A Gift in Your Will Can Give Future Generations a Better Start

Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine alumnus Joseph Thul, DPM ’49, and his wife Mary have made provisions for the university in their estate plan for scholarships for third- and fourth-year podiatry students. Dr. Thul, who enjoyed a successful career as a podiatric surgeon, teacher and advocate for his profession, is determined to help podiatric students reduce their educational debt.

“When I graduated podiatry college, I owed my mother $5,000,” Dr. Thul said. “Today’s students are graduating and they’re in debt $200,000 or more, which is a tremendous sum of money. By establishing this gift, I hope I can help some podiatry students make a better start by reducing what they owe when they graduate.”

Dr. Thul has dedicated his life to advancing the profession of podiatric medicine. When he began his distinguished career, there were no surgical privileges for podiatric physicians – but in 1968 that changed, and Dr. Thul became a pioneer. In 1968 the American Medical Association added a provision to their bylaws stating that DPMs may be granted surgical staff privileges at accredited hospitals. By the early 1970s Dr. Thul had privileges at several hospitals along the Minnesota-Iowa border.

In addition to supporting students, Dr. and Mrs. Thul hope their gift will inspire more RFU alumni to support the university through planned giving.

“We need to realize the necessity to financially support our school,” Dr. Thul said. “My advice for alumni, when making their estate plans, is to give back to your college, which presented you with the means to help mankind and also the opportunity to make a good living.”

When you include Rosalind Franklin University in your will or other estate planning, your generosity creates an enduring legacy that will help ensure future health and well-being. Whether you choose to fund scholarships, groundbreaking research or state-of-the-art educational facilities like our simulation labs, your gift will support the university and its students – your future fellow alumni – who share your calling to improve the health of populations across our nation and around our world.