Dr. Olivia Ganescu received multiple scholarships and awards during her studies, “and I remember every single one of them.”
“I was very grateful for the financial support, and almost overwhelmed,” recalls Ganescu. “I don’t know how to emphasize how much it meant to me, and what it allowed me to do.”
Ganescu grew up in Montreal, and always hoped to attend McGill. As an undergraduate she majored in microbiology and immunology, and was awarded the Sir Edward Beatty Memorial Scholarship, the Mary H. Brown Endowment Fund, and the William E. Bembridge Bursary.
“The help I received alleviated both personal and financial stressors. I felt very much supported to pursue all my learning aspirations.”
Two of her awards were legacy gifts, established by bequests: Ganescu used the Mary H. Brown Endowment Fund to co-host a campus conference on vaccine awareness, and the William E. Bembridge Bursary allowed her to embrace her university experience. “I moved closer to campus, joined more activities, and served as class president in my final year. If I could, I would tell Mr. Bembridge that his gift is something I will take with me for the rest of my life.”
The financial support was the inspiration I needed.”
Upon completing her degree, she then entered McGill Medicine, receiving yet another student award, the Mary and Stuart Webster Bursary. Her studies were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in her entire graduating class completing certain portions of the last year-and-a-half of medical school online. “It was humbling, and a bit frustrating, to be at home while the world was suffering. But it inspired us forward. As new resident physicians, we’re now eager to do our part and join frontline workers.”
Ganescu will join the frontlines while staying within the McGill network: she’s now training as a General Surgery Resident at the McGill University Health Centre.
That means she’s well on her way in her career in medicine, but she remains grateful for the support she received as a student. “Just like many other university students, there were struggles, both personal and professional. But the financial support was the inspiration I needed. The scholarships that I was awarded are something that I would like to continue for others. I hope to soon have the opportunity to give back and continue the generous donation cycle that allows for student success.”
What will your legacy be?
McGill is celebrating its 200th anniversary with the goal of securing 200 legacy gifts. For more information, please contact us.
