July 2013

Judy Gift Establishes Center for Applied Research at Eastman

The Eastman School of Music’s Institute for Music Leadership (IML) provides aspiring music professionals with the broad education, specialized skills and diversified experiences to be the next generation of musical and cultural leaders. Noted philanthropist Paul R. Judy has spurred the IML’s evolution with a $1 million commitment to establish the Paul R. Judy Center for Applied Research at Eastman.

“Musicians face many challenges after graduation, not the least of which is finding a sustainable way to practice their art,” said Douglas Lowry, Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music. “Mr. Judy’s generous gift will help put Eastman and the IML on the cutting edge of providing young musicians with the tools they need to create their own performance opportunities and become self-sustaining as advocates for the music they love.”

The founding of the Center comes at a time of great upheaval in our concert-music culture. Many of America’s orchestras, faced with the long-term challenges of aging audiences, financial pressures, and competition from other cultural forms, have been cutting positions or going out of business entirely. As a new component of the IML, the Center will be devoted to increasing the understanding and stimulating the development of innovative ensemble models that can be successful in the changing music world.

“I am greatly concerned about the news of orchestra bankruptcies and financial difficulties,” said Judy, former board chair of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. “I see great hope in the entrepreneurial spirit of the musicians who are taking it upon themselves to energize our culture with their own new groups, and I am pleased to be able to contribute to their continued growth through this gift to Eastman.”

Eastman scholars at the Paul R. Judy Center will engage in discussion and research on alternative ensembles, their business models, and their impact on contemporary culture. In addition, the Center will sponsor a biennial festival and conference for scholars, orchestra managers, ensemble administrators, music school leaders, and students that will offer discussions, presentations, and performances. The inaugural events are scheduled for early 2015.

Paul Judy graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 1953, and he served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps before earning his M.B.A. with high distinction from Harvard Business School in 1957. He is chairman of the Chicago Philharmonic Society, life trustee of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), and founder of Eastman School of Music’s Polyphonic.org, an orchestra musician forum and its online resource center.

Judy has been a vital member of the Eastman School of Music National Council and a key advisor to the Dean on the School’s entrepreneurship initiatives, an Eastman priority for its portion of The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester. In 2012, Judy’s leadership, advocacy, and generosity earned him the Eastman School of Music Dean’s Medal.

To learn more about the Paul R. Judy Center, click here.

Values and Action

It doesn’t feel like it was that long ago that I was applauding efforts that made 2012 a year of record-breaking performance. Perhaps it is because now, in 2013, we have once again exceeded our University year-end goals in several key areas.

This year, we set a goal of $110 million in “new commitments” (new funds raised), and I’m proud to report that we finished just under $114.5 million. Our “total cash” eclipsed the University’s second largest cash year (2012, $92.9 million) with a performance of ~$96 million. And thanks in large part to the impressive growth of the George Eastman Circle, we have exceeded our Annual Fund goals for the eighth consecutive year by raising more than $13.25 million—a year-over-year growth rate of approximately 7.8%.

In sum, when we closed the books on 2013, our Campaign stood at $944,994,583, which is still ahead of plan. Thank you for your leadership, your generosity, and your unyielding support of the initiatives that are sustaining and driving our progress. We continue to build a philanthropic and volunteer culture that great private universities treasure. Together we make a winning team!

As we have already begun working toward our goals for 2014, I want to share a page from the book of Herman LeRoy Fairchild. Fairchild was an internationally known geologist and University professor of geology and natural history from 1888 until his retirement in 1920. While he is probably best known for his achievements in these areas, he was fond of a motto that would serve any endeavor well: “pas à pas, on va bien loin,” which is French for “step by step, one goes far.”

If each of us approaches every day with a new goal in mind, by the end of the year, we will have achieved a great deal. Step by step, there is no limit to what we can accomplish!

Meliora!

James D. Thompson
Senior Vice President
Chief Advancement Officer

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Hayes Installed as the Inaugural Koide Professor

From left: Mark Taubman, M.D., Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D., Bradford Berk ’81M (MD), ’81M (PhD), Shohei Koide, Ph.D., President Joel Seligman

Imagine if medicine could be customized based on a person’s biochemical makeup. This is an emerging reality that requires a complete understanding of how genes are regulated and the conditions in which they are active and quiet. The research of Jeffrey Hayes, Ph.D., acting chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the School of Medicine and Dentistry, seeks that understanding.

Hayes’ stunning research is just one of the reasons he was chosen to be the inaugural Shohei Koide Professor in Biochemistry and Biophysics. The installation ceremony was held at the University’s Witmer House on May 28. Family members and other special guests gathered to recognize Hayes as an outstanding scientist, educator, and administrator and to honor a fellow leader in biochemistry and biophysics, former University professor Shohei Koide, Ph.D., whose patents generated the funds that allowed the University to create this professorship in his name.

“Dr. Koide’s innovations in protein-capture technology provide researchers with critical molecular tools that impact virtually all areas of molecular biomedical science, medical diagnosis, and drug development,” said President Joel Seligman. “The creation of a professorship recognizes his stunning achievements.”

A leader in the fields of protein design and engineering, Koide was a faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics from 1995 to 2002. During his tenure, he developed technology, which has been widely adopted in industry and academia, to create antibody-like proteins that can specifically bind medically relevant targets. Koide has been a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Chicago since 2002.

Hayes has also made impressive contributions. A faculty member since 1994, Hayes’ research focuses on DNA structure, chromatin, and DNA repair. He has been a featured speaker at more than 75 seminars and meetings held in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. He has also served on the editorial boards of Chemtracts: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Biochemistry and has authored or coauthored more than 100 scholarly articles.

“An endowed professorship is a coveted and defining award that helps the University attract and retain eminent professors and provide them with the freedom to pursue projects that hold the most potential for medical breakthroughs,” said Mark Taubman, dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry and University vice president for Health Sciences. “These positions were made for faculty members like Dr. Hayes.”

