ROANOKE, Va.–Member One, a division of Virginia Credit Union, said it will contribute a total of $50,000 over the next five years to support the Henrietta Lacks Excellence in Medicine Scholarship at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. 

The scholarship provides financial assistance for Carilion School of Medicine students who are members of an underrepresented population in the medical field.

The scholarship honors Henrietta Lacks, an African-American and Roanoke native, who was diagnosed and treated for cervical cancer in Baltimore. Ultimately, her cancer treatments proved unsuccessful, and Lacks died on Oct. 4, 1951, at the age of 31.

Dr. Lee Learman, left, with Tim Rowe of Member One Credit Union.

“However, a sample of her cancer cells shared with researchers has played a significant role in supporting more than seven decades of medical discoveries, from vaccines for polio and COVID-19 to studies of the human genome to treatments for cancer and HIV/AIDS,” the credit union noted. “More than 110,000 scientific publications cited the use of her so-called ‘immortal cells,’ including three instances of Nobel Prize-winning research, according to the National Institutes of Health.”

Proud to Honor

“We proudly honor the contributions of Roanoke native Henrietta Lacks to science and modern medicine,” Member One Market President Tim Rowe said in a statement. “We also recognize that every aspect of medical school is incredibly challenging, and through the support of this scholarship, Member One welcomes the opportunity to ensure the financial demands are less of an obstacle for deserving students at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.”

Added Learman, dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, in a statement, “We are deeply grateful to Member One for the generous gift to the Henrietta Lacks Excellence in Medicine Scholarship. Their support not only honors the legacy of a woman who changed the course of science but also helps empower our medical students to pursue their calling. Gifts like these are critical in allowing future physicians to focus on what matters most — providing compassionate, excellent care to the patients and communities who need them.”

‘Committed to Giving’

Member One said it is committed to charitable giving and community engagement. Last year, the organization donated more than $171,500 to charitable groups, contributed $56,400 to various community organizations, and reached 1,487 individuals through its financial education courses.