Written by Brian Butler, Vice Chair, UCF Foundation Board
When my family and I established the Dr. Michael B. Butler Endowed Scholarship for students in the UCF College of Medicine, we did so not only to honor my father’s incredible legacy and celebrate his love for medicine but also to assist students who have a passion for service in underrepresented areas — just as he did.
My father grew up in Florida during a tumultuous time in American history. He attended Talladega College in Alabama for his undergraduate degree and Howard University in Washington, D.C for his medical degree. After graduation, he served in the military, did his surgical residency and moved the family to Florida, where he established his medical practice in Parramore. He became involved in various organizations, including the Orange County Medical Society, where he served as its first Black president.
Our family has been connected to UCF for decades. My mother, Marian Jean Butler-Proffitt, had a pioneering role — she worked at FTU in the 1970s and helped develop the university’s medical records administration program; my wife, Cathy, and I made our first donation more than 15 years ago and we are proud UCF parents — our son, Michael James is majoring in business. I also currently serve on the UCF Foundation Board of Directors.
“It is an honor for the College of Medicine to offer the Dr. Michael B. Butler Endowed Scholarship to deserving medical students. Dr. Butler’s extraordinary career in medicine and his exemplary community service is exactly what we are working to instill in our future physicians. His legacy will live on through this scholarship and through the M.D. students whose lives will be forever changed.” — Deborah German, M.D., Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean, UCF College of Medicine
As we have grown to know more about UCF, we have been increasingly excited by the work the university is doing to foster inclusivity and community engagement. We had talked for some time about the best way to honor my father’s memory and established The Dr. Michael B. Butler Endowed Scholarship in the UCF College of Medicine. We look forward to celebrating the successes of current and future student scholarship recipients —our doctors of tomorrow. We especially hope to impart to these students our father’s favorite message: He would often say, “What I had, I spent. What I saved, I lost. What I gave, I have.”
To support students in the UCF College of Medicine through the Dr. Michael B. Butler Endowed Scholarship, please visit foundation.ucf.edu/butler