A Deming family recently opened an endowed scholarship in honor of Paul A. Feil, M.D., who was a beloved physician in Deming and continues to be involved with Luna County community. The Paul A. Feil, M.D., Scholarship, was established with the Western New Mexico University Foundation in October and benefits graduate students who work in or are natives of Deming and are enrolled at WNMU with plans to enter the medical field.
Earlier this year, Dr. Feil established a WNMU scholarship in his late wife’s name. When his children decided to endow a scholarship in their father’s name, they asked whether the alumnus of University of New Mexico and Baylor University College would rather have his scholarship with another university foundation. The 96-year-old said he preferred being where his wife is — at WNMU.
“Your names will forever be part of Western New Mexico University,” WNMU Foundation Executive Director Jodi Edens-Crocker told Dr. Feil at the recent scholarship signing in Deming.
Known as “P.A.,” Dr Feil was born and raised in Belen, where he was transformed from “the boy who would take over the family dry goods/grocery business” to a man focused on becoming a physician and returning to the state. After a tour as a U.S. Navy medical officer, he and his wife Alma settled into private practice in Deming 68 years ago.
For 42 years, Dr. Feil served his community in the primary role of physician, holding up to 100 office visits a day during a swine flu epidemic, overseeing Deming’s first polio vaccine distribution, making regular hospital and nursing home visits as well as house calls, and delivering more than 4,000 babies. He taught students about rural health care as a clinical assistant professor for the UNM School of Medicine Preceptor Program.
Dr. Feil and Alma felt it was important to be involved and contribute to the place they made their home, so they were also active in many other aspects of the Deming community.
To receive the Paul A. Feil, M.D., Scholarship, students must be working toward their master’s in any area that may be applied to a career in the medical field. They must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, have some form of financial need and share their career goals in a personal essay. Preference will be given to Deming students.
The Paul A. Feil, M.D., Scholarship was funded through an initial gift of $15,200 from Dr. Feil’s children: Anita Feil, Paul Feil, Nancy Feil Pool and David Feil. Those interested in making additional gifts to the Paul A. Feil, M.D., Scholarship may contact the WNMU Foundation (foundation.wnmu.edu, 575-538-6310).