For Ron and Grace Nichols, supporting future veteran physicians is deeply personal. Longtime Reno residents, the couple established the Nichols Veteran Medical Scholarship at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) to help veteran medical students overcome financial and personal barriers as they pursue careers in medicine and, ultimately, strengthen health care access across Nevada. 

Their commitment to medicine in Nevada is rooted in profound loss. In 1998, the Nichols’ 8-year-old son, Mark Nichols, passed away suddenly from brain cancer. This experience shaped their understanding of how important it is for communities to have physicians and specialists when families need them most. 

At the time, families in Northern Nevada facing serious pediatric illnesses often had to travel to places like Oakland or Sacramento for specialized care. The Nichols have since watched Reno’s medical landscape evolve. They believe sustaining that progress requires continued investment in medical education. 

That belief, paired with their longstanding commitment to philanthropy, inspired the creation of the scholarship. For the Nichols, giving is about directing resources where they can make a meaningful difference. 

“We’ve been fortunate in life,” Grace said. “There’s some aspect of passing that on. We wanted to do it sooner and put it to work sooner in the community.”  

The scholarship specifically supports medical students who served in the military, a focus that reflects Ron’s own experience as a veteran of the U.S. Army. After completing his military service, he remembers feeling behind his peers who had already progressed through college and into their careers. 

That delayed timeline often means veteran cohorts of students face unique challenges. Many are older than their classmates and may already be managing family responsibilities, marriages or children while balancing medical school. 

The Nichols hope the scholarship helps ease some of those pressures, allowing veteran students to focus on completing their education and entering the medical workforce. 

This year’s recipient is third-year medical student and veteran Adam Crabtree, who served in the military as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant.  

“I am truly humbled to receive this support for my medical education,” Crabtree shared. “Financial assistance like the Nichols Family Veteran Medical Student Scholarship provides meaningful relief from those expenses and allows me to devote more of my time and energy to my education, my patients and becoming the best physician I can be.” 

No matter how they served, the Nichols also see veteran students as uniquely valuable students in the classroom and future medical profession. Whether they served as medics, engineers, or in another role, military service develops qualities that translate well into medicine. Ron and Grace believe that veteran representation in medicine is important and worth expanding through this scholarship.  

“The military teaches structure, command and responsibility,” Ron said. “They experience a lot of growth during their time in the service.” 

He believes that experience not only helps veterans become stronger physicians but also enriches the learning environment for their classmates by bringing perspectives shaped by service and real-world problem-solving.  

For Crabtree, the scholarship’s impact extends beyond financial assistance.  

“Veteran-focused opportunities such as this scholarship provide more than financial assistance,” Crabtree explained. “They reinforce that veterans have a place in higher education and medicine, provide a meaningful connection to the veteran community, and support their desire to continue a life of service in a new capacity.” 

The Nichols are looking forward to watching those students grow into physicians and knowing they played even a small role in that journey. 

As Crabtree continues his medical school journey, he hopes to continue advocating for veterans in the medical field. 

“There are still relatively few veterans at UNR Med, and I am the only one who served in the military in my class,” Crabtree shared. “I believe opportunities like this can help demonstrate to other veterans that medical school and higher education are attainable goals — and that their experiences and perspectives are valued within these institutions.” 

Through their generosity, Ron and Grace Nichols are investing in Nevada’s future health care workforce and in the veteran students whose service, resilience and leadership will shape it for years to come. 

“I am excited to continue progressing through the clinical portion of my medical education,” Crabtree said. “I also hope to remain deeply engaged with the veteran community, both locally and beyond.”