The Dr. Inge van Pelt Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia (DNP NA) students to participate in international learning opportunities they would not otherwise be able to afford

Honoring a Legacy of Global, Compassionate Care

The life of Dr. Inge van Pelt, MD has been defined by service, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of others. A dedicated pediatrician, she began her medical training in Germany and completed it at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, building a foundation that blended rigorous clinical excellence with a deeply human approach to care.

Throughout her career, Dr. van Pelt focused her talents on student health and wellness, ultimately serving as Director of Student Health Services at Amherst College. In this role, she was not only a physician, but a trusted advocate for countless students, championing innovation in education and the importance of holistic, compassionate care. Her work as a researcher and expert in the understanding and treatment of headaches reflected her conviction that medicine must address the whole person, not just symptoms.

Dr. van Pelt’s worldview is profoundly shaped by her international experiences. While living with her family in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, she served tirelessly as a medical volunteer in local clinics, offering care where it was most urgently needed. She remains an active supporter of international agencies devoted to the health, education, and wellbeing of children, and a steadfast champion of hands-on engagement in humanitarian work.

Above all, Dr. van Pelt believes in creating globally accessible healthcare, guided by empathy, action, and respect for every community. Her contributions endure in the countless lives she touched, the students she supported, and the enduring example she set of medicine practiced with both skill and heart.