Alumni rally to support Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program

When Loren Walensky, MD, PhD, learned that critical federal grants for the Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program had been abruptly terminated, he knew immediate action was needed. Without this support, training the next generation of physician-scientists was at risk.

Facing a $9.37 million shortfall, Walensky, the program’s director and an HMS professor of pediatrics based at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital, reached out to MD-PhD alumni via email. “I cannot allow this moment to derail the education and futures of these remarkable young people,” he wrote, urging the community to help bridge the gap and ensure continued financial support for all students.

Each year, Harvard graduates 25 to 30 MD-PhDs who go on to shape biomedical research and patient care across numerous specialties.

The response was extraordinary. Two alumni—wishing to remain anonymous—each pledged $100,000 in matching funds, doubling the impact of new gifts from others. Inspired by this opportunity, the alumni community raised over $455,000.

“This program shaped the arc of my life,” said one anonymous matching donor. “It gave me the tools, the mentors, and the mission that continue to guide me every day.”

Explore how the MD PhD program drives breakthroughs in science and care

Additional contributions from supporters outside of the matching challenge have brought total fundraising for the program to more than $8.5 million in recent months, helping sustain its students and mission. “Because of this generosity, our students have been able to continue their vital work without disruption this year,” says Walensky. 

As the program awaits the outcome of efforts to restore federal funding, Walensky remains grateful and optimistic. “The resilience and brilliance of our students inspire me every day,” he says. “This outpouring of support sends a powerful message that their professional futures matter and that our community stands firmly behind them.”