Dear Christine and Dave,

I'm pleased to share an update on the Christine and Dave Ament HMS Student Experience Fund, which continues to make a profound and tangible difference in the lives of Harvard Medical School students. 

Over the past year, the Office of Student Affairs has used the Ament Fund strategically and proactively to address students’ core needs across four key areas: food access, mental health subsidies, transportation to clinical sites, and community‑building initiatives. Together, these efforts illustrate how the Ament Fund is making an impact on the everyday lives and experiences of HMS students.

This integrated portfolio of support reflects a clear vision: medical students thrive when they have reliable access to basic physical, mental, and emotional needs, as well as when they belong to a community that values balance, connection, and resilience. Through the Ament Fund, HMS is increasingly able to realize this vision, and students are better positioned to advance in their training, grow as professionals, and care for patients with confidence, empathy, and resilience.

Thank you for making this work possible and for your steadfast commitment to Harvard Medical School students. Your investment is changing lives today and nurturing the next generation of physician leaders. 

With gratitude,

August 3, 2026

The Ament Fund also plays a pivotal role in expanding direct financial assistance for mental health care, recognizing that out‑of‑pocket costs can substantially hinder access even when services are available. Through the Office of Student Affairs’ mental health subsidy program, students apply for reimbursement for expenses such as therapy, psychiatry visits, and eligible workshops to access and sustain the care they need.

Many students report that, while they may have access to therapists, weekly co-pays add up quickly and can make ongoing treatment a financial impossibility. This subsidy program has been described as a “game changer” for students who need regular mental health services while balancing multiple financial pressures; the Ament Fund subsidized mental health resources for more than 65 students in the past academic year.

Historically, the program offered up to $500 per student for each academic year. In response to strong student demand and clear feedback about ongoing need—and thanks to the support of the Ament Fund—HMS has doubled the reimbursement cap to $1,000 per academic year.

The Ament Fund also helps to address the practical challenges of traveling to clinical sites across the greater Boston area. Even in a city with extensive public transportation, time, cost, and logistics can pose significant barriers for medical students. Although many clinical sites are technically accessible by bus or train, multi-leg commutes can be difficult to manage within narrow windows between obligations, especially for rotations located outside the Longwood Medical Area and in community health settings.

To help mitigate these pressures, the fund provides transportation assistance to students placed at more remote or hard-to-reach clinical sites. This targeted support helps offset expenses such as additional transit fares or other transportation costs that would otherwise fall entirely on students. By reducing the financial and logistical burdens of travel, the Ament Fund enables students to take full advantage of the breadth of clinical experiences HMS offers, rather than being constrained by how they will get to clinical sites.

This support is especially important for students who do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation, as well as those juggling complex schedules that leave little room for lengthy commutes. The transportation assistance funded by the Ament Fund is not simply a convenience; it is a key mechanism for maintaining equitable access to clinical education across the student body and for supporting learners as they move between the classroom and the bedside.