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Meliora Weekend
Save the Dates:
October 10-13, 2013

Mark the calendar—the University celebrates its 13th Meliora Weekend this year, featuring a keynote address from former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and a performance by comedian Demetri Martin from The Daily Show.

George Eastman Circle members can also look forward to a special address by Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan.

For more information about this year’s events, please visit www.rochester.edu/melioraweekend.

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June 2013

Regional Campaign Launched in Delaware Valley

On June 6, the University launched the Delaware Valley regional campaign for The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

University Trustee and George Eastman Circle member Thomas R. Sloan ’65, ’67 (MS), vice chair of East Coast efforts for the Campaign, welcomed more than 100 University alumni, parents, and friends to an evening that allowed them to celebrate, reconnect with, and take pride in Rochester.

In his remarks, Sloan provided an overview of the goals of The Meliora Challenge and emphasized the importance of regional support. George Eastman Circle members Neil Cullen ’64 and Betsey Cullen ’66, cochairs of the Delaware Valley regional campaign, will lead the region’s efforts to raise $12.5 million and build on the region’s George Eastman Circle presence by surpassing 100 memberships by June 30, 2016.

Thanks to the leadership of George Eastman Circle member Joseph Serletti ’82M (MD), ’88M (Res), chair of the Delaware Valley Regional Cabinet, the region has already raised more than $9.5 million. Regional Cabinets are key University volunteer structures that are helping to raise funds and awareness for the Campaign across the country.

Among those who gave remarks during the program was Galen Dole ’14, a music performance major with minors in mathematics and psychology in the School of Arts and Sciences. Dole, a Halee and David Baldwin Undergraduate Scholarship recipient, spoke on his eclectic coursework and shared ways he’s been able to use his education outside the classroom. He plans to attend medical school, after completing the Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year Program.

Eastman students soprano Adelaide Boedecker ’13E (MM) and accompanist Heather McEwen Goldman ’13E (MM) closed the evening with a moving musical performance.

The launch in Philadelphia is the University’s fourth formal, regional campaign kickoff, following previous launches in San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston. In March, the University also began a series of Campaign events that will be held throughout Florida. University Trustees and George Eastman Circle members Barry Florescue ’66 and Alan Hilfiker ’60 are leading Campaign celebrations along Florida’s coasts.

To view photos from the event, click here.

Values and Action

A couple days from now, the University Year will come to an end. Being a time of year when goals are reviewed and “numbers” have heightened significance, I would like to share progress in a specific area that many of you have helped make possible.

Throughout our Campaign, the George Eastman Circle has been the embodiment of our momentum. Over the last six years, the Eastman Circle’s expansion has been astounding. Here’s a look at how, together, we have developed this important group over the last three years:

Year/Memberships

• 2010—1,407
• 2011—1,800
• 2012—2,233

As of May 31, we now have 2,635 memberships and are growing every month. At our current pace, we are on track to exceed our goal of 3,300 memberships by June 30, 2016! This is a testament to what we can do when we work together.

While expanding the Eastman Circle remains an important priority, it is equally important that all current members renew their memberships. I’m happy to report that our Charter Members are actively renewing their memberships—34 percent upgraded their annual pledge and 16 percent are now giving at a full membership level higher.

The Annual Fund is the lifeblood of our institution. For those of you who are George Eastman Circle members, I would like to thank you for providing the continuous leadership and inspiration that is helping us reach our goals of 3,300 memberships and $130 million for the Annual Fund during The Meliora Challenge.

Such wonderful support has me asking, where can we be at this time next year?

George Eastman Circle members: if you haven’t already, please remember to make your membership payment before June 30. If your membership is up for renewal this year, I encourage you to renew today.

To pay your George Eastman Circle pledge, click here; to renew your Charter Membership, click here.

Meliora!

James D. Thompson
Senior Vice President
Chief Advancement Officer

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DiMarzo Cancer Survivorship Program Established

From left: Richard DiMarzo; Samual E. Durand Chair Jonathan Friedberg, M.D., director of the Cancer Center; Head Nurse of the Judy DiMarzo Cancer Survivorship Program Alicia Coffin, M.S., R.N., O.C.N.; and Judy's Fund representative Paul Hanrahan

More and more people are beating cancer because of breakthroughs in research and treatment, earlier detection, and more accurate diagnoses. For many recovering patients, and their families and physicians, these triumphs bring new challenges, such as the delayed or long-term physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment.

The James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center is helping this increasing number of patients work through the complexities of cancer survivorship with the first comprehensive survivorship program in the region, the Judy DiMarzo Survivorship Program.

Funded by a generous gift from “Judy’s Fund: Hope for Cancer Survivors,” the program will serve as the “next step” in a patient’s care after completing cancer treatment. Judy DiMarzo, the namesake of Judy’s Fund and now the survivorship program, lost a nine-year battle with lymphoma in 2009. Judy’s Fund was established through a generous commitment from her husband, Richard DiMarzo, family, friends, and other community-based support. 

“While Judy was receiving treatment, our family learned so much about the meaningful difference the Cancer Center has made on the community and patients that are cared for each day,” said Richard. “To give back to a place that touched our lives so deeply will not only help create a program to better support cancer survivors, but also allow us to have Judy in the minds of others—a true gift for our family.”

Patients in the program are able to continue to work with the team who treated their cancer. Starting with lymphoma and breast cancer, the program will be implemented in all areas of cancer treatment in the next six months. Eventually the program will become a regional resource for all cancer survivors, regardless of where they received cancer treatment.

