Unlocking Potential: VCU's Campaign for the Future
As tri-chairs of the university's most ambitious campaign, alumni couple Donna Perlin, M.D. and Jonathan Perli, M.D., Ph.D., are helping shape the future of health care.
Jonathan B. Perlin, M.D., Ph.D. (left), and Donna J. Perlin, M.D. (Photo by Ashley Michelle Photography)
A commitment to each other and to VCU is at the heart of Donna and Jon Perlin’s story — both personally and professionally.
The couple arrived, separately, on the MCV Campus in the mid-1980s, and remained in Richmond through doctoral training, medical school and residency. While their careers later took them across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, they regularly found their way back to their alma mater: speaking to students, establishing a professorship and, most recently, acting as champions for the university’s $1.838 billion campaign in their role as one of three couples serving as tri-chairs for Unlocking Potential: VCU’s Campaign for the Future.
Jonathan B. Perlin, PHD’91 (PHTX), M’92, H’96, MSHA’97, points to one reason why they will always give their all to the university.
“It’s the people.”
He fondly recalls Richard Wenzel, M.D., a former professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, taking him under his wing and helping him cultivate a love for health policy — influencing the trajectory of his career. Today, Perlin serves as president and CEO of The Joint Commission and Joint Commission International.
“One of the unique things about VCU is that it has really first-rate clinicians and scientists who aren’t stuffy or pretentious. They’re approachable,” explains Perlin, who previously served as president, clinical operations, and chief medical officer at HCA Healthcare. “So, while they have the expertise and experience, they’re also incredibly supportive. And I think that’s a defining characteristic.”
Donna J. Perlin, M’89, H’92, who received her medical degree from VCU and completed her residency training on the MCV Campus in 1992, agrees it’s the faculty who left an indelible mark on her life. In particular, she remembers Hugo R. Seibel, Ph.D., the School of Medicine’s former associate dean for student activities.
She had arrived on the MCV Campus immediately after completing her undergraduate degree at the College of William & Mary. Many of her classmates, however, had already earned doctoral degrees or had other health care careers prior to medical school.
Imposter syndrome struck when Perlin sat for her first exam. “I just panicked and froze. Dr. Seibel told me, ‘You can do this.’”
A pediatric emergency medicine physician, Perlin now handles pressure like a pro. “But in that moment,” she says, “he taught me that sometimes you just have to take a step back.”
Fueling that level of faculty support — along with making medical education more accessible, driving cutting-edge research and leveraging team science across multiple disciplines — propels the Perlins in their pursuit of excellence for the MCV Campus. As tri-chairs, they provide consultation and support for the campaign, including its priorities.
“We are grateful for the Perlins’ expertise and leadership in guiding VCU’s largest campaign and value their insights as thought leaders in the health care arena,” says Arturo P. Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the School of Medicine. “This campaign allows us to dream, and their partnership provides the opportunity to turn dreams into reality.”
Priority No. 1 | Increasing access and fostering student success
Investment in scholarships as well as residency and fellowship programs helps attract top students and reduce financial barriers, ensuring that talented individuals from all backgrounds can pursue a career in medicine.
“Making sure first-generation college graduates have the opportunity to realize not only their dreams, but their potential, is critical to the campaign’s success,” says Jon Perlin, adding both his and Donna’s parents were the first in their families to go to college.
“My mother was an RN,” Donna Perlin says, “but I did not come from a family of physicians. VCU gave me that opportunity. I’m hoping through this campaign and our involvement, I can help another student who is where I was almost 40 years ago — help them realize their dream and their career.”
Nearly half of all VCU’s sponsored research lies in the School of Medicine, driving new therapies, better treatments and improved health for all. (Photo by Daniel Sangjib Min, MCV Foundation)
Priority No. 2 | Blazing trails and leading change through innovative research
From tackling urgent health care challenges to translating new discoveries into clinical solutions, the School of Medicine’s mission includes achieving scientific breakthroughs that improve patient outcomes — work that has earned VCU recognition as one of the nation’s top 50 research institutions.
That reputation is what brought Jon Perlin to the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology to pursue his Ph.D., after earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Virginia. He says professor Robert J. Delorenzo, M.D., Ph.D., had “the best lab” for the research he wanted to conduct.
