Howard University College of Medicine Announces $12 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott

Written By Sholnn Z. Freeman

The Howard University College of Medicine has received a $12 million donation from author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, part of the $2.2 billion in grants Scott has given this year to 360 organizations nationwide. The unrestricted nature of the gift, which is unusual for donors, allows Howard and the College of Medicine to determine how to make the greatest impact with these new resources.

The College of Medicine will apply the donation towards the establishment of a new innovations center in collaboration with the College of Engineering and Architecture, says College of Medicine Dean Andrea A. Hayes Dixon, M.D. The center will provide opportunities for medical and engineering students to learn about medical technology and subsequently create new devices with the potential of improving patient care.

“The center will allow Howard University students, through the support of MacKenzie Scott, to be leaders in medical technology innovation,” says Hayes Dixon. “We intend to capitalize on the diverse knowledge base of our students—knowledge that could change how medicine is practiced throughout the world.”

Scott, a Princeton University graduate and former student of Howard alumna Toni Morrison, gifted Howard University $40 million in 2020, the largest donation from a single donor in school history.

“My hope is that this gift will further solidify our College of Medicine as a world-class institution that attracts and retains future leaders in the field of medicine,” said President Ben Vinson III, Ph.D. “We are extremely grateful to Ms. Scott for her amazing generosity and know that this gift will only strengthen us, and ultimately, the future of healthcare as our students learn to provide care that improves outcomes for all patients.”