Christopher Nein will get his medical degree in May 2016, thanks to three consecutive grants from the Matthew Debono Memorial Scholarship Fund. The grants may have paid his way through Eastern Virginia Medical School, but Chris would never have made it college without the bone marrow transplant he got from his brother when he was two. Chris was able to defeat aplastic anemia and regain a normal childhood. Now he is realizing his goal of working in family and community medicine.
The memories of his own struggle to survive have left an indelible mark on Chris. “I honestly believe that every person goes through certain trials that strengthen them and build within them a resolve to make a real difference,” said the Chesapeake, Virginia native. “My medical training has really helped me grow and now I’m passionate about helping children going through disorders like the one I overcame.”