Perlin recognizes the value in accelerating the research momentum. It not only results in an increased national and international stature for the university, which has seen an 86% increase in sponsored research funding since 2018. In addition — because nearly half of all VCU’s sponsored research lies in the School of Medicine — it drives new therapies, better treatments and improved health for all.
Philanthropic support fuels the groundbreaking studies of scientists, opens doors to pioneering therapies, enriches research training and creates state-of-the-art environments for discovery.
Research also teaches physicians and scientists an important lesson: Don’t be afraid to fail.
“When you think about advancing science, not all hypotheses are going to prove correct,” Perlin says. “Sometimes the experiment will fail. But the only mistake is not learning from that and asking a better question to move forward.”
Donna J. Perlin, M’89, H’92, remembers the incredible support she received from Hugo R. Seibel (pictured), the School of Medicine’s former associate dean for student activities. Today, Christopher M. Woleben, M’97, H’01, associate dean of admissions, holds the teaching professorship that carries the name of the beloved faculty member. (Photo by Dennis McWaters)
Priority No. 3 | Recognizing faculty and nurturing scholarship
One of the keys to the School of Medicine’s excellence in medical education is its faculty: the mentors who are shaping the next generation of health care leaders.
While the Perlins trained in different specialties (internal medicine and pediatrics) and across different departments and schools — including the College of Health Professions where Jon earned his MSHA — the intentional faculty support for trainees remained constant.
“The faculty at VCU don’t just teach — they mentor, inspire and push boundaries,” he says. “That was our experience, and supporting them through endowed chairs and research funding is not only an investment in innovation but in the future.”
In 2008, the Perlins endowed the Seymour and Ruth Perlin Professorship of Health Administration and Internal Medicine, which is held at the MCV Foundation and named in honor of Jon’s parents. His mentor, Sheldon M. Retchin, M.D., H’79, then senior vice president for health sciences at VCU and CEO of VCU Health System, served as the inaugural Perlin professor. Today, Adam Atherly, Ph.D., professor of health administration and internal medicine, holds the honor.
Priority No. 4 | Sustaining institutional excellence and achieving prominence
VCU Health cares for more un- or underinsured patients than any other health system in Virginia — and is nationally recognized in more adult specialties than any other Virginia hospital.
“It was an extraordinarily rich training experience at a big city hospital,” Jon Perlin says. “It was both mission-driven and exciting. You got to see and do things that you might not in medical schools in smaller towns or smaller medical centers.
“By the time I had gone into practice, I had done more procedures as a resident than many of the people who had been practicing for a decade.”
It’s a legacy he wants to see continue with the help of the campaign. He encourages alumni and friends to think of a gift as an investment in scientific breakthroughs, patient care and the people who go on to contribute to society in meaningful ways.
“Giving to VCU amplifies your support in terms of societal and individual benefit,” Perlin says. “For those who achieve certain privileges by virtue of their VCU experience, I believe we have a responsibility to pay it forward.”
$1.838 billion
VCU’s campaign goals honor the 1838 founding of VCU’s Medical College of Virginia. Every gift and every action taken during this campaign help carry forward a mission that began in 1838, propelling our future and strengthening our service to those who rely on us.
The Unlocking Potential campaign cabinet is led by three tri-chair couples. In addition to the Perlins, they include Michelle and David Baldacci, J.D., and Dawn and Keith Parker.
This story was published in the fall 2025 issue of 12th & Marshall. You can find the current and past issues online.
James P. Neifeld, M’72, H’78, and his wife, Ramona, along with R. Todd Stravtiz, M.D., F’92, serve as members of the campaign cabinet.
A commitment to each other and to VCU is at the heart of Donna and Jon Perlin’s story — both personally and professionally.
The couple arrived, separately, on the MCV Campus in the mid-1980s, and remained in Richmond through doctoral training, medical school and residency. While their careers later took them across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, they regularly found their way back to their alma mater: speaking to students, establishing a professorship and, most recently, acting as champions for the university’s $1.838 billion campaign in their role as one of three couples serving as tri-chairs for Unlocking Potential: VCU’s Campaign for the Future.
Jonathan B. Perlin, PHD’91 (PHTX), M’92, H’96, MSHA’97, points to one reason why they will always give their all to the university.