“Survivorship is a key phase in the continuum of care for cancer patients as our focus turns from treatment to ongoing management of potential long-term effects and overall wellness,” said Samuel E. Durand Chair Jonathan Friedberg, M.D., director of the Wilmot Cancer Center. “We estimate that there are approximately 2,780 additional cancer survivors in Monroe County every year—more than 25,000 in a 10-year period—making this program essential for the community we serve.”

Wilmot scientists have a long history of studying the risks of second cancers, sleep disorders, nausea and other post-treatment effects in cancer survivors. The clinical survivorship program is just one example of how research at Wilmot is quickly translated into better treatments and outcomes.

To read more about the Judy DiMarzo Survivorship Program, click here.

To read about Judy’s Fund and the cancer survivorship initiative for The Meliora Challenge, click here.

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46th Annual Garden Party

President Joel Seligman addresses the 46th Annual Garden Party

More than 550 friends of the University gathered at the Memorial Art Gallery to hear President Joel Seligman’s address at the 46th Annual Garden Party, on June 4.

Although it had no formal title, President Seligman’s address could have easily been titled “An Accelerating Pace of Change.” The University has come an extraordinarily long way since the time of President Martin Brewer Anderson and the United States Hotel. Beginning with a look back at those earliest decades, President Seligman’s remarks moved through the University’s history up to present day.

Highlighting the University’s continued growth, President Seligman provided updates on several development projects, citing the ribbon cutting for Raymond F. LeChase Hall, the new home for the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development; the ribbon cutting inaugurating the Centennial Sculpture Park at the Memorial Art Gallery; and the groundbreaking of a transformational project for the University and the surrounding community—College Town.

Opening in 2014, College Town will be a 500,000 square-foot, mixed-use development on 14 acres of Mt. Hope Avenue between Elmwood Avenue and Crittenden Boulevard. The project features street-level retail stores, restaurants, office spaces with residential space in the floors above, a Barnes & Noble Bookstore, a 150-room Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center, and a new parking garage with 1,560 parking spaces.

Much of the University's progress can be attributed to the on-going success of The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester. President Seligman reported on progress toward student and faculty support goals which have helped the Campaign achieve 78 percent of its $1.2 billion goal. He shared appreciation for recent notable gifts, including 14 endowed professorships, helping to give the University a total of 64 new endowed professorships since the beginning of the Campaign. The University seeks to create at least 80 new endowed professorships by June 30, 2016.

President Seligman closed plans for the future, saying no challenges will ever keep us from dreaming big.  “Like all universities and colleges today, we face challenges,” said Seligman. “And yet more than any other social institution in our country today, universities like the University of Rochester combine freedom, creativity, incredibly bright faculty, students and staff, loyal alumni, and friends who share a vision that we are moving toward a better world.”

To read or watch a video of the President’s address, click here.

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Williams First in New Scholarships Program

To bolster student support, the University has launched the George Eastman Circle Scholarships Program, a new current-use scholarship initiative for The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester.

As a component of the Campaign, George Eastman Circle Scholarships will complement the endowed scholarships program by providing the opportunity for individuals to have an immediate impact on a student’s education. H. Robert (Bob) Williams ’57E (MM), a Charter Member of the George Eastman Circle, is the first to create a scholarship through this new program.

To read about how Bob Williams is helping students at the University, click here. For more information on the George Eastman Circle Scholarships Program, you can read the pamphlet online here.

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May 2013

Raymond F. LeChase Hall:
A Place to Call “Home”

Photograph by Andy Olenick

Over the past 55 years, the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development has carved a place for itself among leading schools of education. Now, 20 years after its naming as the Warner School—in memory of Margaret Warner Scandling ’44 and her deep commitment to teaching and learning, and in recognition of the leadership and generosity of her husband, the late William F. Scandling—the School has a unique place to call “home” at the University.

On May 16, Warner School faculty and staff were joined by dozens of members and leaders of the University community for a moving ceremony to formally dedicate Raymond F. LeChase Hall.

“This project is a reflection of the generosity and support of many individuals in the Warner School and University community, many of whom are here today,” said President Joel Seligman. “From educating future teachers to researching our higher education system, LeChase Hall enhances a wide range of diverse programming at Warner. The LeChase family’s leadership in this project articulates a lifetime commitment to strengthening the University and the community.”

LeChase Hall is the first new building constructed on the Wilson Quadrangle in 30 years, thanks to a generous gift from University Life Trustee R. Wayne LeChase and his wife, Beverly. The gift was made in memory of Wayne’s father, Raymond F. LeChase, who is now the namesake of the new building. “My dad was a very instrumental part of our lives,” said Wayne. “And it’s a great honor for me to pay him tribute in this everlasting manner.”

The building dedication marked a future of new possibilities and an elevated presence on the River Campus for the Warner School. Board Chair Edmund Hajim ’58 aptly defined the occasion as a dream come true for Raffaella Borasi P’12, P’14, dean of the Warner School and Frederica Warner Professor. It wasn’t long ago the School was bursting at the seams with its capabilities at capacity, in Dewey Hall.

“What matters most is LeChase Hall will allow us to invoke the University’s motto ‘ever better,’” said Borasi. “In just the few months that we have been living in this building, we have been able to do things that were never possible before.” Borasi provided the example of the School hosting 55, 10th-grade students from a charter school in the Rochester City School District to give them a sense of what college life is like.

LeChase Hall provides vibrant spaces, filled with light and materials that inspire, for the Warner School’s programs, faculty and staff, and 600 full- and part-time students. With a building to call its own, the Warner School can better pursue the key prongs of its mission: preparing educators to transform schools, communities, and individual lives; researching some of today’s most pressing educational problems to help forge effective solutions; and partnering with the community to address global issues in human development.

To see pictures from the event, click here.

Values and Action

Every October, when our community—near and far—comes together for Meliora Weekend, I think, “There is no better time of year for the University.” But every May, I find myself thinking the same thing.

