Medical students at the University of Houston’s Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine work inside a clinical lab.
Key Takeaways
- $2.1M planned estate gift: will establish a new scholarship endowment for the University of Houston’s Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, aimed at expanding access to medical education.
- Bob Diehl and Teresa Evans Diehl Scholarship Endowment: will support students with financial need, helping reduce debt and allowing future physicians to focus on training and service.
- Gift will strengthen UH’s mission and future growth: will enhance enrollment expansion, increase the pipeline of primary care doctors and advance long-term impact through the university’s centennial campaign.
The University of Houston’s Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine has received a planned estate gift commitment estimated at $2.1 million to establish a scholarship endowment, expanding access to medical education and strengthening the pipeline of physicians who will serve communities across Texas and beyond.
The commitment creates the Bob Diehl and Teresa Evans Diehl Scholarship Endowment, which will provide scholarships for full-time medical students who demonstrate financial need and meet academic standards.
“I attended and graduated from the University of Houston, as did my wife, and the school has always meant a great deal to me,” Diehl said. “We never had children and after my wife passed away, I saw that I could do something that would impact young people in a different way without being a parent.”
Once realized, the endowment will generate annual scholarship support for students enrolled in the Fertitta College of Medicine, helping reduce financial burdens and enabling them to focus on their training as they prepare to meet the growing health care needs of their communities.
“I took a job with UPS and realized that I could actually make a good living and achieve certain aspirations and goals with hard work and perseverance,” Diehl said. “I retired after 38 years with the company. It brings me happiness to know that my endowment will make a difference in young people's lives and in the communities that will need those future doctors.”
The Fertitta College of Medicine was founded to improve health outcomes in underserved communities by preparing the next generation of primary care physicians. Since welcoming its inaugural class of 30 students in 2020, the College has steadily expanded its enrollment and reach. With classes expected to grow to 120 students in the coming years, scholarship support will play a critical role in ensuring talented students can pursue medical education regardless of financial circumstances.
“The Diehl family’s generosity will open doors for talented future physicians who are called to serve our communities but may otherwise face financial barriers to pursuing a medical education.”
—Jonathan McCullers, dean of UH’s Fertitta College of Medicine
“Endowed scholarships like this do more than ease the burden of tuition — they empower our students to focus on learning, leadership and compassionate care,” said Jonathan A. McCullers, UH vice president of health affairs and dean of the Fertitta College of Medicine. “We are deeply grateful to the Diehls for their vision and commitment to expanding access to health care through education.”
As a member of the University’s In Tempore Legacy Society, Diehl joins other alumni who have included UH in their estate plans to support future generations of students.
“Planned gifts like this are among the most powerful investments in the future of the University,” said Russell T. Dunlavy, vice president for advancement and alumni. “The Diehl family’s generosity reflects a deep belief in the power of education to change lives far beyond a single generation. This commitment ensures the University can continue to grow its impact and serve as a catalyst for opportunity well into the future.”
The gift also supports Can’t Stop Houston: The Centennial Campaign, UH’s historic fundraising initiative focused on expanding opportunities for students, advancing research and strengthening the University’s impact ahead of its 100th anniversary next year.