Appointment of Tom Maness, M.P.A., as associate dean for development

Dear Colleagues-Friends:

I am tremendously pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Maness, M.P.A., who will serve as the medical school’s associate dean for development. He will join the medical school on January 29, 2018.

 

Mr. Maness brings a depth of experience to this role, having worked for 20 years in the philanthropy field and most particularly at academic medical centers including New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Most recently he has served for more than four years as associate vice president for annual, major and planned giving at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

At Children’s National, he was part of a team that led an effort to double annual philanthropy. He also has extensive experience in enhancing and expanding grateful patient and family programs through partnership with physicians and other health care providers.

Mr. Maness has a true enthusiasm for philanthropy – which he describes as a marriage of science and art that’s put to use in developing, cultivating and closing gifts that can transform an institution. He prioritizes understanding an institution’s vision, creating smooth working relationships across the organization and listening to alumni and grateful patients. A track record evidences his success in matching donors and their interests to the needs of medical schools and health systems.

The School of Medicine is currently in a campaign to raise $300 million in support of a life-changing learning experience for students, exceptional care for the sick and a curiosity for medical research and discovery. With about 70 percent raised toward our goal, Mr. Maness’s experience in planning and executing large fundraising campaigns will lead us to a strong finish that builds on the productivity of the development office’s operation, advances the generosity of its alumni base and expands our grateful patient program.

Mr. Maness succeeds Tom Holland, who retired this year from his more than 28-year tenure at VCU during which he served the School of Medicine and the VCU Health System.

I appreciate the work of the search committee, led by John E. Nestler, M.D., the William Branch Porter Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, and Samantha Marrs, senior associate vice president for development operations in the VCU Office of Development and Alumni Relations. We are also grateful for the input of Chris Ritrievi, VCU senior associate vice president for campaign leadership and constituency relations, our MCV Foundation and VCUHS leadership, our alumni and donors, departmental chairs and our development team throughout the search process.

Please join me in welcoming Mr. Maness to the medical school!

Warm regards,

Peter F. Buckley, M.D.
Dean, VCU School of Medicine
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, VCU Health System