May 17 began the celebration of our 163rd Commencement Ceremonies that will come to a close on June 9 with the ceremony for the Simon School of Business. When all has been said and done, we will have conferred more than 3,000 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. For our students, this was a critical step in their lives.

It is not by chance that Learn is the first element in our endeavor to make the world “ever better.” It is upon this foundation that our students will discover, heal, and create. Through the triumphs of our students, I can readily see us succeeding in our mission.

While our commencement ceremonies belong largely to our students, they should be equally meaningful to you—our alumni, parents, and friends. In addition to making a Rochester education more accessible through scholarships, by providing critical support to our faculty through endowed professorships like the Georgia and Thomas Gosnell Distinguished Professor in Palliative Care and the Georgia and Thomas Gosnell Professor in Quality and Safety, you are helping to enhance the quality of our students' education and experience at the University. 

This month also saw the dedication of Raymond F. LeChase Hall, made possible by leadership gifts from University Life Trustee R. Wayne LeChase and his wife, Beverly, incoming Trustee Tim Wentworth and his wife, Robin, and Michael Scandling. Just next door, construction continues to progress on Ronald Rettner Hall for Media Arts and Innovation, named to recognize the generosity of University Trustee Ron Rettner. These gifts and the supporting gifts from hundreds of other donors will give Rochester students two magnificent new buildings in which they can pursue their passions and advance these important fields of human endeavor. 

If you’re going to be on campus in the near future, be sure to make time to take a tour of LeChase Hall. It’s an amazing building with beautiful features. And in the fall, Rettner Hall will come online in all of its glory. I couldn’t be happier about these additions to campus, and I’m confident you will feel the same.

Meliora!

James D. Thompson
Senior Vice President
Chief Advancement Officer

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Celebrating a Milestone for Centennial Sculpture Park

Members of the Rochester, Memorial Art Gallery, and University communities gather to commemorate a significant moment for the Gallery and its Centennial Sculpture Park.

On May 22, more than 300 special guests gathered for a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Memorial Art Gallery’s Centennial Sculpture Park. During the Gallery’s centennial year, this special event marked another step toward the park's completion. 

“In dedicating this park on the original campus of the University of Rochester, we celebrate the University’s longstanding commitment to the life of our community,” said President Joel Seligman. “We are pleased as well to be part of a collaboration with the City of Rochester that strengthens the connection between the University’s art museum and the culturally diverse neighborhood that surrounds it.”

The Centennial Sculpture Park is the culmination of many generous gifts from members of the Rochester and University communities. These gifts also provided support to the Memorial Art Gallery’s “Gateways to Art” campaign, an initiative for The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, co-chaired by members of the Memorial Art Gallery’s Board of Managers Andrew Gallina and Charlotte Herrera.

The park’s strategic location and the removal of decades-old wrought-iron fencing have further blended the Memorial Art Gallery into the neighborhood and opened its grounds for public enjoyment. For Grant Holcomb, the Mary W. and Donald R. Clark Director of the Memorial Art Gallery, it is the realization of a vision he had when the project was first announced in 2010.

“The new Centennial Sculpture Park, with its fusion of poetry (Poets Walk), Rochester history (Story Walk), and the visual arts transforms the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery,” said Holcomb. “It is yet another beautiful and significant park for the community to enjoy.”

Additional remarks were made by James Durfee, president of the Memorial Art Gallery Board of Managers, Thomas Richards, Mayor of the City of Rochester, and Maggie Brooks, Monroe County Executive.

During the ceremony, President Seligman presented Eastman Medals to artists Wendell Castle and Albert Paley. The award is given to individuals whose achievements and service embody the University’s highest ideals. Castle’s “Unicorn Family” has already been installed in front of the Gallery, along with Tom Otterness’s “Creation Myth” and Jackie Ferrara’s “Marking Crossways.” Paley’s “Soliloquy” will be installed near the Goodman Street entrance in August 2013.

In addition to the site-specific installations, Centennial Sculpture Park showcases works from the Gallery’s collection by such noted artists as Deborah Butterfield, Todd McGrain, Nancy Jurs, Beverly Pepper, George Rickey, Tony Smith, and Mary Taylor.

To see pictures from the event, click here.

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Quill and Panzer Installed as Gosnell Professors

From left: Joel Seligman, Thomas Quill, Georgia Gosnell, Robert Panzer, Bradford Berk, and Mark Taubman

The Palliative Care and Quality and Safety Programs are vital to the University of Rochester Medical Center’s mission of providing “Medicine of the Highest Order” and creating patient- and family-centered care environments. Timothy Quill ’76M (MD), ’79M (Res), ’81M (Flw) and Robert Panzer ’80M (Res), ’82M (Flw) have championed the University’s efforts in these areas, producing exceptional results.

On May 22, Quill, director of the University’s Palliative Care Program, was installed as the inaugural Georgia and Thomas Gosnell Distinguished Professor in Palliative Care; Panzer, chief quality officer for the Medical Center and Strong Memorial Hospital, was installed as the inaugural Georgia and Thomas Gosnell Professor in Quality and Safety. A ceremony at the Country Club of Rochester honored the professors’ achievements and the leadership and generosity of their benefactors, Georgia Gosnell and her late husband, Thomas.

“Georgia and Tom have shown incredible support at the Medical Center and in so many other parts of the University and throughout the Rochester community,” said President Joel Seligman. “We benefit from their generosity at the Memorial Art Gallery, the George Eastman House, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; they have strengthened our city, and we are enormously grateful to them.”

The Gosnells are among Rochester’s most philanthropic families. In addition to the areas mentioned by President Seligman, the Gosnells have given to the Rochester Institute of Technology, the Al Sigl Center, and the Genesee Land Trust. Georgia also recently made a major commitment to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the new Golisano Children’s Hospital.

