A Gift for Future Physicians and the Communities They Will Serve

A Gift for Future Physicians and the Communities They Will Serve

Marcella Schomburg-Koy has spent a lifetime rooted in community, service and connection. Through her experiences, she has seen firsthand the difference that access to healthcare can make, especially in rural communities where resources are limited and the need is great.

That understanding led her to invest in the next generation of physicians.

Through a $25,000 commitment, she has established the Marcella Schomburg-Koy Endowed Scholarship at Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM). The endowed scholarship will support student doctors as they pursue their medical education, helping reduce financial pressure so they can stay focused on their training and the patients they will one day serve.

Her decision to give is deeply personal. As a Sam Houston State University (SHSU) alumna and a member of a rural hospital foundation board in Bellville, Texas, Marcella has long been connected to the realities of healthcare access in communities like her own. She has seen how the presence of a physician can shape not only individual outcomes, but the health and stability of a community.

She hopes her gift will encourage future physicians to keep an open mind as they move through their training, particularly when considering opportunities in rural Texas.

At SHSU-COM, that mission is already taking shape. The college prioritizes preparing skilled, compassionate physicians who are ready to serve communities across Texas, with an emphasis on primary care and rural practice. For many students, however, the cost of medical education can influence the paths they choose.

“Endowed scholarships like this help ease the financial burden of medical education and allow student doctors to stay focused on their training and their patients,” said Thomas J. Mohr, DO, vice president for medical affairs and dean of SHSU-COM.

With this endowment, Schomburg-Koy’s impact will extend far beyond a single gift. It will continue to grow over time, supporting generations of student doctors and, in turn, the patients and families they will serve throughout their careers.

The scholarship carries the Schomburg-Koy name, reflecting the importance of family and legacy.

Ernie Koy Jr. is well known to the SHSU community as an alumnus, former assistant football coach and former professional football player with the New York Giants.

Together, Marcella ’63 and Ernie ’73 Koy have remained actively engaged with SHSU, supporting its students and its mission.

This gift represents more than financial support. It is an investment in people, in the student doctors who will carry forward a commitment to care, and in the communities that will benefit from their service.

“This is a legacy that will be felt for years to come,” Mohr said. “We are grateful for the generosity behind this gift and for the impact it will have on our students and the communities they will serve.”