Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona » Dr. Sam Goldfein Memorial Fund

Ann and Sam Goldfein

Please make a tax deductible contribution today to help educate tomorrow’s dedicated physicians.

Exemplary leadership, compassion and selflessness are words used when describing Sam. To honor both his life and his work, the Dr. Sam Goldfein Memorial Fund was established by his family after his passing as a permanent endowment. The fund awards an annual medical scholarship to a student of the University of Arizona (UA) College of Medicine whose character strives to mirror that of Dr. Goldfein’s, and who has shown exemplary commitment to patient care and service to the community during their time in medical school.

As a founding professor of the UA College of Medicine, Dr. Goldfein was a lifelong teacher and learner who believed that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. He was a man of great intellect, compassion and kindness. The scholarship in his honor helps students with the cost of a medical education.

Sam was a perpetual student, constantly studying to keep up with medical advances and new practice management strategies. These are exactly the traits that the Scholarship Advisory Committee look for when awarding scholarships from the memorial fund. The Jewish Community Foundation works closely with the faculty of the University of Arizona College of Medicine to identify students who exemplify Sam’s life and work, and who have the passion to go above and beyond what is expected and required. These nominated students are then carefully reviewed by an advisory committee comprised of family members, Sam’s closest friends and colleagues, and past scholarship awardees, and a student is selected for the scholarship award.

To date, scholarships have been awarded to five outstanding medical students: Katherine Nielson, Elizabeth Carter, Nataly Vadasz, Joseph West, KC Rosberg and Amber Steves. The awards are always a surprise and very much appreciated. We’re pleased to report that all recipients have continued on with great success in their academic and medical careers.

2016 Recipient Katherine Nielson

I am very honored to be the recipient of the 2016 Dr. Sam Goldfein Memorial Award. Winning this award is tremendously meaningful personally as I share many of the same values and aspire to contribute to society with compassion and excellence as he did. – 2015 recipient Elizabeth Carter

2015 recipient Elizabeth Carter

I want to thank everyone involved in the Sam Goldfein Memorial Award for your kindness and generosity! I was ecstatic and honored to receive such a meaningful award that upholds many beliefs I hold dear. I would not be the person that I am today if I had not followed in the moral footsteps of Sam. I aim to continue my dedication to serving our communities and look forward to supporting Sam’s legacy as I begin my pediatric residency! – 2016 recipient Katherine Nielson

Kristopher Carson "KC" Rosburg and Carol Galper, assistant dean for medical student education at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

2012 recipient Kristopher Carson “KC” Rosburg and Carol Galper, assistant dean for medical student education at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

This is quite an honor and the scholarship monies will be a huge help in my transition to my pediatric residency at Saint Louis University in St Louis, Missouri. I wish I could share with you the excitement of being able to share this wonderful news with my family. Since I will be the first physician in my family, only a few members in my family have a bachelors degree, so any assistance is a true blessing. – 2012 recipient KC Rosburg, MSIV

It was incredibly flattering to be given an award in memorial of Dr. Goldfein. I am honored to be one of the recipients and the scholarship money helped me achieve my goal of becoming a family practice doctor in a small town….The award made my transition to the Fort Collins Family Medicine Residency Program so much easier, and I am very thankful for it. – 2011 recpient Amber Steves

Nataly Vadasz

2014 scholarship recipient Nataly Vadasz was born in Israel, lived in South Africa and immigrated to Flagstaff where she went to high school and Northern Arizona University. Her community service focuses on people in rural areas of the U.S., and HIV patients in South Africa and Israel.

Dr. Sam Goldfein Memorial Award Recipients

2015 – Elizabeth Carter
2014 – Nataly Vadasz
2013 – Joseph West
2012 – Kristopher Carson “KC” Rosburg
2011 – Amber Steves