WesternU College of Dental Medicine honors GBC International Bank Foundation for supporting scholarships

Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Dental Medicine (CDM) installed a Foundation Stone in its Giving Tree in recognition of GBC International Bank Foundation supporting CDM student scholarships. The installation took place when GBC International Bank VP/Treasury and Deposit Services Manager Angel Leung and HR Manager Hernan Amaya visited the WesternU California campus on April 1, 2026.

The Foundation Stones at the bottom of the Giving Tree represent major gifts to CDM student scholarships.

GBC International Bank Foundation has committed to the College of Dental Medicine 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 CDM curriculum for third- and fourth-year CDM students. Some students go as far as Bakersfield and Sacramento 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 CDM Dean Elizabeth Andrews, DDS, MS. “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 Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer Calvin Lam joined the CDM Dean’s Advisory Council. 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 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,” Leung said.

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

“Our values in terms of growth and education are intertwined with what we want to do,” Amaya said. “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,” Amaya said.