By Jeff Wilson
Dr. Randolph Burnside’s decision to give to MEDPREP at Southern Illinois University was driven by love – love for education, love for the program, and mostly love for his sister.
LaKeisha Teneka Brantley passed away suddenly in 2023 from a blood clot that traveled to her heart. She was only 42 years old.
“It hit me hard. She was a special person, the nicest person you would ever want to meet. She was such a joy, gentle spirit and a sweet person,” Burnside, the director of MEDPREP, said. “She lived in rural Mississippi, probably 30 to 40 minutes from the hospital and didn’t have great health care.”
That was the inspiration for he and his wife, Rhetta, to establish the LaKeisha Burnside Brantley Scholarship to support MEDPREP students who are interested in rural medicine.
MEDPREP, the Medical/Dental Education Preparatory Program, is a nationally renowned post-baccalaureate academic enhancement program through the SIU School of Medicine. The program provides assistance to educationally and/or economically disadvantaged students to prepare them for health professions. It is located on the SIU Carbondale campus.
“SIU School of Medicine is really a rural medical school,” Burnside said. “We wanted to create a scholarship that gives back to students who come to SIU and are truly interested and invested in improving rural health care.”
Providing access to education is paramount for Burnside as he sees the impact it has every day.
“Education has played a key role in my career and allowed me to help other people achieve their dreams” he said. “It has given me a much better lifestyle than a lot of people that I grew up with. It has allowed me to give back and continue to help other people who find themselves in a situation where education can be a great value to them. I can help mentor and guide them through the process so they can have the success they seek.”
As is the case with many donors, Burnside started giving at a smaller level. Once he saw the fruits of his generosity, he knew he wanted to leave his mark at Southern.
“I started by giving $50 a year and then it went to $100 and then $200,” he said. “I decided to consolidate all of my giving. SIU is where I wanted to give. SIU is where I wanted to have my impact and have my legacy live after me. It’s not the amount that you give, it’s the fact that you give at all that matters. It shows the love and the care and the respect that you have for the very program that you used as a vehicle to your success.”
To make a gift to MEDPREP or another program, vist siuf.org/give.