A generous gift from the late Marjorie “Marj” E. Belknap ’47 will provide scholarships to help students gain access to Pomona’s transformational education.
During the early 1950s, few women studied medicine and became doctors, but that didn’t stop Marjorie “Marj” E. Belknap ’47.
The only woman to graduate from her class at Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr. Belknap went on to become one of the first women to establish a medical practice in Marin County, California. Throughout her lifetime, Belknap often credited Pomona College with launching her trailblazing career as a physician.
Now, a generous gift from Dr. Belknap, who lived to the age of 98, will help advance the career aspirations of future Sagehens. A dedicated supporter of Pomona since 1979, Dr. Belknap’s final gift to the College — a bequest of $8.6 million — will provide scholarships to help the most talented students from around the world gain access to a transformative education in the liberal arts.
“Pomona is honored to receive Marjorie’s meaningful gift in remembrance of her experience at the College,” says President G. Gabrielle Starr. “Her thoughtful generosity will open Pomona’s doors even wider and create opportunities for our students today and tomorrow.”
Dr. Belknap lived in San Dimas, California, with her parents and sister, Jean Belknap Rodgers ’49, before enrolling at Pomona during World War II. She recalled that the campus seemed more like a women’s college during that time since most male students were serving overseas.
Upon entering the College Gates, Dr. Belknap focused on pre-medical studies and majored in biology. She excelled in her courses and set her sights on attending medical school after graduating from Pomona.
The opportunity to study medicine was extremely rare for women in the late 1940s. But a partnership with the Stanford University School of Medicine guaranteed Pomona graduates, regardless of gender, admission to the program with a faculty recommendation.
After graduating from Stanford in 1950, Dr. Belknap eventually became chief resident of internal medicine at Stanford University Hospital in San Francisco — which, at the time, didn’t have sleeping accommodations for female physicians. Dr. Belknap later joined the staff of Ross Hospital in suburban San Francisco and worked for the Marin County Health Department. In 1956, she established her private practice in San Rafael, California — one of the first women in the county to do so — caring for countless patients for more than 40 years.
Throughout her decades practicing medicine, Dr. Belknap focused on meeting the needs of older adults, including long-term care and the socioeconomics of aging. While she retired from practicing medicine in 1993, she continued advocating for aging adults and quality medical care by leading many nonprofit boards in Marin County, including the Babcock Foundation, which helped individuals without insurance cover medical costs, and Senior Access, the county’s adult day service program for individuals living with dementia.
Dr. Belknap passionately served the Marin community with her professional and civic leadership for more than 60 years. In 2014, the Marin County Board of Supervisors publicly honored her multiple decades of service to Senior Access and the community.
“As Dr. Belknap’s success illustrates, the College has long provided a solid foundation for students to succeed in becoming physicians through its liberal arts education, access to science research experience and supportive faculty,” says Pomona’s Director of Prehealth Advising Katrina Keil. “We’re privileged to support students who are pursuing health care careers, and we carry Dr. Belknap’s legacy as an inspiration.”
Visit our website to learn more about creating your legacy at Pomona College.