The parents of a 2026 Campbell University medical school graduate are funding a new $250,000 scholarship for med students who demonstrate financial need as well those who have shown academic excellence, along with compassion and moral character.
Drs. Naomi Kagetsu and Tim Bukowski, parents of Dr. William Kagetsu Bukowski, created the Bukowski/Kagetsu Family Osteopathic Medicine Endowed Scholarship Fund “for the study of medicine at Campbell, encouraging students to develop relationship building skills.”
Kagetsu is a retired dermatologist, and Bukowski is a urologist practicing in Wake County. Their son, an Air Force captain, will serve his residency in general surgery at Corewell Health-Dearborn & Trenton in Michigan.
William is one of four children, including a brother who is an Air Force lieutenant colonel and C-17 pilot in Hawaii, a sister who is a physician assistant in Denver, and the youngest, a brother who recently finished his Ph.D. in aeronautical engineering at Notre Dame.
The scholarship also aims to help med students become leaders in developing relationships through community involvement, such as extracurricular clubs or global health initiatives, which are important components of the student experience at the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM).
“We have been really pleased with Campbell, with the education that I’ve seen the (students) get there,” said Dr. Tim Bukowski, who has helped play host to Campbell students who have done clinical rotations in urology at WakeMed.
“We see a number of the students come through here, and I’ve been really pleased with how engaged they are, how well prepared they’ve been coming in, especially into urology,” he said.
His son, Dr. William Kagetsu Bukowski, rotated with WakeMed urologists in his fourth year as a med student. “I know my colleagues, when he rotated here, really enjoyed working with him, and felt that he was well prepared. So that was good to hear, as well.
“I wanted to support the school. I think it really provides a good education and it fills a need for the community. So, if my wife and I can support the students in any way, then we feel happy to do that.”
Though Drs. Tim Bukowski and Naomi Jayne Kagetsu are allopathic physicians, they have long been impressed by the osteopathic physicians they’ve known and worked with through the years. They, too, are impressed with the osteopathic philosophy of treating mind, body and spirit, as well CUSOM’s focus on teaching, and how well osteopathic schools train students toward becoming physicians.
Dr. Tim Bukowski said the family also admires Campbell for its mission — serving the underserved, often in rural areas.
“It’s about community,” he said, “and I think there’s a huge need for that all over the United States. I’m just really thankful for Campbell. … I do think it’s a great school.”
Dr. David Tolentino, dean of the med school, said, “We are deeply grateful to the entire Bukowski/Kagetsu family for their extraordinary generosity and investment in the future of osteopathic medical education at CUSOM. Their decision to entrust Campbell University with their son’s medical education speaks volumes about their belief in our mission and the education our students receive here. We are incredibly proud of Dr. William Kagetsu Bukowski as he begins the next chapter of his journey serving our nation through his residency training in the United States Air Force. His commitment to service reflects the very values of leadership, compassion, discipline and community that this scholarship was designed to support.
“This endowed scholarship not only provides meaningful support for students with financial need but also recognizes the importance of academic excellence, moral character, compassion, and relationship-centered leadership,” Tolentino said. “The Bukowski/Kagetsu family’s generosity reflects many of the values we strive to instill in our students each day — service, community engagement and caring for the whole person. We are especially thankful for the trust they have placed in our mission and for the many ways they have already supported our students through clinical education and mentorship. Their generosity will leave a lasting impact on future generations of osteopathic physicians who will go on to serve communities and patients in great need.”