Dear Cornaro Scholarship Committee, Board members and donors,
My name is Marguerite “Maggie” Linz and I am the 2018 recipient of the Cornaro Scholarship. I am a first-year medical student at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine. I recently started in my fourth academic block, during which I will learn the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the heart, lungs and kidneys. I did well in my first three blocks, so I am halfway through my pre-clinical material. My classmates are wonderful and I am honored to share this time with them. I have been incredibly happy at school and grateful to the donors of the Cornaro Scholarship. The lessened financial burden has taken some stress off, which allows me to devote my extra energy towards my studies and my passions.
At Case, I have been able to put my past experience of writing grant proposals for humanitarian causes to work through volunteering with the Billion Bottle Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Cleveland dedicated to global access to clean drinking water. The organization is currently developing an ultra-low-cost reusable water purification sensor device. After leading two successful grant efforts over the past year, I was promoted to Finance Director in January. I also was one of two team members to represent the organization in Boston, Massachusetts, at a VentureWell workshop to learn how to successfully position the organization to be financially sustainable and distribute our devices worldwide to the communities that need them. Learn more at billionbottleproject.org.
In December, I was involved in DocOpera, an annual variety show written and produced by CWRU graduate students. The show raises funds for Circle Health Services and the CWRU Student Run Health Clinic, both of which serve people in the local community who lack adequate access to healthcare. Along with selling raffle tickets and monitoring the silent auction tables, I was excited to dance with my classmates on stage. In January, I started in my new position for the CWRU Student Run Health Clinic as a committee member of the Quality Assurance Team.
I have been able to explore the many facets of medicine through shadowing, including watching a procedure in the NICU, flying on a Life Flight helicopter, riding along with the Cleveland EMS, attending Grand Rounds in the Burn ICU, spending a morning in pediatric oncology, observing surgery and learning about consultation psychiatry. To supplement my classes, I have taken the Women’s Health elective and the Emergency Medicine elective.
I am excited to spend my summer in Cleveland, researching colorectal cancer screening, funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (a division of the NIH).
Thank you for your kindness and generosity in awarding me the Cornaro Scholarship for graduate school. It means more than I can express and, again, I am very grateful.
Sincerely,
Maggie Linz
