Ruth Gottesman, born in 1930 in the United States, is an educator and philanthropist who drew international attention in 2024 after donating more than one billion dollars to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. The institution is located in the Bronx, one of the city’s most economically challenged boroughs. Her donation was designated to cover tuition for future medical students, removing a major financial barrier to entry.
Part of the funds came from the fortune she inherited from her late husband, David Gottesman, an investor and philanthropist who died in 2022. Over the years, the couple had already supported the college with significant contributions, including a donation exceeding 25 million dollars in 2008. After her husband’s death, Ruth Gottesman assumed control of the assets and decided to direct an unprecedented portion toward the medical school.
Education and lifelong commitment
Ruth Gottesman earned her undergraduate degree at Barnard College and later completed a master’s degree in Education at Columbia University. Much of her professional life was devoted to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she worked at the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center, focusing on children with learning disabilities. Her career reflected a sustained commitment to educational inclusion and developmental support.
Over more than five decades of involvement with the institution, she served in leadership roles, including as chair of the board. Her long tenure allowed her to observe firsthand the financial pressures faced by students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds in the Bronx. Rising tuition costs often discouraged qualified candidates from pursuing medical education.
The historic 2024 donation
In February 2024, Gottesman formally announced the billion-dollar donation. The endowment was structured to ensure that tuition would be free for current and future students. Those already enrolled that academic year were reimbursed for tuition payments and received coverage for subsequent installments.
According to her public statements, the decision was influenced by a note left by her husband encouraging her to use the inherited funds as she deemed appropriate. She chose to invest in the institution to which she had dedicated more than half her life. She declined proposals to rename the college in her honor, emphasizing that the focus should remain on the students and the mission.
Philanthropy as family legacy
Gottesman’s philanthropic outlook has roots in her family background. Her parents were active in charitable initiatives within the Jewish community. Her mother, Eleanor Levy, was involved in social work and supported housing initiatives for Jewish children and refugees, as well as educational assistance programs. The family also contributed to scholarship efforts that expanded access to higher education.
Throughout their 72-year marriage, Ruth and David Gottesman supported numerous educational and medical institutions. Financial reports have documented hundreds of millions of dollars in cumulative charitable contributions over the decades.
Impact and broader significance
The 2024 gift represents one of the largest donations ever made to a medical school in the United States. By eliminating tuition, the initiative seeks to reduce student debt burdens and potentially encourage graduates to pursue careers in primary care and underserved communities.
Now in her nineties, Ruth Gottesman remains closely associated with the institution. Her philanthropy reflects a consistent principle: that wealth should be directed toward expanding opportunity, particularly in education and healthcare. Through this decision, she reshaped access to medical training in one of New York’s most vulnerable communities.
