Fifteen years after the passing of Dr. Karl Stockhausen, MD ’08, the Empower Scholarship in his name continues his legacy of tenacity and service to others. Meet three recipients.
Dr. Karl Stockhausen planned to spend his life in service of healing others, especially in developing countries.
After earning his Doctor of Medicine from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), he joined surgical teams providing healthcare in Honduras—twice. He worked for three months in Guatemala, assisting in free healthcare clinics.
At age 24, while in medical school, he was diagnosed with a rare eye disease. At 26 he was diagnosed with cancer. He was a fighter and finished medical school with honors. He was heralded by AUC colleagues who said, “The cancer took his life but did not diminish his indomitable spirit or will to be of service to others.”
That spirit of service lives on in the Dr. Karl Stockhausen Memorial Scholarship. Part of the Empower Scholarship Fund, it was established by his parents and family. The scholarship, which emphasizes overcoming challenges and serving the less fortunate, continues with the support of family and friends who want to honor his legacy. Since its inception, the Empower Scholarship Fund has offered the Dr. Karl Stockhausen Memorial Scholarship to 32 AUC students, awarding $133,500 to deserving students.
Here are the inspiring stories of three recipients of the Dr. Karl Stockhausen Memorial Scholarship.
Calm, Caring, and Compassionate: Dr. Moe Ameri
Dr. Moe Ameri, MD ’21, wants to be a sea of calm and compassion in the chaos of frightening experiences for patients, especially in the ICU where he is a pulmonary critical care fellow at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. In the ICU he makes an impact during critical moments by providing stability and reassurance for patients.
Dr. Ameri’s commitment to the principles of service, compassion, and making a difference in patients’ lives reflect his admiration for Dr. Karl Stockhausen, whose virtues he aims to honor and perpetuate throughout his career.
Giving Back to the Community: Dr. Bryan Stringer
When Dr. Bryan Stringer, MD ’18, reflects on the island environment of St. Maarten, he remembers how AUC fostered a strong sense of community among students. The camaraderie, he recalls, was driven by their shared goal of excelling in medical school and making a difference in patients’ lives.
These ideals became a cornerstone of his journey. At AUC, Dr. Stringer was instrumental in starting and then served as volunteer coordinator of an Alzheimer’s disease support community and in myriad volunteer efforts.
Today, Dr. Stringer is a cardiology fellow and an incoming electrophysiology fellow at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University in Ontario Western University in Canada. He previously worked supporting cancer patients and survivors, inspired by his mother, a 20-year cancer survivor.
Helping People Help People: Dr. David Kenneally
As an attending anesthesiologist in Las Vegas, Dr. David Kenneally, MD ’17, views his medical career as a calling. He often travels throughout Nevada providing inpatient and outpatient anesthesia to expectant mothers in delivery and to patients at a local trauma center. He is also passionate about reaching back to mentor medical students and colleagues.
See Empower Scholarship Fund opportunities for applicants, donors, and volunteers.
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