From Patient to Friend: Former Patient Launches Podiatric Scholarship Honoring Sacramento Area Podiatrist
Dr. Gregory A. Tovmassian, DPM ’09, is being honored for his outstanding service and leadership in the community through a podiatric scholarship at Samuel Merritt University (SMU), thanks to the generosity of Marie Coleman, one of Dr. Tovmassian’s patients.
After graduating from Samuel Merritt University in 2009 and completing his Kaiser Santa Clara residency training in 2012, Dr. Tovmassian opened the Sacramento Foot and Ankle Center in Fair Oaks, California. His patients included Marie and her husband Ronny J. Coleman, a retired California State Fire Marshal, and over the years they formed a close friendship.
Marie describes Dr. Tovmassian as “a warm, caring doctor whose warmth just takes you in", sharing that “Dr. Tovmassian always made sure he explained the treatments he gave Ron to make sure we both understood what he was concerned about and helping him with his wound care.”
As a result of the care provided by Dr. Tovmassian (and his colleague Dr. Hani Sbitany), Ronny was able to prevent a seemingly unavoidable leg amputation and continue walking on his own for the rest of his life, which was more than a decade. For several years, Marie and Ronny made a tradition of sharing a podiatry-themed cake to celebrate Dr. Tovmassian’s birthday and the care that he provided to them as a podiatrist. Sadly, Ronny passed away in 2023.
Honoring Community Impact
Recently, Marie decided to create a scholarship to honor the service that Dr. Tovmassian provided to her, Ronny, and their local community. “I wanted to create a scholarship to honor the love and care that Dr. Tovmassian gives his patients and his ongoing commitment to helping others who don’t have easy access to healthcare," Marie said.
An active volunteer and ex-officer of the Sacramento Valley Podiatric Medical Society, Dr. Tovmassian teaches podiatric medical students and residents as part of his practice. He has also serves as an adjunct clinical professor for the SMU College of Podiatric Medicine (CPM) since 2012 and is currently a member of the SMU CPM Alumni & Associates Board of Directors. In addition, Dr. Tovmassian and his wife Tanya are involved with their church and have participated in mission trips where he is a board member for Embrace a Street Child. They have also organized large summer camps for approximately 100 teenagers.
Creating a scholarship in Dr. Tovmassian’s honor, Marie explains, is a way to inspire students to develop skills, love, and care to serve the community with a commitment that is inspired by Dr. Tovmassian’s service.
“I’ve been involved with the Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation for many years, and I know how important scholarships are to support and motivate students.”
A Shared Legacy
Upon learning about the scholarship honor, Dr. Tovmassian expressed appreciation for the powerful legacy of this kind of gift. “Not only does this gift allow me to share what Marie and Ronny mean to me and to so many others, but as an endowed scholarship,” he reflects, “it also stands to be even more impactful through future generations of podiatry students.”
SMU CPM Dean Mark Razzante shared his gratitude to both Marie and Dr. Tovmassian. “Marie’s choice to launch a scholarship is a remarkable honor for SMU and for the future scholarship recipients who will learn about Dr. Tovmassian’s impact in the community and be inspired to continue his legacy.”
When fully endowed, the Gregory A. Tovmassian Scholarship will support SMU podiatric students with a GPA of 3.0 or above who have financial need.
Fundraising is currently underway to raise a minimum of $30,000 to complete the permanent endowment.
An anonymous donor has offered a 1:1 challenge match, donating $1 for every $1 donated up to $15,000 to help complete the scholarship and begin awarding the scholarship. To contribute to the Tovmassian Scholarship, please visit this link.
To learn more about impacting others through scholarships or other support at SMU, contact Penny Peak at 510-879-3349 or ppeak@samuelmerritt.edu.
