Care is the word for 2006 award recipients

RBC Awards Annual Scholarship for Graduating Medical and Dental Students

TORONTO, July 11, 2006 — Four graduating medical students and one dental student will be recognized through RBC Financial Group’s annual Scholarship for Graduating Medical and Dental Students. The awards are each worth $3,000.

“We are thrilled to support these new doctors and dentists who have already demonstrated a remarkable commitment to their field and community,” said Judith Murchison, senior manager, Consumer Markets, RBC Royal Bank. “At RBC, we recognize the financial burden associated with studies in healthcare, and we are honoured to help these students realize their career ambitions.”

The scholarships are awarded to five students completing their final year of study in a recognized medical or dental program in Canada for the 2005-2006 academic year. Recipients were selected based on quality of care, community commitment, personal goals and individual financial need. Scholarship selections were made by a committee of university and college representatives with expertise in admissions and evaluations, medicine and dentistry.

This year’s graduating student award winners are:

DR. AMY HOI YING CHENG - Mississauga, Ontario
Amy graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and plans to continue her post-graduate training at the school in Emergency Medicine. Amy is dedicated to improving quality and access to health care among under-serviced populations, and is the Founding Director of Health by Empowerment - a National Non-Profit Organization that trains community leaders and health educators in developing countries. She was also part of a medical team that provided primary and emergency care to over 200 members of the indigenous population in Ecuador.

DR. BRIAN STUART RAMBARANSINGH - Calgary, Alberta
Brian graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, and has been accepted into the Radiology Residency Program at the University of Calgary Foothills Medical Centre. Brian is dedicating his career to diagnostic imaging, and has conducted extensive research into improving mammographic reports, resulting in less reliance on biopsies, a lighter burden on community resources and added patient reassurance.

DR. KELLY COX - Bowen Island, British Columbia
Kelly graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and has been accepted to do her residency in pediatrics at Dalhousie University, where she plans to specialize in pediatric oncology. Kelly has dedicated her life’s work to providing medical care for children, specifically those with terminal cancer. She has contributed countless hours volunteering at care facilities across the province as well as at a pediatric HIV/AIDS clinic and ward in Kampala, Uganda.

DR. ANDRÉ MACLEAN BERNARD - Halifax, Nova Scotia
André graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University and plans to continue at Dalhousie, beginning his residency in anaesthesia. André, who has a zeal for health policy, management and global health, has represented his peers in Canada and abroad through the Canadian Federation of Medical Students and the Canadian Medical Association. André has also volunteered with both the Canadian Council for UNESCO and the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

DR. JULIE LIM - Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Québec
Julie graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Montreal and has been accepted into a residency program through McGill University at Royal Victoria Hospital where she plans to focus on pediatrics or geriatrics. Julie is committed to helping the vulnerable and marginalized of society, and has provided dental care to street kids, children with physical and mental illness, as well as special-needs geriatric patients.

RBC continues to be a strong supporter of education. Over a quarter of RBC’s annual donation budget is devoted to education, representing more than $9.2 million in 2005 - including major gifts to universities and colleges. RBC’s support is based on the belief that an investment in young people and education is one of the best methods a company can make to ensure the future health and prosperity of our communities.

RBC awards both first-year students as well as graduates through its medical and dental scholarship program. By the end of 2006, RBC will have distributed approximately $100,000 to deserving candidates dedicated to healthcare in Canada.

Applications are now being accepted for first-year student scholarships. The deadline is October 1, 2006. For more information, interested applicants can call 1-877-363-4457 or visit www.rbcroyalbank.com/student/medical/professional.html

About RBC Financial Group
Royal Bank of Canada (TSX, NYSE: RY) uses the initials RBC as a prefix for its businesses and operating subsidiaries, which operate under the master brand name of RBC Financial Group. Royal Bank of Canada is Canada’s largest bank as measured by market capitalization and assets, and is one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies. It provides personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate and investment banking, and transaction processing services on a global basis. The company employs approximately 70,000 full and part-time employees who serve more than 14 million personal, business and public sector clients through offices in North America and some 30 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.rbc.com.

Contact Information

Kathy Bevan

Media Relations

RBC Financial Group

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