The George Washington University has announced a planned $3.5 million gift from alumnus and faculty member Jeffrey S. Akman (MD ’81, RESD ’85) and his husband, Steven Mazzola, in support of student research.

The commitment, which is part of Akman and Mazzola’s estate plan, will support the Akman Innovation Fund, which will provide seed grants and pilot funding to launch student, resident, and faculty projects in the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The fund awarded its inaugural grants this year, with Akman assisting in establishing funding themes as well as reviewing proposals.

Akman is currently interim chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at GW Medical Faculty Associates and an associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences. Akman and Mazzola manage the Bryan J. Akman Scholarship Fund, which was created in 2013 to honor Akman’s late twin brother.

“Our students were generating very exciting ideas and innovative projects, many of which impressed me as having the potential to be developed into something that might be a valuable contribution to medicine and health care,” said Akman. “I thought, why not incentivize innovative thinking and bring together our learners with our great faculty?” 

(Photo credit: George Washington University)