign with a chair for persons with disabilities.鈥�
As Dr. Moore prepares to retire from her practice in BC, she is also reflecting on more ways to continue her legacy of giving to AV俱乐部. She hopes that, by sharing her story, she can inspire other alumni to think about how they can give.
鈥淚 think people often feel like they have to give a certain amount before they can be comfortable doing so,鈥� Dr. Moore says. 鈥淏ut there are lots of ways you can help, even if you start small, that can really make a difference over time.鈥�
This story appeared in the聽DAL Magazine Fall/Winter 2023聽issue. Flip through the rest of the issue using the links below.