The Georgia and Thomas Gosnell Professorships will help take two programs that are already nationally recognized to the next level. Palliative care is not just end-of-life care or hospice care. Palliative care is designed to provide patients with relief from physical and emotional suffering and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. “We owe Tim a great debt of gratitude,” said Mark Taubman, dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry and University vice president for Health Sciences. “His work has helped define palliative care—not just at the Medical Center, but all over the country and all over the world.”

Dr. Timothy Quill has published and lectured widely about various aspects of the doctor-patient relationship, with special focus on end-of-life decision making. In addition to authoring several books on palliative and end-of-life care, he has written numerous articles for major medical journals. Quill is considered to be among the leaders in his field by many of his peers and health care providers.

Patient safety is a cornerstone of excellence in health care and one of the top priorities at the Medical Center. “At times when quality is questioned it can be easy to say the data is wrong; we know better,” said Taubman. “Bob recognizes that is not the right answer. In order to be the best, we need a champion, and that’s what he has been for us.”

Dr. Robert Panzer is also associate vice president for patient care quality and safety for the Medical Center and associate medical director of Strong Memorial Hospital. He is actively involved with national networks and organizations focused on continuous quality improvement. As chair for a statewide workgroup to redesign hospital incident reporting, he helped develop the New York Patient Occurrence Reporting and Tracking System.

Endowed professorships are among the highest honors the University can give a faculty member. They are also the most enduring. Donors who establish these positions create a legacy that is linked to and perpetuates excellence in health care.

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Fighting Cancer through Moments of Discovery

14th annual Discovery Ball at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center

Every idea, every advance, every innovation begins with a moment of discovery. More than 950 grateful patients, University faculty and staff, and friends of the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center gathered in support of those moments on May 11 for the 14th annual Discovery Ball at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. This year’s ball raised a net total of $550,000.

The evening’s program, chaired by Jeffrey and Patrice Pierce, encouraged attendees to “join” the Cancer Center’s research team by supporting seed-grants for new and innovative cancer research initiatives. This effort accounted for $215,000 in cash pledges. With every table’s commitment, a novelty champagne bottle was uncorked, showering the Convention Center’s Empire Ballroom with rainbow confetti.  

Addressing attendees, President Joel Seligman noted that with the Wilmot Cancer Center’s physical infrastructure in place, it is time to focus on the people and programs that make it a world-class cancer treatment facility. A focus on research and broadening the scope of care throughout the region begins with the visionary leadership of Jonathan Friedberg, M.D., Samuel E. Durand Chair and director of the Wilmot Cancer Center.

“For first-rate patient care and cancer research to thrive in Rochester, support from the community is critical,” said Friedberg. “Cancer is not an easy target, and we know that cooperative efforts are the key to successful research and patient care.”

Georgiana Zicari, this year’s Inspiration Award honoree, had a simple message to those attending the Discovery Ball: “Cancer can be beat.” And she would know; she has done it twice. At age 14 she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and then, thyroid cancer at age 27. With these battles behind her, she now helps others do the same, having volunteered at pediatric oncology clinics and at Camp Good Days and Special Times. Zicari has also lobbied for Congress to increase funds supporting the fight against cancer.

The Discovery Ball is the single largest fundraiser for the Wilmot Cancer Center. Commitments made throughout the evening, will help fund the development of more effective treatments, new preventions and, ideally, cures for cancer.

To see pictures from the event, click here. To view the video shown at the event, click here.

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April 2013

Hilfiker Enriches Humanities with Leadership Support

Longtime Trustee Alan Hilfiker ’60 was the first in his family to attend college. With the help of a generous scholarship, he enjoyed a positive and enriching experience at the University. And when he graduated, he aspired to “repay” the University for all he had gained.

Hilfiker realized a lifetime goal when he made a significant gift that created the Alan F. Hilfiker Distinguished Professorship in English. He has also committed additional funds to the existing Alan F. Hilfiker Endowed Graduate Scholarship Fund, which helps students pursue academic careers of distinction in English, and the Alan F. Hilfiker Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship Fund, for first-generation college students who plan to study English or the humanities.

“The University has long benefited from Alan's engagement, vision, and generosity. He is one of our most active alumni and someone who genuinely values the richness that the humanities can bring to our lives,” said President Joel Seligman. “This gift will not only enhance scholarship in the field of English, but also allow a new generation of students to fall in love with literature, the way he did as an undergraduate student at Rochester.”

Hilfiker's commitment contributes to two top priorities of The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester—faculty and student support. Combined, these two goals account for almost half of the overall $1.2 billion Campaign goal, at $350 million and $225 million, respectively. These goals are being achieved primarily through the establishment of new professorships, scholarships, and fellowships.

“I'm hopeful that through these efforts, the University and English Department will continue to inspire through research and excellent teaching,” said Hilfiker. “It's a privilege and a pleasure to be able to contribute in my small way to a department that enriched my life. I am a very proud and grateful alumnus.”

Born and raised in Rochester, Hilfiker is a founding partner of Garlick, Hilfiker & Swift, LLP, a law firm in Naples, Fla. He remains closely engaged with the University as a generous supporter of scholarship initiatives, as well as the Alan F. Hilfiker Gallery in the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation in Rush Rhees Library. He and his wife, Carol Hilfiker ’60W, are Charter Members of the George Eastman Circle. They live in Naples and have three children and nine grandchildren.

For more information on Alan Hilfiker and this gift, click here.

Values and Action

During the month of April, we celebrated faculty excellence in the medical field at the installation ceremonies for Michael P. Eaton, M.D., as the inaugural Denham S. Ward, MD, PhD Professor and Theodore Brown, Ph.D., as the inaugural Charles E. and Dale L. Phelps Professor in Public Health and Policy. These distinctive events connected two exceptional professors with generous and visionary donors who created their positions. These academic leaders provide critical guidance through their contributions to the University. I am grateful we have had the opportunity to do this so often throughout this Campaign. 

