Pamela Frid’s legacy lives on through a million-dollar bursary ing women entering Queen’s School of Medicine in need.
The Pamela Frid Memorial Bursary was announced on May 7, following the ing of Queen’s School of Medicine alumna Frid, MD ’82, in 2024. The bursary, which was created through an endowed gift from Frid’s estate that’s worth one million dollars, aims to provide financial aid to incoming medical students in need, particularly those who identify as women.
Frid first stepped onto campus in ’76 for the Life Sciences program, then went on to attend the Queen’s School of Medicine in ’78. During her time as a Gael, Frid was a member of the Queen’s Bands for five years. She went on to complete her residency in pediatrics at McMaster Children’s Hospital, then underwent a fellowship at Chedoke Hospital in Hamilton.
Following her academic career, Frid was appointed as the Medical Director at Thames Valley Children’s Centre while teaching at Western University. During her time as a pediatrician, Frid helped to establish a medical specialty specifically designated to developmental pediatrics.
In a statement to The Journal, Stephen Vanner, interim dean of Health Sciences and director of the School of Medicine, explained that the bursary represents the kind of meaningful that truly changes lives.
“We are deeply grateful to the Frid family for ensuring that Dr. Frid’s legacy lives on through the success of students who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to pursue medicine,” Vanner wrote.
The bursary was organized by Frid’s two younger sisters, Beverly Frid-Burrows, MBA ’84, and Sandra Frid, BEd ’86, who explained in an interview with The Journal that they carried out Frid’s wishes of donating to the University.
“She always wanted to give back,” Frid-Burrows said, elaborating that Frid hoped to give back to medical students in need due to the expenses of attending medical school.
The sisters explained how the bursary is awarded to students who are entering medical school in financial need, renewable for up to four years of study.
At her celebration of life, many women in medicine attended due to their appreciation of her, according to the two sisters.
“There were so many women who came up to us as family to talk to us about things Pam [Frid] did for them,” Frid-Burrows said, noting how many attendees attributed their careers in medicine to Frid’s help and mentorship. “She was such a mentor to younger women in medical school and residency.”
Frid added that she heard directly from patients following her sister’s ing.
“She was a huge advocate for children, for patients, and really went out of her way to make a difference to children’s lives and their families,” she said.
In addition to their donation to the School of Medicine, the sisters are also looking to donate $100,000 to Queen’s Bands in Dr. Frid’s name to help provide new instruments and uniforms.
“She loved Queen’s with every inch of her soul. Queen’s was her happy place,” Frid-Burrows said.
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