A student studying medicine who comes from a modest background and is motivated by their time in communities that lack adequate resources to bring about change.
They continue to achieve success in their profession, assisting numerous patients throughout a long career.
That is the tale of Reading native Dr. James Edinger and his wife, Gail Lott.
And it will soon be the legacy of a new generation of future medical professionals who can attend school, thanks in part to a donation from Edinger and Lott.
The couple recently contacted the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) Carolinas location with an unusual proposal.
They donated the medical school in Spartanburg, S.C., their entire Hilton Head beach house, including a set of bronze sculptures and Asian rugs.
The residence of local resident Dr. James Edinger and his wife, Gail Lott, located in the Port Royal area of Hilton Head, is adorned with bronze sculptures and Asian carpets. (Courtesy of VCOM)
The contribution is estimated to be approximately $8 million, as stated by VCOM officials.
Helping others has been a part of my husband and me since our parents taught us that value,” Lott stated. “Jim and I have received so much, and we feel strongly about giving back while we’re still alive.
VCOM’s goal is to train students who will later work in rural and underprivileged medical regions.
The biggest donation in the college’s history, according to VCOM officials, comes from Edinger and Lott.
This present is beyond just a monetary donation,” said Dr. Matthew Cannon, dean of VCOM-Carolinas, in a statement. “It represents a significant commitment to our medical students, to our alumni who provide medical care in South Carolina, and to enhancing healthcare availability throughout the state.
The property and its contents will be sold to create a trio of funds, VCOM stated, each named in tribute to Edinger and Lott.
The residence of Dr. James Edinger and his wife, Gail Lott, located in the Port Royal area of Hilton Head, will be sold to create three funds for VCOM. (Courtesy of VCOM)
The first option is a financial aid fund that provides four scholarships annually, based on financial need, to students from South Carolina who plan to work in medicine within rural and under-resourced areas of the state.
A second fund will cover continuous maintenance expenses and be utilized to enhance the appearance of the grounds at VCOM-Carolinas.
Finally, a nutritional endowment fund will offer yearly funding for nutrition education within initiatives at VCOM-Carolinas, along with backing research and programs aimed at tackling public health issues such as obesity and diabetes.
“They (the new programs) will instruct doctors on what constitutes a healthier diet and which foods to include in your meals,” Lott stated.
The donation also prompted the college to rename its 70,000-square-foot primary building the G. Gail Lott, MEd, and James R. Edinger, DO Educational Building.
“Your names will always be part of the medical school’s identity — on the building that carries your names, in the lives of students who might not have had a chance to pursue a medical degree, and in the many patients who will eventually be treated by doctors educated here,” said Dr. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, president of VCOM, in a statement.
Path to South Carolina
Edinger mentioned that he spent a significant portion of his childhood in Muhlenberg Township.
He worked as a lifeguard (in Reading) and used to cut grass,” Lott said about Edinger. “When they asked him which days he wanted off, he would say, ‘I’ll take off when it rains,’ because no one would be at the pool. He has always worked hard and saved money, and tried to spend it carefully.
He earned his degree from Albright College prior to enrolling in medical school at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by a four-year residency at Duke University Medical Center, where he became the first osteopathic physician to receive training there.
On my first day of medical school, I was amazed; they discussed the femur and then the next slide showed it fractured,” Edinger recalled, remembering his enthusiasm for the learning process. “From the very beginning, I knew I wanted to specialize in radiology.
Confronted by a challenging job market, Edinger relocated to South Carolina, working as a diagnostic radiologist at Orangeburg Regional Hospital from 1981 to 1998.
A large hospital with 286 beds,” Edinger remarked. “It was newly built, featuring all private rooms. I really enjoyed the practice.
Edinger also spent a decade on the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners prior to retiring in order to look after his sick mother.
He mentioned that he managed to save money by residing in the Orangeburg region.
This was a small, impoverished town,” Edinger remarked. “There was nowhere to spend any money. So I didn’t.
Lott mentioned that she was raised in the small town of Blackville, S.C., which is comparable in size.
She encountered Edinger throughout her 40-year professional journey at Orangeburg Hospital, where she held the position of supervisor for the blood bank, donor center, and transfusion services.
A spacious beachfront residence located within the exclusive Port Royal neighborhood of Hilton Head is surrounded by palm trees, art installations, and features a pool adorned with columns inspired by Greco-Roman architecture.
Dr. James Edinger and his wife, Gail Lott, mention that their residence in Hilton Head is the result of years of careful financial planning. (Courtesy of VCOM)
Wise saving
The luxury of the property contrasts with the couple’s economical habits — regarding regular expenses, Edinger mentioned that he and Lott always strive to make thoughtful spending choices.
“We only purchase inexpensive items that are on sale or past their expiration date…we’re a bit eccentric,” Edinger said with a laugh.
The couple mentioned that their economical practices, along with the increasing worth of property and other investments, allowed them to accumulate a significant amount of savings.
We don’t have any children and we have a beautiful house,” Edinger stated. “We weren’t exactly sure what to do with it. So we decided to give it away.
Lott mentioned that they decided to contribute to VCOM following their collaboration with several students from Orangeburg and gaining a deeper understanding of the college and its objectives.
I just feel that someone in these rural parts of South Carolina has a desire to become a doctor, and if we provide them with the chance,” Lott said. “Many doctors prefer to work in large cities. So perhaps if we encourage people from rural areas, they might return to their hometowns.
She mentioned that she hopes their contribution will encourage others to donate.
“Whether it’s time or a small amount of money, treat someone to lunch, simply do something for each other,” Lott stated.
The couple’s generosity also reaches back to the Reading area — they have also created a scholarship fund for medical students connected to Park Road Presbyterian Church in Wyomissing.
Lott mentioned that she and Edinger take the trip to Reading from time to time to see friends, eat at diners, and stop by Boscov’s as well as the Fairgrounds Farmer’s Market.
Edinger observed that the couple is residing in their home located in Orangeburg, but they also intend to give away this property, potentially to Claflin University, a historically Black liberal arts college.
After that, I plan to relocate to the Rocky Mountains,” Edinger mentioned. “Montana or Wyoming. I’m fed up with the humidity around here.
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