Donors making a difference: The Velma and George Wright Scholarship
For Nate Visser, a student at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Regional Campus at the University of Prince Edward Island, the path to pursuing a medical degree is deeply personal.
Visser, Class of 2029, and his wife, Keirstin, are parents to five-year-old Emmett, who was born with two rare genetic conditions affecting his development, communication, and health. After being told Emmett would likely be wheelchair-bound, the family sought treatment outside Canada. They travel to Texas every few months for specialized treatment at a cost of approximately $60,000 a year. The treatment has drastically improved his mobility as he now uses a walker and will start kindergarten in the fall of 2026.
Their experience inspired Visser to seek better solutions on Prince Edward Island for families like his. A Charlottetown native now living in Victoria-by-the-Sea, he is pursuing his Doctor of Medicine at Memorial’s PEI Campus with plans for a career in rural primary care.
“My father-in-law once told me, ‘If you have the skills, you serve the community,’ and I took that statement to heart,” Visser said.
He has demonstrated that commitment through volunteer work with the Crapaud Fire Department and Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, as well as 15 years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces and 10 years as a paramedic.
Thanks to the inaugural George and Velma Wright Scholarship, Visser can continue pursuing his dreams while supporting his family and maintaining Emmett’s specialized treatment.
“The support from the Soto-Wright family through this scholarship has not only helped us financially while we are taking care of our son’s special needs,” Visser said, “but it also empowers me to want to drive change within our province when I get to practice medicine so that other families do not have to fight as hard as we have.”
Established through the generosity of the Soto-Wright family, the scholarship honours Velma and George Wright’s commitment to family, community, and education. It supports a medical student with an interest in healthcare leadership who plans to practise in Prince Edward Island after graduation.
For Valena Wright, daughter of Velma and George, seeing the scholarship reach a student so committed to family, service, and improving care on the Island makes her parents’ legacy especially meaningful.
“It is profoundly gratifying,” said Wright, “to know this scholarship has been awarded to such a deserving student whose commitment to family and resolve to succeed are unmistakable.”
The Wrights’ generosity is helping Nate to continue to support Emmett while he pursues his dream of becoming a physician and contributes to a healthier PEI for generations to come.
For more information about supporting medical learners, please contact the Department of Development and Alumni Engagement:
Kathy Weatherbie
Senior Development and Donor Relations Officer
krweatherbie@upei.ca
902-894-2865
