Finding the Reward in Giving Back

Mary Sewatsky and her husband are helping future Temple students achieve their dreams by including Temple in their future plans.

Mary Sewatsky always knew she wanted to be a doctor. But, growing up as one of nine children in a small Pennsylvania town, she knew her parents could not afford to send her to medical school. If she wanted to pursue her dream, she would need to find a place that offered affordability. She would also need a little help.

That help came in the form of a scholarship offered by the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, an act made possible because of another's philanthropy that she has never forgotten. And her dream was realized when that scholarship opened the door for her to the world of medicine, and in particular to Temple's philosophy of treating the patient first. "That is the hard part of medicine," she notes. "The people side. But that is also the rewarding part."

That patient-first philosophy made Temple her perfect match. In the 30-some years since her graduation, Mary has carried those values with her in her practice of medicine and in her personal interactions. She works hard to ensure that visitors to her emergency room in Scranton receive the highest-quality medical care and the personal attention they deserve. "You aren't treating an illness or an injury," she says. "You are treating a person."

When Mary and her husband were doing their estate planning, they thought of ways they might demonstrate the importance of those values to their children, who were studying to become physicians themselves. So they gave back to the Katz School of Medicine by naming it as a beneficiary in their wills. Making this gift, says Mary, was a way of living her values and, she hopes, providing a teaching moment for future generations—that if you're not putting other people first, you're missing the most rewarding part.

If you're interested in giving back to Temple, like Mary, we'd be happy to help you find the best gift for you. Contact Tom Yates at tyates@temple.edu or (215) 926-2545 to get started.