Nearly 2,000 miles east of Tivoli, the Lynx spirit lives on in Scott Cao. Scott received his bachelor’s degree in biology in 2017 and was the grateful recipient of eight scholarships during his time at CU Denver – many of which have eased the financial burden of medical school.

In 2013, Scott was a curious freshman at CU Denver, torn between economics and healthcare until he made the bold decision to “try something new” and chose anesthesiology. But that crucial decision put him in a precarious position: At the time Scott was studying biology, higher education costs in Colorado were about half the national average, making college unaffordable for many. As an out-of-state student, Scott faced even higher tuition and had to take out student loans to cover it. But not without first taking on another risk.

Already involved in student government and the University Honors and Leadership Program, Scott still had a thirst for adventure and hopes for financial support when he entered the Experiential Learning Center and received a life-changing opportunity: a generous scholarship that put him in touch with “hot spotters” in the healthcare system—patients of lower socioeconomic status who frequently visit the emergency room. Scott was grateful to guide people in need into the healthcare system and help them with housing, medical care, and health insurance. He wrote about his experience in his application to medical school at CU Anschutz, where he was awarded the Justina Ford Scholarship Dedicated to the Underserved, which provides a nearly full scholarship to medical school. Like many other students, such a scholarship enabled Scott to pursue his dream and graduate with little student debt.

The spirit of cooperation

In addition to the scholarships, Scott credits CU Denver’s culture — “the essence of collaboration and the ability to work with people,” as he describes it — with supporting his path that ultimately led him to Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he is currently completing his residency in anesthesiology. “In medicine, we often feel like we’re alone — doctors have to know everything and do everything, which develops a huge ego,” he laughs. “The way we understand the medical profession today means that you work alone with all kinds of people: people with different training, people with different perspectives from different health systems — and ultimately take better care of patients. CU Denver taught me the spirit of collaboration.”

In fact, the spirit of collaboration at CU Denver, whether in easing students’ financial situations or instilling values, was instrumental in Scott’s decision to choose his profession. “People feel like they have to be certain things to be able to pay off their medical loans – I was able to choose what I wanted to do. I didn’t have to consider how much money I would make and how quickly I could pay off my loans,” he explains, adding, “I was able to pick a destination in a city I wanted to go to, and that was Boston.”

Sowing seeds for the future

Today, Scott reflects on his experience at CU Denver with a Greek proverb in mind: “A society becomes great when old men plant trees under whose shade they will never sit.” Scott was among the students who led the effort to build the Lola & Rob Salazar Student Wellness Center at CU Denver. Opened in 2018, this landmark facility in the heart of campus offers students a place to exercise, swim, climb, dance and engage in community activities, among many other activities. Along with the Student Government Association at the time, Scott was a prominent proponent of the center, though he wouldn’t benefit from it until after he graduated. He sees planting such a seed as similar to the impact of scholarships. “I’ve benefited greatly from the scholarships I’ve received, and I want others to have the same experience,” he says.

Scott has just one year of residency left and is on track to become an anesthesiologist in 2025. With that goal now within reach, he thanks those who have supported him along the way. “The scholarships I’ve received have been critical to my development and who I am today,” he says. “Scholarships, regardless of the amount, have sentimental value. It feels good because you’ve accomplished something. You get recognition for what you’ve done.”