CHICAGO — The American Medical Association Foundation (AMAF) mourns the loss of Brian Vandenberg, a visionary leader and former general counsel at the AMA, whose commitment to health equity leaves a lasting mark. Through his generous support of several scholarship awards underwritten by the Vandenberg Health Equity Fund, Vandenberg profoundly impacted the lives of many aspiring medical professionals, and his commitment to equitable care continues to inspire future generations.
In 2018, Vandenberg created the David Jones Peck, MD, Scholarship for Health Equity as part of the Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship Program to honor the first African American doctor to graduate from an American medical school. The scholarship is awarded annually to a medical student who demonstrates a commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting health equity in historically marginalized and minoritized communities and patient populations.
Nichole Smith, a 2020 recipient of the David Jones Peck, MD, Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship for Health Equity, expressed her gratitude in a letter to Vandenberg that read, “It is hard to even find the words of gratitude for your generous investments in young scholars like myself, especially now as we push through so much uncertainty and pain in the medical community and the world. I am committed to paying your generosity forward to underserved patient populations and to trainees behind me on this path. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Vandenberg’s commitment to equity continued in 2020 when he formally created Vandenberg Health Equity Fund, and in turn, the DREAM MD Equity Scholarship. This fund recognizes the unique experiences of DACA-recipient medical students and other first-generation immigrants, as well as the challenges they face in pursuing careers in medicine. The scholarship also acknowledges the significant contributions these students make to societal and national health.
The same year, Vandenberg established the Native American Center for Health Professions Scholarship for Advancing Health Equity. Targeted toward medical students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, the scholarship supports students who are members of a federally- or state-recognized Native-American tribe, or students who demonstrate a commitment to addressing health disparities that impact Native-American populations.
In a letter to Vandenberg, 2024 recipient, Jacob Jones, thanked him, saying, “I was taught in childhood that our accomplishments are never entirely our own but a reflection of those who have laid the path before us. Your generosity is truly laying down the groundwork on which I will build my medical practice: to give my time, attention, and passion generously to my patients with a heart of gratitude for all who blessed me with their generosity.”
In 2023, in memory of his father, Vandenberg established the Lyle L. Vandenberg Rural Health Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health who demonstrate a commitment to improving health care access and reducing disparities in small towns and rural communities.
Through the alleviation of financial burdens, the Vandenberg Health Equity Fund empowers students to pursue their aspirations, fostering a health care workforce that is more inclusive and representative of their patients. Vandenberg never stopped getting to know those who benefited from the scholarships funded through Vandenberg Health Equity Fund, even when five to six students per year were receiving scholarships.
Vandenberg was passionate about the students he supported and believed in the importance of meeting them face-to-face. The first recipient of the David Jones Peck, MD Health Equity Scholarship, James Stinson, visited the AMA to meet Brian. The smile on Brian’s face in the photos with his recipient says it all.
His exceptional generosity and support of the AMA Foundation did not go unnoticed. In 2022, he received the AMAF Dr. Jacqueline A. Bello Friend of the AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Award nominated by former AMA general counsel and AMAF board member Jon Ekdahl, JD. He explained, “Upon learning of the award, I immediately thought of Brian as a deserving recipient to recognize his exceptional generosity and support of the AMA Foundation. He is a leader in advancing health equity through his actions, both personally and professionally, as well as through his charitable investments at the foundation.”
Sandi Smith, AMA Foundation deputy director and chief development officer, shared her heartfelt memories of Brian. “Brian was truly a one-of-a-kind human. I met him soon after he joined the AMA [as general counsel] when I attended a moving presentation he gave on the importance of health equity. What was most impressive about Brian, however, was how he didn’t just talk about equity— he embodied the principles.”
Sandi added, “Brian was unassuming in his approach to charitable giving. It was never about him; it was about the chance to give back to visionary students. Working with donors who genuinely believe in the work is always a highlight, and Brian truly believed in health equity.”
Vandenberg’s legacy at the AMAF stands as a testament to his dedication to improving the nation’s health and his profound impact on the lives of many.
Read more about the Vandenberg Health Equity Fund here.