“It’s the people.”
He fondly recalls Richard Wenzel, M.D., a former professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, taking him under his wing and helping him cultivate a love for health policy — influencing the trajectory of his career. Today, Perlin serves as president and CEO of The Joint Commission and Joint Commission International.
“One of the unique things about VCU is that it has really first-rate clinicians and scientists who aren’t stuffy or pretentious. They’re approachable,” explains Perlin, who previously served as president, clinical operations, and chief medical officer at HCA Healthcare. “So, while they have the expertise and experience, they’re also incredibly supportive. And I think that’s a defining characteristic.”
Donna J. Perlin, M’89, H’92, who received her medical degree from VCU and completed her residency training on the MCV Campus in 1992, agrees it’s the faculty who left an indelible mark on her life. In particular, she remembers Hugo R. Seibel, Ph.D., the School of Medicine’s former associate dean for student activities.
She had arrived on the MCV Campus immediately after completing her undergraduate degree at the College of William & Mary. Many of her classmates, however, had already earned doctoral degrees or had other health care careers prior to medical school.
Imposter syndrome struck when Perlin sat for her first exam. “I just panicked and froze. Dr. Seibel told me, ‘You can do this.’”
A pediatric emergency medicine physician, Perlin now handles pressure like a pro. “But in that moment,” she says, “he taught me that sometimes you just have to take a step back.”
Fueling that level of faculty support — along with making medical education more accessible, driving cutting-edge research and leveraging team science across multiple disciplines — propels the Perlins in their pursuit of excellence for the MCV Campus. As tri-chairs, they provide consultation and support for the campaign, including its priorities.
“We are grateful for the Perlins’ expertise and leadership in guiding VCU’s largest campaign and value their insights as thought leaders in the health care arena,” says Arturo P. Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the School of Medicine. “This campaign allows us to dream, and their partnership provides the opportunity to turn dreams into reality.”
Priority No. 1 | Increasing access and fostering student success
Investment in scholarships as well as residency and fellowship programs helps attract top students and reduce financial barriers, ensuring that talented individuals from all backgrounds can pursue a career in medicine.
“Making sure first-generation college graduates have the opportunity to realize not only their dreams, but their potential, is critical to the campaign’s success,” says Jon Perlin, adding both his and Donna’s parents were the first in their families to go to college.
“My mother was an RN,” Donna Perlin says, “but I did not come from a family of physicians. VCU gave me that opportunity. I’m hoping through this campaign and our involvement, I can help another student who is where I was almost 40 years ago — help them realize their dream and their career.”
Nearly half of all VCU’s sponsored research lies in the School of Medicine, driving new therapies, better treatments and improved health for all. (Photo by Daniel Sangjib Min, MCV Foundation)
Priority No. 2 | Blazing trails and leading change through innovative research
From tackling urgent health care challenges to translating new discoveries into clinical solutions, the School of Medicine’s mission includes achieving scientific breakthroughs that improve patient outcomes — work that has earned VCU recognition as one of the nation’s top 50 research institutions.
That reputation is what brought Jon Perlin to the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology to pursue his Ph.D., after earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Virginia. He says professor Robert J. Delorenzo, M.D., Ph.D., had “the best lab” for the research he wanted to conduct.
Perlin recognizes the value in accelerating the research momentum. It not only results in an increased national and international stature for the university, which has seen an 86% increase in sponsored research funding since 2018. In addition — because nearly half of all VCU’s sponsored research lies in the School of Medicine — it drives new therapies, better treatments and improved health for all.
Philanthropic support fuels the groundbreaking studies of scientists, opens doors to pioneering therapies, enriches research training and creates state-of-the-art environments for discovery.
Research also teaches physicians and scientists an important lesson: Don’t be afraid to fail.
“When you think about advancing science, not all hypotheses are going to prove correct,” Perlin says. “Sometimes the experiment will fail. But the only mistake is not learning from that and asking a better question to move forward.”
