Northeast Receives One of the Largest Alumni Gifts in College History, Donation Will Enhance Student Experiences, Learning Spaces

Northeast College of Health Sciences has announced it is the beneficiary of one of the largest donations in the College’s 105-year history, generously gifted by College alumnus Dr. George Angelos Poll, a 1960 doctor of chiropractic program graduate, through his trust and will.

“We are forever grateful to Dr. Poll for his significant donation. For him to bestow a gift from his will and trust exemplifies the dedication, commitment and passion our alumni have to help students become the future leaders of healthcare,” said Northeast College President Dr. Michael Mestan.

The College will use the unrestricted bequest to enhance student experiences and campus learning spaces. An inscribed plaque in memory of Dr. Poll will be installed on the Seneca Falls Campus to recognize his generous gift.

Dr. George Poll: Northeast Alumnus, Generous Donor

According to family, Poll was “always bigger than life, with a heart of gold,” and a faithful member of his church in West Palm Beach, Fla. Poll was also a chiropractic student at the College when it was known as the Columbia Institute of Chiropractic in New York City.

Poll owned a chiropractic practice on 5th Avenue in New York City before moving to Florida, where he practiced in Palm Springs. Poll died at age 92 on March 31, 2024, and now, through the bequest to his alma mater, he has ensured support for the College’s longtime mission of academic excellence, leadership and professional best practices.

“Dr. Poll’s belief in the College’s mission will be honored as his generous gift is used to grow and evolve the College and our ever-better, ever-forward philosophy," said President Mestan.

Poll’s Bequest Advances Northeast College and Outstanding Chiropractic Education

When Poll attended the College in the late 1950s, chiropractic classes were held in a small brownstone in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Since moving in the early 1990s to its 286-acre main campus in the Finger Lakes region of New York state, the College has grown its healthcare-related offerings, preparing students for the integrative future of healthcare while still providing the same student-centered, patient-focused education for which it is renowned. The College also announced a new Long Island Campus that will offer a second branch of its Doctor of Chiropractic program, beginning Fall 2024. This addition brings the College full circle, once again educating future doctors in the New York City area.

Donations such as the recent bequest from Dr. Poll make the long-term growth of the College possible. Student, alumni and corporate sponsor gifts provide opportunities for the next generation of students, often funding new scholarships and academic programs. These gifts not only shape the future of the College and but also have a profound impact on the future of healthcare education.

Considering a donation to Northeast College of Health Sciences? Learn more about the many ways to give: https://www.northeastcollege.edu/give