The Podiatry Foundation has made an historic $10 million donation to Kent State to secure the financial and academic future of Ohio’s only podiatry college – College of Podiatric Medicine. This is the largest ever single philanthropic commitment in the history of the university.
This gift will fund scholarships, research and continuing medical education programs within the College of Podiatric Medicine. In recognition of this gift, the current clinical space located on the first floor of the college in Independence will be named The Podiatry Foundation Foot and Ankle Clinic.
“A gift of this magnitude is transformational to the future education of our podiatry students, not only through our ability to award more scholarships, but also because of the increased credibility that will come from our enhanced research and continuing medical education,” said Kent State President Todd Diacon. “The longstanding relationship between the college and The Podiatry Foundation has been instrumental in Kent State’s recognition as a leading college in the important field of foot and ankle medicine. We are very grateful for their visionary support.”
At least one of the scholarships created through this gift will be named the Thomas V. Melillo Scholarship, on behalf of Thomas Melillo, D.P.M., the president of the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (now Kent State’s College of Podiatric Medicine) from 1984 through 2012.
Additionally, funds are available for Kent State’s College of Podiatric Medicine to conduct and publish research, and to enhance its continuing medical education offerings within the field of podiatry.