The annual Celebration of Scholarships dinner turned our focus to some of the incredibly bright and talented men and women attending the University. Thanks to the support of alumni, parents, and friends, these students have the opportunity to become leaders in the fields they choose to pursue. Your gifts ensure Rochester remains a place where those with tremendous potential can thrive and lead, regardless of their family’s financial situation.

Just as endowed professorships are leading the progress toward our Campaign’s Faculty Support goal, scholarships and fellowships are the driving force in the pursuit of our Student Support goal of $225 million. A new initiative that will aid the effort of obtaining current-use funds for students is the George Eastman Circle Scholarship program. I encourage you to learn more about how you can use a George Eastman Circle membership to provide support to students in need by visiting the Campaign Web site.

Meliora!

James D. Thompson
Senior Vice President
Chief Advancement Officer

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Eaton Installed as the Inaugural Ward Professor

From left, President Joel Seligman, Bradford C. Berk ’81M (MD), ’81M (PhD),     Michael P. Eaton, M.D., and Denham S. Ward, M.D., Ph.D.

Anesthetic was first administered at Strong Memorial Hospital in 1926, and in 1969, the Department of Anesthesiology at the Medical Center was formally established. From that point forward, the work of distinguished department chairs put the department on par with some of the finest in the nation. Michael P. Eaton, M.D., current chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, has more than upheld this standard of excellence.

On April 1, Eaton was honored for his contributions to the University and his field during a ceremony installing him as the inaugural Denham S. Ward, MD, PhD Professor. The ceremony, attended by family, friends, and colleagues at the Witmer House, celebrated Eaton’s achievements and recognized another extraordinary anesthesiologist, Denham S. Ward, M.D., Ph.D., who twice served as chair of the Department of Anesthesiology (1992–2001 and 2008–2011).

“I want to thank Denham Ward not only for his leadership in inspiring the establishment of this endowed professorship tonight, but also for his leadership in the Department of Anesthesiology,” said President Joel Seligman. “His contributions have played a major role in shaping the field of anesthesiology and its future practitioners. He has been the inspiration for this professorship.”

The Denham S. Ward, MD, PhD Professorship in the Department of Anesthesiology was established by the generosity of many individuals to honor a revered University educator, scientist, and physician. Ward provided exceptional leadership during his tenure that included the purchasing of one of the first anesthesia human patient simulators in the country and the implementation of innovative educational programs, such as “Training Anesthesiologists as Physician Scientists.” Thanks to leadership gifts by Ward and his wife, Debra, and the supporting philanthropy of many other individuals who endowed this professorship, the University will have the resources to continue to attract leaders in anesthesiology like Ward and Eaton in perpetuity.

“This position acknowledges Eaton as a clinician, researcher, educator, and administrator who truly exemplifies ‘Medicine of the Highest Order,’” said Bradford C. Berk ’81M (MD), ’81M (PhD), University Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO of the Medical Center. “He is the Medical Center’s foremost expert in cardiac anesthesia, leading a group of physicians who provide support for a wide range of heart surgeries in adults and children. 

In addition to leading the Department of Anesthesiology, Eaton is also chair of the Congenital Heart Surgery Research Interest Group at the Medical Center. His research focuses on decreasing complications associated with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass machines, which do the work of the heart and lungs when the heart is stopped to perform a surgical procedure. He is particularly interested in pediatric and neonatal cardiac surgical procedures because less is known about the use of bypass machines for infants and children, and they are at a higher risk.

The Medical Center has added 28 new endowed professorships to the School of Medicine and Dentistry since the start of its campaign, a part of The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester. By the Campaign’s end on June 30, 2016, the Medical Center plans to have 40 new endowed professorships.

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Brown Installed as the Inaugural Phelps Professor

From left, Provost Peter Lennie, Dean Joanna B. Olmsted, Theodore M. Brown, Ph.D., Charles and Dale Phelps, President Joel Seligman, and President Emeritus Tom Jackson

The Department of Public Health Sciences is devoted to the mission of improving health and health care among diverse populations through research, learning, and community partnerships. To this end, Theodore (Ted) M. Brown, Ph.D., has made exceptional contributions as a scholar and professor of history, public health sciences, and medical humanities in the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Brown was installed as the inaugural Charles E. and Dale L. Phelps Professor in Public Health and Policy during a public ceremony held in the Hawkins-Carlson Room of Rush Rhees Library on April 24. The event was attended by family, friends, and members of the University community, including Board Chair Emeritus Bob Witmer, Jr. ’59,  President Emeritus Thomas H. Jackson, Distinguished Professor, and Provost Peter Lennie, the Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sciences and Engineering. It was a celebration that acknowledged Brown’s achievements and recognized the outstanding commitment and philanthropy of Charles (Chuck) and Dale Phelps.

“This is a deeply meaningful gift,” said President Joel Seligman. “Few other couples have been as immersed in the life of the University or have served the institution in as many capacities as have Chuck and Dale. They also have devoted their entire professional careers to the field of health care and both are recognized nationally and internationally for their scholarly achievements. This generous support for ongoing teaching about and research into our nation’s health delivery system will address an issue not only near to their hearts, but one that is also vital to the country.”

With a $1.5 million commitment, the Phelpses established lasting faculty support for health care policy and public health research. Chuck Phelps is provost emeritus of the University of Rochester and currently holds the title of University Professor, which is awarded to faculty members who have distinguished themselves through outstanding and varied contributions to their own scholarly field as well as to the University itself. Dale Phelps also works in higher education. A University professor of pediatrics, she is a recognized expert in the study of a disease that affects the eyes of premature babies in intensive neonatal care. In addition to this gift, the Phelpses provide continuing support to the University as Charter Members in the George Eastman Circle.

