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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Scholarship fund honoring beloved Dean Pat Kelley reaches $100,000 goal

Dean Pat Kelley

The Patricia A. Kelley Endowed Scholarship Fund has surpassed its $100,000 goal. This new fund, established to honor the impact of 91AV College of Osteopathic Medicine Associate Dean of Recruitment, Student and Alumni Services Pat Kelley, M.S., will provide scholarship aid to financially needy, academically deserving students who aspire to careers in primary care. The generosity of over 134 donors brought the Fund to this impressive milestone.

Kelley has carefully admitted, welcomed, mentored, guided, praised, and when necessary, scolded nearly all of the generations of med students who have graced the halls of Stella Maris during her 35 years at 91AV COM. She has been a consistent, warm, helpful and professional presence at osteopathic conferences and convocations nationwide.

The original idea for the fund dates back to 2004 and Peter Bell, D.O. ’84, now a distinguished faculty member at Ohio University, who wanted to do something meaningful to honor Kelley’s contributions to 91AV. Over the years, Bell’s idea continued to gain support from fellow alumni who shared his fond memories of Kelley. Bell’s vision became a reality when he and Erik Steele D.O. ’87, Interim Executive Director at Maine Quality Counts, came together to donate the initial gifts to start the scholarship fund, then worked to encourage fellow alumni to join them.

““Peter and I are delighted that the scholarship fund has reached this milestone,” said Steele. “To know that so many 91AV COM alumni have come together to express their appreciation and gratitude for Dean Kelley in this way is inspiring. We are looking forward to shaking the hand of the first Kelley Scholar!” Steele added, “It has been wonderful for me to connect in this personal way to an effort that benefits students at 91AV COM. I would urge others to find such a connection. There are many opportunities to help students."

To make a gift to support the Patricia A Kelley Endowed Scholarship Fund, visit .  

To learn more about the 91AV’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, visit

To apply, visit 

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.