Dr. John Kuiper has been a friend to Weill Cornell since his first days as a medical student in 1957. A member of the esteemed alumni Dean’s Circle, Dr. Kuiper has given generously to the Medical College for many years. In 2012, to bolster his support to the institution that sparked his career, Dr. Kuiper endowed the John J. Kuiper Professorship of Medicine in the Weill Department of Medicine. Recently, he established the John J. Kuiper Scholarship through a strategic combination of planned giving vehicles. The Kuiper scholarship will help students who seek to pursue careers in general internal medicine, family practice and geriatrics. Dr. Kuiper practiced internal medicine and nephrology in Los Angeles for three decades, and was a member of the clinical faculty in the Department of Medicine at UCLA between 1970 and 2012.
Dr. Kuiper recently spoke with Larry Schafer, Vice Provost for External Affairs, about his time at Weill Cornell and his commitment to supporting future primary care physicians.
LS: Thank you, again, for your generosity and for taking the time to speak with me today. It is always a pleasure to spend time with one of our alumni. Can you tell me a little bit about your experience as a student at the Medical College?
JK: Weill Cornell provided me with an exceptional medical education in a most collegial and congenial setting. In addition to providing an excellent grounding in the basic sciences, over four years I found that I greatly enjoyed interacting with and caring for patients, particularly in general internal medicine.
LS: In addition to internal medicine, you also specialize in nephrology. How did you decide to specialize in that area?
JK: As a medical student, I developed an interest in renal disease, nurtured by the preeminent expert in renal physiology, Professor Robert Pitts, and was fortunate to have been able to complete an outstanding elective in acid-base and electrolyte disorders at Memorial Hospital. Weill Cornell set me on the path to a rewarding career in medicine and nephrology.
LS: So – as an expert in the field yourself – why do you think it’s important for more medical students today to pursue careers in primary care?
JK: We have a national shortage of primary care physicians – the specialists who play the predominate role in the care of residents of countries scoring the highest in measures of health and wellbeing. There have been studies in the United States that have also documented superior outcomes, higher levels of satisfaction with care, and generally lower overall costs for patients whose care is managed by primary care specialists.
LS: Is that what motivated you to create the John J. Kuiper scholarship?
JK: Yes – my hope is that Weill Cornell students who are attracted to careers in primary care, but hesitate because of lower compensation when initiating their practices, may now be able to pursue their aspirations if they graduate with minimal debt.
LS: We recently launched the Weill Cornell Campaign for Education – with a large focus on increasing our scholarship endowment. What would you say to our friends out there who are considering contributing to a scholarship at Weill Cornell?
JK: Contributing to this campaign would be an excellent way for physicians and surgeons to express appreciation for their medical education, and for friends of Weill Cornell to support the high caliber of practicing graduates at the Medical College. I know of classmates who would like to contribute to their alma mater, but hesitate because the summay seem small. It is important to recognize that many seemingly small contributions can be as powerful as one large one.
LS: You have generously supported each of the educational institutions that you attended. What is it about supporting your alma mater that inspires you?
JK: I think it is important to show your appreciation to the people and places that have had a significant impact on your life and career. As a longtime teacher, I have always valued education and the influence that it has in shaping the next generation. Although salaried throughout my career, I was fortunate to have made some wise investments that now allow me to contribute in this way.
