Wittman, third from right, with classmates
‘A genuine and gentle young man’
O
ne catalyst for the College of
As remembered in notes displayed overhead
at the memorial service, Wittman was “a funny, out. They organized a memorial fund to help
wellness is a student who never kind man” who was “extremely approachable” the family with expenses. They put together
got to become an M.D. and “made sure classes were filled with smiles, the remarkable memorial service, which ended
laughter and genuine conversation.” He was in the courtyard with people releasing balloons
Matt Wittman died before completing his
second year.
into the air. And they looked out for each other.
He had a reputation for helping classmates
For example, two classmates sent an email
study and boosting their spirits, but in the end offering a way in which stressed-out med
he couldn’t do the same for himself. No one students could find a small silver lining in this
knew that he was quietly, desperately struggling somber news: “We had the idea of wearing
to keep up. mental health awareness pins on our white
“My Matthew took his own life,” father Clay
coats as a way to pay tribute to [Matt’s] life as
Wittman said at the medical school’s February well as to remember his time here,” they wrote.
2017 memorial service. “Since early in high “This can also s