It was to Chuck’s delight that Brown, a former colleague and opponent in many spirited debates held before students on the River Campus, was chosen to be the first holder of this professorship. He noted their debates were precisely what universities are supposed to be doing—presenting thoughtful arguments on an issue from two opposing viewpoints.

“I sometimes disagree with Ted on the details of health policy—about the best way to 'get there'—but we pretty much share the same vision for a better health care system, and I admire him hugely for the quality of his thinking,” said Chuck.

Chuck’s excitement about this appointment is shared by Joanna B. Olmsted, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. “Ted has had a transformative effect on our students in the classroom,” said Olmsted. “I have had the privilege of sitting in on some of his lectures, and he provides a depth of thinking that helps students achieve a higher understanding of the practice of medicine and the health care field from moral and ethical standpoints.”

Brown’s research includes the history of U.S. and international public health; the history of U.S. health policy and politics; and the influence of organized philanthropy on medical research and medical education, among other topics. The author or coauthor of seven books, he is currently a contributing editor for the American Journal of Public Health, where he was named “Reviewer of the Year” in 2009. His work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and he is a visiting curator for the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Md.

This professorship is one of 63 endowed professorships that have been created since the beginning of The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, which seeks to add 80 new endowed professorships before it concludes on June 30, 2016.

For more information on Brown, the Phelpses, and this gift, click here.

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Fourth Annual Celebration of Students and Their Benefactors

Nearly 200 scholarship recipients and donors gathered in the M&T Ballroom at the Memorial Art Gallery for the fourth annual "Celebration of Scholarships" dinner.

Tomorrow’s educators, scientists, health care providers, and artists are today’s students. Investing in their education ensures the important work being done at the University will be carried forward.

On April 22, a new generation of potential leaders and their benefactors gathered for the fourth annual Celebration of Scholarships dinner. The University-wide event, held in the M&T Ballroom at the Memorial Art Gallery, welcomed nearly 200 endowed scholarship supporters, student recipients, and University leaders, including President Joel Seligman and deans from schools across the University.

In addition to connecting generous donors with the talented students they have helped, the event offers personal perspectives on the importance of giving to endowed scholarships. Featured speaker University Life Trustee Karen Noble Hanson ’70 talked about her family’s legacy of support. In the 1960s, Hanson’s parents, University Trustee Joseph Noble ’34 and Kathryn Cromwell Noble established four endowed scholarship funds in honor of various faculty members. In memory of her parents, Hanson created the Karen Noble Hanson Scholarship Fund in Memory of Kathryn Cromwell Noble and Joseph L. Noble in 1991. Together, the family has aided more than 100 students at the University over the last two decades alone.

The Nobles are exemplars of the kind of support today’s students need. As Hanson noted, students are dealing with unprecedented financial pressure during times when many schools are cutting back on assistance. Students Galen Dole ’14, recipient of the Halee and David Baldwin Undergraduate Scholarship, and Nathaniel Bayer ’15M (MD), recipient of the Carl B. Emerson Memorial Scholarship and the Hugh Hayward MD ’55 Endowed Scholarship, were both able to attest to that reality. Echoing each other in their messages, Dole and Bayer voiced that they wouldn’t be where they are without the help of their benefactors and each closed with a simple, but powerful, “thank you.” Soprano Joel Dyson ’14E, recipient of the William Warfield Endowed Scholarship, showcased her talents by performing two pieces, accompanied by Haeyeun Jeun ’08E (MM), ’13E (DMA).

Underscoring the impact of scholarships, President Seligman provided examples of some of history’s most inspirational figures, as well as leaders within the community, who benefited from financial assistance. These stories provide the basis for scholarships as a priority of The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester. By the end of the Campaign, the University seeks to reach a goal of $225 million in student support, primarily through the establishment of endowed scholarships.

To see photos from the event, click here.

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New Awards Web Site Celebrates University Leaders

In 2008, the University’s awards program was expanded to recognize great leadership, philanthropy, and professional achievement. Since then, awards have been given to nearly 100  members of the University community who have exemplified the mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create—and make the world ever better. These individuals are now being further recognized through a new Web site, awards.rochester.edu.

The Advancement Awards Web site celebrates outstanding alumni, parents, and friends of the University. Key features include a homepage organized by school, descriptions of each award, profiles on the most recent winners, and photos and tribute videos from ceremonies held in Rochester and across the country. The site also has a robust database that can be searched by name, degree, award, school, and year, allowing visitors to see the previous holders of each award.

The site is more than a place to display accolades of the past; it’s a tangible history of the leadership, achievements, and generosity of individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the University. Visit awards.rochester.edu to read about the most recently honored University leaders.

For more information, contact Kevin Wesley, assistant vice president for Advancement and Alumni Relations at (585) 276-3575 or kevin.wesley@rochester.edu.

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March 2013

Schwarz Installed as the Inaugural Burton Professor

(From left) Margaret Burton, Richard I. Burton ’64M (Res), President Joel Seligman, and Edward M. Schwarz, Ph.D.

The University of Rochester’s Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation and the Center for Musculoskeletal Research (CMSR) are nationally recognized leaders in their fields. This reputation for quality has been built by faculty members who are preeminent physicians, educators, and scientists. In this regard, Edward M. Schwarz, Ph.D., has proven to be exemplary.

On March 7, Schwarz was installed as the Richard and Margaret Burton Distinguished Professor in Orthopaedics for his extraordinary contributions to musculoskeletal health. A ceremony including family, friends, colleagues, and University leaders honored Schwarz and Richard (Dick) I. Burton ’64M (Res) and his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Burton, for their commitment and generosity to the Medical Center.

“Dick and Peggy’s leadership was the inspiration for so many others to make contributions that helped establish this distinguished professorship,” said President Joel Seligman. “Their dedication to strengthening the University of Rochester Medical Center has provided an example of ‘loyalty of the highest order.’”

