Sixty-four men and women are in the FAU College of Medicine’s inaugural class — and now they’re receiving $750,000 worth of opportunities.

On Nov. 1, The Quantum Foundation of West Palm Beach gave FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine the grant money to fund their graduate medical program, health center research, service partnerships and a health-care career outreach program, according to the press release by FAU.

“I think it’s a great thing,” said Juliet Meir, one of the first-year medical students. “[The money] is giving us more freedom and opportunities in the program.”

In 2004, FAU partnered up with the University of Miami to create a two year regional medical program on the Boca campus, which was lengthened to a four year program in 2005. It wasn’t until this fall that the College of Medicine could open its doors as FAU’s public medical school.

FAU President Mary Jane Saunders said, “The Quantum Foundation has provided a tremendous amount of support to FAU over the years, and we truly appreciate this contribution to our new medical school.”

The Foundation is a program based on the idea that anyone living in Palm Beach County – despite their income or background – can have the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

“Our mission is to improve health care access, science and health education, and to enhance the health care workforce in our community,” said Quantum Foundation President Kerry Diaz. “So this grant aligns with our efforts in each of these areas.”

This isn’t the first time a FAU college has received grant money on behalf of the Foundation.

In the summer of 2006, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing received $500,000 to fund a new Ph.D program for students wanting to become nurse educators.

Then, in the winter of 2009, the College of Education received a $100,000 grant to support the Florida Institute for the Advancement of Teaching (FIAT), a program that creates and prepares teachers for Florida schools.

Earlier this semester, the College of Medicine held a ceremony for the 64 new med students. There, they received their white coats, symbolically confirming their commitment to the field of medicine.

To learn more about the new Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, go to med.fau.edu.