Martha Skinner Stone, MD, WMC ’62
“It was an extraordinary place that demanded excellence,” says Martha Skinner Stone, MD, WMC ’62, describing her experience more than six decades ago studying at Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, a predecessor institution of the Drexel University College of Medicine. “Our teachers had high expectations for us, and they taught us to respect our patients — and each other.”
“I grew up in upstate New York, which had many good medical schools,” recalls Dr. Stone, who had received a bachelor’s degree from Roberts Wesleyan College (now Roberts Wesleyan University). “Someone mentioned that there was an excellent medical college in Philadelphia, the first to enroll only women. I applied and they took a chance on me — a poor farm kid who once attended a one-room schoolhouse — with a generous scholarship. The first graduate of my college to attend medical school, I was grateful then for the opportunity, and I still am.”
Her medical education prepared Dr. Stone for a long and distinguished career in rheumatology, including more than 50 years as a professor and administrator at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. In 2013, she was appointed professor emerita in recognition of her lifetime contributions to biomedical research, patient care and education in the field of amyloidosis. Additionally, Dr. Stone was the president of International Society of Amyloidosis, a member of the Amyloidosis Foundation and associate editor of Amyloid: International Journal of Experimental and Clinical Investigation.
To pay it back — and forward — Dr. Stone and her husband established the Martha Skinner Stone, MD (WMC ’62) and Sumner Stone, MD Endowed Scholarship Fund within the College of Medicine.
This endowed fund will support generations of students in pursuit of their MD degrees in perpetuity.
“It is a real privilege to be able to help others begin their careers in medicine,” says Dr. Stone. “We intentionally chose to not put any restrictions on who can benefit from the fund. We need more physicians in general, and in specialties such as general and family practice in particular. We hope that the medical students we support will discover and follow their passions when choosing their career paths, rather than being compelled to choose the most lucrative fields because of financial debt.”
While Dr. Stone and her husband, a former psychiatrist, live in Boston, she tries to keep up with the work of today’s Drexel University College of Medicine. She recently visited Philadelphia to attend the 175th anniversary celebration for Woman’s Medical College and hopes to return for a tour of Drexel’s new Health Sciences Building in University City.
“Because of Drexel’s strong reputation, I was very glad when it decided to continue the work of Woman’s Medical College,” says Dr. Stone. “I’m grateful that Drexel still recognizes and honors our college’s history.”
“I went on to have a long and rewarding career,” Dr. Stone adds. “It all began with dedicated teachers and an excellent medical education. Today, this scholarship fund allows us to continue to have an impact.”