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Students at a medical school in New York City received an unexpected gift this week from a wealthy donor who did her best Oprah impression.
Ruth Gottesman, the chairperson of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and widow of a billionaire financier, announced to the student body that their med school education is tuition free.
Gottesman made a $1 billion donation to the school and said that beginning in August, tuition will be free "in perpetuity."
Students who are finishing their fourth year will be reimbursed for their final semester.
The announcement was met with cheers, tears, and a standing ovation from the student body.
The school said in a statement, "This donation radically revolutionizes our ability to continue attracting students who are committed to our mission, not just those who can afford it. Additionally, it will free up and lift our students, enabling them to pursue projects and ideas that might otherwise be prohibitive."
The annual tuition at Albert Einstein College of Medicine is around $59,000, leaving most students with a hefty loan to pay off.
Gottesman said, "l feel blessed to be given the great privilege of making this gift to such a worthy cause."