Western University of Health Sciences CDM Honors GBC International Bank Foundation for Supporting Scholarships

Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine (WU CDM) installed a foundation stone in the WU CDM Giving Tree in recognition of GBC International Bank Foundation supporting WU CDM student scholarships. The installation took place when Angel Leung, M.B.A., GBC International Bank Vice President/Treasury and Deposit Services Manager, and Hernan Amaya, Human Resources Manager, visited the school’s California campus in April.

The foundation stones at the bottom of the Giving Tree represent major gifts to WU CDM student scholarships.

From left to right: Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine Dean Elizabeth Andrews, D.D.S., M.S., GBC International Bank Vice President/Treasury and Deposit Services Manager Angel Leung, and GBC International Bank Human Resources Manager Hernan Amaya in front of the WU CDM Giving Tree. Photo credit: Jeff Malet, Western University.

GBC International Bank Foundation has committed to the WU CDM Externship Scholarship program in support of students who are assigned to externships at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that serve vulnerable and often rural areas. Seven-week externships are part of the WU CDM curriculum for third- and fourth-year dental students. Some students go as far as Bakersfield, CA, and Sacramento, CA, to complete their externship, and they require additional funding for lodging and food.

“Externship travel scholarships remove a critical barrier for our students, allowing them to pursue hands‑on learning opportunities that broaden their clinical experience and deepen their commitment to serving underserved communities,” said Elizabeth Andrews, D.D.S., M.S., WU CDM Dean. “We are profoundly grateful to the GBC International Bank Foundation for its generosity and vision. Their support empowers future dentists to learn beyond the classroom, explore public‑service–oriented care environments, and return better prepared to improve oral health outcomes wherever they practice.”

The college’s relationship with GBC began when Calvin Lam, GBC Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, joined the WU CDM Dean’s Advisory Council. Mr. Lam has served as a supportive liaison to the bank’s foundation, particularly due to his knowledge of student needs and the gaps in California’s dental workforce.

The scholarship is currently an annual commitment, signaling GBC’s growing interest in supporting underserved communities. For both GBC and WU CDM, the intention is to develop the relationship to continue making a positive impact on the lives of future dental professionals.

“Our CEO is strongly committed to supporting student education,” said Ms. Leung.

GBC International Bank sees shared value in growth and wants to bring happiness to people, said Mr. Amaya.

“Our values in terms of growth and education are intertwined with what we want to do,” said Mr. Amaya. “We want to make sure we are keeping to our roots and reaching all the individuals within our community.”

Helping underrepresented communities ties into GBC’s founding. First established in 1976, GBC International Bank was first founded by local actresses and businesswomen as the First Women’s Bank of California, with a mission to eliminate discrimination on the basis of gender and to support and advance women.

“Financially supporting those who have a lack of access to resources, including financial resources, and a lack of access to opportunity goes back to how we were founded, and to our current values and traditions,” said Mr. Amaya.

Courtesy of Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine