Dr. Ruth Gottesman, a 93-year-old widow and lifelong educator, just donated $1 billion to Albert Einstein College of Medicine, making tuition free forever. The gift came from her late husband’s fortune, who told her, “Do whatever you think is right with it.” In a community where medical debt climbs past $200,000, her donation removes crushing burdens for generations of future doctors. She didn’t want her name on buildings or recognition—just to change lives and plant seeds of hope lasting beyond her lifetime.
At 93 years old, Dr. Ruth Gottesman made history—not with a speech, but with a signature. She donated $1 billion to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, ensuring that tuition will be free for all students—forever.
Her decision wasn’t driven by legacy or headlines. It was rooted in love, humility, and a lifetime of service.
Ruth Gottesman is no stranger to the institution. She spent decades as a professor there, pioneering research in learning disabilities and founding adult literacy programs. She also served as chair of the board of trustees. But her most transformative act came after the death of her husband, David Gottesman, a billionaire investor and close friend of Warren Buffett.
David left her $1 billion in Berkshire Hathaway stock, with one simple instruction: “Do whatever you think is right with it.”
She did.
Medical school tuition at Einstein typically exceeds $60,000 per year, and the average graduate leaves with over $250,000 in debt. For many aspiring doctors, this burden shapes their career choices, often steering them away from primary care or underserved communities.
Dr. Gottesman’s gift changes that. It frees students to follow their calling—not their creditors.
She didn’t ask for her name on a building. She didn’t want a statue. She wanted impact. “I wanted to do something that would change people’s lives,” she said. And she did.
Her donation is the largest ever made to a medical school, and one of the most generous acts of educational philanthropy in U.S. history. But more than the money, it’s the message: that education should be a right, not a privilege. That healing should begin with opportunity.
Dr. Gottesman’s legacy isn’t just financial—it’s spiritual. She planted seeds that will bloom in every patient treated by a debt-free doctor. In every community served by someone who could afford to choose compassion over compensation.
She reminds us that the greatest gifts are those that outlive us, quietly transforming lives we’ll never meet.
