Rob Giardinelli
SPONSORED BY ST. DAVID’S FOUNDATION
Curated Texan recently visited with Edward Burger, Ph.D., President and CEO of St. David’s Foundation, to learn more about how the organization is making an impact in the Austin and Texas healthcare community.
Photography courtesy of St. David’s Foundation
- Tell us about the St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship Program.
The St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship Program is one of the largest health-focused scholarships in the country. The distinctive program offers students a holistic support structure that includes mentorship from a professional in the field, along with vital supports such as tutoring, counseling, and a strong peer community to propel their academic journey. High school seniors in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties who plan to attend college in Texas and hope to pursue a healthcare career are encouraged to apply. Scholars selected for the program receive $7,500 annually for up to eight years of higher education as they pursue their healthcare-related studies. Launched in 2005 in honor of Dr. Neal Kocurek, the founding CEO of St. David’s Foundation, the program celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. We are proud of the lasting impact this initiative has had on healthcare education and the future leaders of the field.
- Can you share more about the impact of the program?
For two decades, this program has helped launch the next generation of healthcare professionals, granting over 800 transformative scholarships and ensuring our region has the skilled workforce needed to make Central Texas a healthier place for all. Our scholars tell us that our program’s mentorship, mental health resources, and tutoring have been highly impactful in achieving their academic goals. Such resources are particularly helpful to those students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. I am proud to share that 31% are first-generation college students.
- The Scholarship Program is funded through the Toast of the Town events series. Anticipated each year, why are these events so successful?
The concept of Toast of the Town is truly unique and built on a model that speaks from the heart—opening one’s home to host intimate gatherings. The parties and programming change every year, offering something special for every taste and interest. Part of the secret to Toast’s ongoing success is that it continues to evolve right along with Central Texas and is championed by an outstanding group of committed chairs and volunteers. The 2025 co-chairs, Felicia Hester and Araminta Sellers, are well underway in curating an extraordinary series of events for this spring. You can visit www.toastaustin.org to learn about this year’s event.
Elizabeth Yoo and Ryan Leung
- Tell us more about the mentorship element of the program and how it benefits students pursuing an education in health-related fields.
Our scholarship program is truly transformational in nature. Many of our students are the first in their families to attend college, so our scholarship community provides academic and emotional support in addition to financial assistance. Each scholar is also matched with a healthcare professional who mentors them for a minimum of four years. The guidance of these mentors is vital to encouraging our scholars along their unique journeys and has become a key distinguishing element of our program’s success.
- Can you tell us about St. David’s Foundation and the organization’s vision for our Central Texas community?
St. David’s Foundation is a community-focused and equity-driven organization supporting health and wellness in five Central Texas counties – Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson. We are proud to be one of the largest health foundations in the United States, and we fund more than $80 million in grants annually. Our construct is unique – we partner with St. David’s HealthCare, where proceeds from the hospital system are reinvested back into the community to advance health equity and improve the health and well-being of our most under-resourced Central Texas neighbors. We also operate the largest mobile dental program providing charity care in the country. We encourage our community to learn more about work at StDavidsFoundation.org.
