For Martha Presley Tran, BS’04, MD’10, JD’10, and Danny Tran, BS’04, their recent charitable commitment to Vanderbilt University is a way to extend the opportunities and support they received as Vanderbilt students, creating a clear path for the next generation of medical leaders.  

 “We are incredibly grateful to our family, who made our Vanderbilt experiences possible and are so supportive and loving,” Martha said. “The ability to do something like this has very little to do with us and very much to do with the support we received. This is a way to pay that forward to a community we love; we owe a lot; and we hope to continue to engage.” 

 The Nashville residents established the Presley Tran Family Scholarship, providing financial support to students at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, with a preference for those from the Southeast region of the United States. 

 The Trans’ deep connection to Vanderbilt began as undergraduates and continues decades later, as they introduce their children, Lela (7) and Oliver (10), to the place that has done so much to shape their lives.  

 Originally from western Kentucky, Martha was familiar with the university through family who had attended Vanderbilt. The oldest of eight children, Danny grew up in Louisiana and was drawn to Nashville’s vibrant music scene and the university’s multidisciplinary excellence. With scholarship support, he studied engineering and music. The two met while involved in Original Cast, a musical theater troupe for undergraduates, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.  

 “Vanderbilt offers the opportunity to explore a wide range of interests, which helps build a more holistic person,” Danny said. “Cultural and artistic experiences alongside the academic programs provide a well-rounded education as you begin your career and life.” 

 His role as a software engineer for The Walt Disney Company embodies his own wide-ranging interests, representing the desire to unite technical skill and creativity. Martha, Chief Medical Officer at Alive Hospice and assistant clinical professor of Medicine at VUSM, sees firsthand the results of intentional interdisciplinary focus.  

 “When I started my MD/JD degree program, dual degrees were still unconventional, but now when I teach health policy at the business school (Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management), and in the course of my regular classes at the medical school, we consistently have a solid cohort of MD/MBA students, as well as other combinations,” she said. “Vanderbilt actively seeks ways to integrate across disciplines.” 

 Recognizing the increasing cost of becoming a physician, the Trans are providing scholarship funds to help alleviate financial stress for students motivated to stay in the Southeast to help fill the need for primary and specialty care practitioners. Eligible recipients include those pursuing MDs as well as dual degrees similar to Martha’s.  

“Having both grown up in the South, supporting students with similar backgrounds, encouraging them to practice in the region — those were all real motivators for us to make this gift,” Danny said.