Lynne Holden, MD, is a professor of emergency medicine and senior associate dean of community engagement and outreach at Albert Einstein College of Medicine; a cofounder, president emeritus, and board member of Mentoring in Medicine; and a donor and volunteer at WellMet Philanthropy at The New York Community Trust.
“I’ve been a doctor since I was five years old—at least in spirit. TV characters like Marcus Welby, M.D., and Quincy, M.E., captivated me, and I knew early on that medicine was the perfect way to solve problems and uncover mysteries while helping people.
After graduating from medical school, I began my career in emergency medicine at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn and Montefiore in the Bronx. Then life threw me a curveball. Just one week after my husband and I welcomed our baby girl, I experienced heart failure due to postpartum cardiomyopathy. While I recovered, my husband encouraged me to find a way to support others who shared my dream of becoming a doctor. That moment planted the seed for Mentoring in Medicine.
Eighteen years later, Mentoring in Medicine is thriving. We offer year-round programming that supports students from elementary school through medical school. Our initiatives include afterschool programs, summer camps, and health science fairs for grades three through 12, as well as medical school application boot camps, citizen science research projects, and volunteer/shadowing internships for college and post-baccalaureate students. With a strong network of mentors, we’ve helped hundreds of students gain acceptance to U.S. medical schools and launch careers in health and science.
I’m especially proud that Mentoring in Medicine is helping to meet the nation’s health care needs by expanding the pipeline of diverse professionals—people whose lived experiences translate into more compassionate, effective care for all.
Our very first grant came from WellMet Philanthropy, a women’s giving circle housed at The Trust. At the time, Mentoring in Medicine was a fledgling organization, and WellMet’s mission—to seed grassroots projects serving New Yorkers—was a perfect match. Their continued engagement with grantees inspired me to become a member myself. I now enjoy using my nonprofit experience to support others and working alongside the incredible women of WellMet to help small organizations grow and thrive.
It’s been amazing to witness the depth and creativity of work happening across New York—from youth development and environmental safety to arts preservation. I especially look forward to site visits, where you can truly appreciate the impact these groups are making in their communities.
I believe deeply in the power of community. With the right support, we can take risks and explore new possibilities that would be difficult to pursue alone. Our students go on to mentor the next generation, and WellMet connects philanthropists with grassroots organizations that might otherwise go unnoticed. It’s all possible because of the strength of community.
Read about WellMet Philanthropy’s 25 years funding the grassroots.
