Raffle raises $12K for scholarship in honor of late professor

What began as a tribute to a former faculty member of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) resulted in a $12,000 expansion of a scholarship designed to encourage graduates to practice in regions experiencing a physician shortage.

A raffle hosted by the WVSOM Alumni Association raised funds for the Drs. John and Nancy Chambers Memorial Scholarship, awarded to students with a strong academic performance who intend to practice in a medically underserved community. The late John Chambers, Ph.D., was a professor of pharmacology who joined WVSOM in 1976 and taught at the school for 21 years before retiring in 1997. His wife, Nancy Chambers, Ph.D., was also a WVSOM professor.

The raffle was created by Pat Bauserman, WVSOM’s longtime photojournalist who retired in 2022. Bauserman, an honorary member of the WVSOM Alumni Association, donated a wormy chestnut box handcrafted by John Chambers as part of the prize, which also included a resort stay in the Caribbean island of Antigua among many other items.

Bauserman remembered Chambers as a favorite among students and a supporter of the school both financially and socially.

“John took his teaching seriously, sharing his knowledge and humor and encouraging every student to be their best,” she said. “He gave back to the school every year by crafting a beautiful chestnut box to be sold at employee fundraising auctions. John and Nancy also gave back by hosting a pig roast at their family farm in Renick, W.Va. It was a coming together of students, faculty, employees and their families.”

Bauserman purchased one of Chambers’ boxes during her 36 years as an employee and ultimately decided to use it as the centerpiece of a fundraising effort.

“I thought it was time that the box again be used to give back. With support from the WVSOM Alumni Association, the Student Government Association, former faculty members and the Campus Store, the chest was filled with ‘loot.’ My goal was to clear $5,000, but alumni, employees and friends of WVSOM purchased enough raffle tickets to raise $12,000. I hope these funds will relieve part of the financial struggle for scholarship recipients,” she said.

Other items in the prize were a canvas print of a photo by Bauserman; a wooden bowl crafted by George Boxwell, D.O.; a wooden platter crafted by Mike Cope, Ph.D.; an engraved brick in WVSOM’s Alumni Brick Walk; a WVSOM apron, grill utensils and stainless steel tumbler; a $100 restaurant gift certificate; a $100 gift certificate for the WVSOM Campus Store; and beard wash. It also included six Jack Daniel’s glasses and a share of stock in Jack Daniel’s, reflecting Chambers’ signature beverage, as well as a piggy bank filled with pennies, in honor of an inside joke Chambers often shared with members of the WVSOM community.

The winner of the raffle was Robert Hunter, D.O., of WVSOM’s Class of 1997. Hunter is a family medicine physician in the Dayton, Ohio, area who in 2015 was named Family Physician of the Year by the Ohio chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Shannon Warren, WVSOM’s executive director of alumni relations, said the raffle demonstrates the effectiveness of collaborative support for philanthropic goals.

“The WVSOM Alumni Association is committed to supporting student scholarships,” she said. “This is a great example of how people can come together to secure funding for important initiatives. We loved Pat’s creativity in turning an idea into meaningful student support. Fundraising doesn’t always require someone to personally write a large check — there are many ways individuals can contribute to a successful effort. If you have an idea for supporting WVSOM students, we encourage you to reach out.”