Dear Colleagues-Friends,
It is my privilege to share that – thanks to our community’s generosity – we are celebrating the best year ever for philanthropic support of the people and projects at our School of Medicine and VCU Health.
With the books closed on fiscal year 2021, MCV Campus total fundraising stands at $93 million – exceeding the campus goal of $89 million. Med-Health philanthropic priorities led the way, garnering $66 million – an all-time high. This comes on the heels of the record-breaking Make It Real Campaign for VCU that secured vital funding for students and faculty members, including the creation of 22 new endowed professorships and chairs.
We have already seen those endowed positions have an impact, making possible key recruitments of highly talented new leaders as well as the opportunity to recognize and reward talented colleagues who are already part of our team. Campaign investments are at work in the Department of Neurology where Brian Berman, M.D., has been appointed to the Bemiss Endowed Chair and Leslie Cloud, M.D., now holds the Rogliano Family Endowed Chair – both funds established by grateful patients in our community.
In addition, the Department of Psychiatry saw two distinguished faculty installed in a pair of endowed positions. Ken Kendler, M.D., has been appointed to the VIPBG Distinguished Professorship and Mike Neale, Ph.D., to the Banks Distinguished Professorship – interestingly, the newest and oldest professorship funds in the department!
Even during this challenging past year, we built on the momentum of the campaign, continuing to expand our roster of endowed positions with new funds established. Those include the endowed chair honoring longtime neurosurgery chair Dr. Harry Young and his wife, Terri, as well as an endowed professorship created by a former housestaff trainee in honor of longtime orthopaedic surgery professor and former chair Robert Adelaar, M.D.
Endowed professorships and chairs are powerful fuel for the overall mission of our academic medical center, not only because of the prestige they carry but also for the strong financial foundation they provide for faculty innovation. Our success on this front is due in part to the Med-Health Development team’s excellent partnership with the MCV Foundation, whose trustees and staff work alongside us to advance our fundraising goals and transform medical education, research and clinical care for our community, nation and world.
Please join me in celebrating a record-breaking year for philanthropy – and most particularly for the crucial work it does in attracting and retaining our exceptional faculty.
With the greatest respect and gratitude,
