When Dr. William and Mary Feldman created the Feldman Family Medical and Health Professional Scholarship Fund through Tidewater Jewish Foundation, their goal was to unite two lifelong passions, Judaism and medicine, by supporting Jewish students pursuing healthcare careers through Virginia-based institutions.
Beginning this year, the scholarship expands to award two recipients annually, each receiving up to $10,000 per year, renewable for four years. The Feldmans’ generosity continues to strengthen Jewish representation in healthcare and ease the financial burden for students dedicated to serving others.
The 2025 Feldman Scholars, Alexander Mancoll and Avraham (Avi) Farkas, exemplify the compassion, commitment, and community spirit that inspired the scholarship’s creation.
Alexander Mancoll
A Virginia Beach native, Alexander Mancoll is pursuing medicine with a focus on patient-centered care. His experiences within Jewish communities across the country have shaped his approach to healing and service.
“I got to see firsthand just how much of a change these professionals can make in people’s lives,” he says. “Being part of a profession where compassion and understanding are as important as skill is exactly the kind of impact I want to have.”
In addition to his studies, Mancoll serves as president of his school’s Financial Literacy Club, combining his interests in medicine and finance to help future healthcare professionals make informed decisions. The Feldman Scholarship provides him the freedom to pursue his goals with greater focus and purpose.
Avraham “Avi” Farkas
Avraham (Avi) Farkas is an RN student at ECPI University with plans to specialize in pediatric intensive care. A longtime volunteer EMT with Virginia Beach EMS, he brings empathy and calm to even the most difficult moments.
“I want to be the calm presence in other people’s chaos,” he says.
Farkas’s years of Talmudic study honed his analytical skills and deepened his commitment to care for others without judgment. He says he views the scholarship as both an honor and a responsibility, to represent the Jewish community in healthcare and to give back through a life of service.
Continuing the Feldman legacy
Dr. Feldman, who served the Hampton Roads community as a pediatrician for 33 years and on several committees at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters and Eastern Virginia Medical School, established the scholarship with his wife Mary to ensure financial barriers never deter compassionate, capable students from entering the medical field.
To learn more about Alex Mancoll, Avi Farkas, and the Feldman Family Scholarship or to apply, visit www.bit.ly/tjf-feldman or call 757-965-6111.