Donna J. Perlin, M’89, H’92, remembers the incredible support she received from Hugo R. Seibel (pictured), the School of Medicine’s former associate dean for student activities. Today, Christopher M. Woleben, M’97, H’01, associate dean of admissions, holds the teaching professorship that carries the name of the beloved faculty member. (Photo by Dennis McWaters)
Priority No. 3 | Recognizing faculty and nurturing scholarship
One of the keys to the School of Medicine’s excellence in medical education is its faculty: the mentors who are shaping the next generation of health care leaders.
While the Perlins trained in different specialties (internal medicine and pediatrics) and across different departments and schools — including the College of Health Professions where Jon earned his MSHA — the intentional faculty support for trainees remained constant.
“The faculty at VCU don’t just teach — they mentor, inspire and push boundaries,” he says. “That was our experience, and supporting them through endowed chairs and research funding is not only an investment in innovation but in the future.”
In 2008, the Perlins endowed the Seymour and Ruth Perlin Professorship of Health Administration and Internal Medicine, which is held at the MCV Foundation and named in honor of Jon’s parents. His mentor, Sheldon M. Retchin, M.D., H’79, then senior vice president for health sciences at VCU and CEO of VCU Health System, served as the inaugural Perlin professor. Today, Adam Atherly, Ph.D., professor of health administration and internal medicine, holds the honor.
Priority No. 4 | Sustaining institutional excellence and achieving prominence
VCU Health cares for more un- or underinsured patients than any other health system in Virginia — and is nationally recognized in more adult specialties than any other Virginia hospital.
“It was an extraordinarily rich training experience at a big city hospital,” Jon Perlin says. “It was both mission-driven and exciting. You got to see and do things that you might not in medical schools in smaller towns or smaller medical centers.
“By the time I had gone into practice, I had done more procedures as a resident than many of the people who had been practicing for a decade.”
It’s a legacy he wants to see continue with the help of the campaign. He encourages alumni and friends to think of a gift as an investment in scientific breakthroughs, patient care and the people who go on to contribute to society in meaningful ways.
“Giving to VCU amplifies your support in terms of societal and individual benefit,” Perlin says. “For those who achieve certain privileges by virtue of their VCU experience, I believe we have a responsibility to pay it forward.”
$1.838 billion
VCU’s campaign goals honor the 1838 founding of VCU’s Medical College of Virginia. Every gift and every action taken during this campaign help carry forward a mission that began in 1838, propelling our future and strengthening our service to those who rely on us.
The Unlocking Potential campaign cabinet is led by three tri-chair couples. In addition to the Perlins, they include Michelle and David Baldacci, J.D., and Dawn and Keith Parker.
This story was published in the fall 2025 issue of 12th & Marshall. You can find the current and past issues online.
James P. Neifeld, M’72, H’78, and his wife, Ramona, along with R. Todd Stravtiz, M.D., F’92, serve as members of the campaign cabinet.
Shape what's next
Here in the School of Medicine, we believe in the promise of every student, educator and researcher. Unlocking Potential: VCU’s Campaign for the Future is all about investing in that promise, by opening doors to education, fueling discovery and making a real impact in the medical field and beyond.
The School of Medicine partners with the MCV Foundation, whose expertise in giving strategies and the prudent stewardship of invested funds — the foundation boasts a 12.1% five-year average endowment return — helps donors fulfill their vision for giving back.
“Throughout this campaign, our MCV Foundation team will help donors achieve their goals and maximize the impact of their giving,” says Brian S. Thomas, interim president and CEO of the MCV Foundation.
Our staff also stays up-to-date on new tax law implications, including recent changes for charitable deductions that take effect in 2026. For example, beginning Jan. 1, itemizing taxpayers can only deduct the portion of their charitable gifts that exceeds 0.5% of their adjusted gross income.
“In light of the latest tax law changes, donors may wish to revisit their charitable giving strategies to ensure they are maximizing both impact and tax efficiency,” says Nathan Bick, executive director of development in the School of Medicine. He encourages donors to consult their financial or tax advisers for individual tax counseling.
Thanks to a long tradition of philanthropic giving on the MCV Campus, the School of Medicine has built deep expertise and national prominence in many fields. Our next charge is to ensure these areas of strength don’t exist in silos but instead are leveraged into new collaborations that span departments and build on expertise in other schools.
Every gift and every action matters. If you would like to talk with someone about how you can help unlock potential through investment in the campaign, please contact Bick at ngbick@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0387.
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