Dick, the inaugural Marjorie Strong Wehle Professor in Orthopaedics, and Peggy have a deep understanding of the value of an endowed professorship. With their gift, they perpetuate success and breakthrough research in a department that Dick has been a central figure in building for the last 50 years.

During Dick’s tenure in the Department of Orthopaedics, residency has nearly doubled, the endowment has increased tenfold, and it is one of the country’s top five orthopaedic programs in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. His legacy will now be carried forward by Schwarz and future holders of the Richard and Margaret Burton Distinguished Professorship in Orthopaedics.

“Eddie has always thought outside the box, and is someone who will use this professorship to continue to do exciting work,” said Mark Taubman, dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. “I have total confidence we will always see innovation from Eddie, who is both a great scientist and entrepreneur.” Taubman continued by stating Schwarz has worked tirelessly—through the creation of two companies, ten patents, and innovative research—to find new ways to heal bone.

Gene therapy is one of those new approaches. Schwarz and his team are using their knowledge of genes known to “turn on” the healing process in bone to find solutions to diseases associated with inflammatory bone loss, such as arthritis, bone infections, tumor metastasis to bone, and aseptic loosening of total joint replacements. Schwarz’s leading-edge thinking has helped the CMSR become the top-ranked orthopaedic research center in the United States.

The Medical Center has added 28 new endowed professorships to the School of Medicine and Dentistry since the start of its campaign, a part of The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester. By the Campaign’s end on June 30, 2016, the Medical Center plans to have 40 new endowed professorships.

For more on Dr. Schwarz and this professorship, read "The Future of Orthopaedics" in the second issue of Endeavor here.

Values and Action

The newest issue of Endeavor has already announced the news far and wide, yet it warrants repeating and further acknowledgement. As of February 20, we surpassed $900 million in commitments to The Meliora Challenge!

We have achieved 75 percent of our goal of $1.2 billion, through 70 percent of our Campaign, ending June 30, 2016. Reaching this milestone speaks volumes about the dedication of our Community of Leaders, which has been a continuous source of positive momentum. You have been particularly generous in the area of endowed professorships.

This issue of Fast Forward features the installation of the inaugural holder of the Richard and Margaret Burton Distinguished Professor in Orthopaedics. The Burton’s gift is among 28 new endowed professorships that have been added at the School of Medicine and Dentistry. During The Meliora Challenge we have nearly doubled the number of endowed positions in this school alone. Overall, your support has helped us add 61 endowed professorships across the University.

Our success bodes well for us reaching and blowing past our goal of 80 new and committed professorships in the Campaign. As our inspirational President Joel Seligman says, "Universities are built professorship by professorship." These gifts are one of the most lasting investments to sustain the quality of our education and research and the overall service of this University.

I am grateful for the leadership and generosity of our alumni, parents, and friends that have enabled us to celebrate these accomplishments. And we should all be proud to be part of such a supremely supportive community.

Meliora!

James D. Thompson
Senior Vice President
Chief Advancement Officer

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George Eastman Circle: More Than 2,500 and Still Growing

The sixth annual George Eastman Circle dinner at The Plaza in New York

Members of the George Eastman Circle gathered in New York City for their sixth annual dinner on March 14. Nearly 400 alumni, parents, and friends of the University filled the Grand Ballroom of The Plaza to celebrate what has been remarkable, continuous growth.

It was only three years ago that the George Eastman Circle was in this same venue and had a total of 1,331 memberships. During this short period the Eastman Circle has nearly doubled that number. The group’s extraordinary rate of expansion was a point University Trustee Nathan Moser ’75, national chair of the George Eastman Circle, celebrated in his remarks.

“Last year, at this very dinner, I announced to everyone a personal hope that we would close in on ‘ten times that number’ in 2013,” said Moser, reminding guests of the Circle’s original goal of 250. “And that’s exactly what we did. The George Eastman Circle recently surpassed 2,500 memberships.”

Attendees heard from other University leaders, including Board Chair Ed Hajim ’58, Trustee and Annual Giving Programs Chair Gwen Greene ’65, and President Joel Seligman. One of the highlights of the evening’s remarks was the announcement of a new giving program that provides members the opportunity to have an immediate impact on students through support of current-use, named scholarships. The George Eastman Circle Scholarship program will help support students like Melisa Diaz ’14, who also spoke at the event.

Diaz, a junior majoring in environmental science with minors in chemistry and Japanese, spoke on the experiences she has enjoyed as a student and how she hopes to "pay it forward" as others have done for her. In talking about her activities, she mentioned her participation in Strong Jugglers. Her many talents and ability to juggle fire torches, knives, and other items became a part of keynote speaker Walter Isaacson's address, which was focused on creativity. Isaacson is a world-renowned writer and biographer and the author of Steve Jobs.

George Eastman Circle members have now pledged nearly $50 million to the University. Members’ leadership support is helping the University move closer to the $130 million Annual Fund goal for The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester. To learn more about the George Eastman Circle, visit the new Web site at GeorgeEastmanCircle.com.

To view the event’s photo gallery, click here.

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Ensuring an Ever Better University

What is an endowed professorship and how is one created? Who are some of the endowed professors at the University of Rochester? Why is establishing more of these positions one of the top priorities of The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester? These questions and others will be answered in a new Campaign booklet on the University’s greatest faculty resource.

This booklet will provide fundamental information on endowed professorships, including a brief history of their existence in higher education and at Rochester. Readers will also find profiles on endowed professors and some of the generous donors who have established this lasting support. Eight examples, spanning all areas of the University, highlight the distinguished work made possible by professorships, the motivation behind the donor’s gift, and the reasons why these educators and philanthropists believe endowed professorships are so important to the future of the University.

The endowed professorships booklet will soon be available to read online at campaign.rochester.edu.

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