LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) Alumni Association is hosting a raffle to raise funds for a scholarship named for two of the school’s former faculty members. The Drs. John and Nancy Chambers Memorial Scholarship is given to students with a strong academic performance who intend to practice medicine in an underserved community.
John Chambers, Ph.D., was a WVSOM pharmacology professor who retired in 1997. Pat Bauserman, an honorary member of the WVSOM Alumni Association and WVSOM retiree, organized the raffle and donated a wormy chestnut box handcrafted by Chambers as part of the prize.
The prize also includes a resort stay in the Caribbean island of Antigua; one share of stock in Jack Daniel’s; six Jack Daniel’s glasses; beard wash; a canvas print of a photo of trees by Bauserman; a wooden bowl handcrafted by Dr. George Boxwell; a wooden platter handcrafted by Dr. Mike Cope; an engraved brick in WVSOM’s Alumni Brick Walk; a WVSOM apron; WVSOM grill utensils with case and seasoning bottles; a $100 gift certificate for any restaurant; a $100 gift certificate for the WVSOM Campus Store; a WVSOM stainless steel tumbler; and a pot of pennies.
Bauserman, who retired from WVSOM in 2023, said she wanted to give back to the school by supporting its students.
“Being named an honorary alumni was the greatest recognition I ever received at the school,” she said. “I feel that designation comes with an obligation to support the WVSOM Alumni Association. I’m starting small, with a fundraiser recognizing an esteemed past faculty member.”
She recalled Chambers as a medical educator who approached teaching with a fierce dedication and was well regarded by his students, whom he regularly invited to an annual pig roast at his farm in Renick, W.Va. As a hobby, he built chests from wormy chestnut, added metal adornments and a padlock, and donated them to WVSOM’s annual staff fundraising auction.
“Dr. Chambers was a real character,” Bauserman said. “I was lucky enough to procure one of his treasure chests, and I’m donating it. I hope this raffle is a fun adventure that helps raise a significant amount of money for the scholarship.”
Raffle tickets cost $50 each and are available on the WVSOM Alumni Association’s webpage at wvsom.edu/alumni#raffle or by calling 304-647-6373. A winner will be drawn on March 17.
