2010
Hillcrest Hospital Celebrates Completion of $163 Million Capital Project
More than 700 guests filled the atrium of Hillcrest Hospital for the Nov. 19 opening celebration of the Jane and Lee Seidman Tower, which completes the hospital’s $163 million expansion and renovation.
“Philanthropy will enhance your life,” inspired Mr. Seidman as the night got underway. “The satisfaction you will receive is beyond imagination.” The Seidmans have given more than $25 million to Cleveland Clinic and Hillcrest Hospital, where six of their 11 grandchildren were born.
Following the brief program, which included a video of a “day in the life” in the neonatal unit, a silver curtain dropped to reveal the new space, which features:
- 72 new adult patient beds
- Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with 24 private rooms
- A future satellite location of Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological Institute
- Expanded emergency department, including redesigned private rooms
- Nine additional operating rooms
Throughout the celebration, docents led guests through the building, highlighting the second floor NICU and third floor palliative care, hospice and medical oncology units. “Everything was designed with the patient in mind,” said Jeffrey A. Leimgruber, FACHE, President of Hillcrest Hospital.
Cleveland Clinic’s art program adorned the hallways with a wide range of art, including photography, collage and sculpture. The opening exhibition, “Celestial Skies: Real & Imagined,” remains on view through April 2011.
Read More
Press Release, Nov. 17, 2010
Catalyst profile of Jane and Lee Seidman, Winter 2009
Scott Hamilton Event Raises Over $1 Million, Features Surprise Stars
More than $1 million was raised at the 2010 An Evening With Scott Hamilton and Friends annual ice show and gala on Nov. 6. The money will support the Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative at Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute.
Fans in the Quicken Loans Arena were treated to performances by legendary skaters such as Dorothy Hamill, Sasha Cohen and Evan Lysacek among others. Hamill received a standing ovation after demonstrating her elaborate “Hamill Camel” spin, the move she made famous during her 1976 Olympic reign.
Country music star Brad Paisley wowed the crowed when he unexpectedly joined headliner Vince Gill on stage. Near the end of the show, Grammy-winner Sheryl Crow also made a surprise appearance, performing a duet with Gill before announcing she would return as musical headliner in 2011.
A gala benefit dinner followed the show at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.
This year, guests were able to make $10 on-the-spot donations by texting “CARES” to 27722 on any mobile phone. Learn more.
You Can Provide Fun for Pediatric Patients
From toys and books to arts and crafts, the playroom at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital helps patients forget about the worries of hospital life. Child Life Services is currently in need of new items to keep the playroom fully stocked and spirits high.
Deemed a “medical free” zone, the playroom allows kids to play, learn and socialize without talk of medicine or procedures. Children who cannot visit the playroom enjoy books, movies or video games at their bedside. View the wish list to learn more about how you can make a difference for these kids.
For more information, contact Laura Bushey at busheyl@ccf.org or 216.444.5176.
Enjoy Tax-Friendly Benefits with Gifts of Stock
Investors who have owned stock for more than one year — allowing it to grow in value — can avoid paying capital gains tax by donating the stock to Cleveland Clinic rather than cashing it in. Gifts of stock also offer a tax deduction for their full fair market value.
Example
- The $3,000 stock you purchased in 2005 is now worth $5,000.
- By donating the stock to Cleveland Clinic, you avoid paying $300 in tax ($2,000 gain x 15% capital gains tax).
- If you are in the 28% tax bracket, the gift will save you an additional $1,500 ($5,000 x 28%) in taxes, which means the actual cost of your gift is $3,300.
To receive a charitable deduction for the current year’s taxes, gifts must be made on or before December 31. Gift dates are determined by postmark, date of hand delivery, date of credit card authorization, or date an electronic transfer enters Cleveland Clinic’s account.
1921 Society Recognizes Philanthropic Contributions, Honors Dr. Lang
On Oct. 14, Cleveland Clinic’s friends and supporters gathered for the biennial 1921 Society Dinner at the InterContinental Hotel. Members of the 1921 Society have each contributed $1 million or more to support patient care, research and education at Cleveland Clinic.
The evening celebrated the society’s 352 members, including this year’s 38 new inductees. Also during the dinner, Richard S. Lang, MD, MPH, was honored for his service to Cleveland Clinic, and five new Distinguished Fellows were named.
Norma Lerner, 1921 Society Chair, presented Dr. Lang with The Alfred and Norma Lerner Humanitarian Award, the most prestigious physician honor at Cleveland Clinic. The award recognizes a doctor whose dedication, compassion and hard work personify the highest values of the medical profession and Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Lang is Vice Chair of the Wellness Institute and Chair of the department of Preventative Medicine.
CEO and President Delos Cosgrove, MD, presented Jack and Clara Sherwin, Mort and Iris November and Maria Miller as Distinguished Fellows, which remains the highest lifetime honor bestowed upon select individuals who have made extraordinary contributions of service and resources.
Charity Tilleman-Dick, a 26-year-old opera singer who received a double-lung transplant at Cleveland Clinic in September 2009, gave an inspired performance. "I am alive today because of you," she gratefully told the roomful of benefactors.
New Building and Expansion Projects Made Possible in Part by Cleveland Clinic Benefactors
Recent additions to Cleveland Clinic facilities in Ohio, Las Vegas and Florida will benefit thousands of patients and their communities. Generous supporters have helped move these projects from blueprint to building.
- A new 72-bed patient tower includes expansion of the emergency department and operating rooms and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit with all private rooms.
- The expanded emergency department will accommodate 68,000 adult and pediatric visits a year.
- The building designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry includes a medical institute and Life Activity Center to treat people who have, or are at risk of having, dementia or cognitive disorders.
- More than 12,000 patient visits per year are expected.
- The center, which opened in 2008, served 40,000 patients in 2009, and is already expanding.
- An additional 8,000 square feet will include an infusion suite, an expanded cardiac testing area, a new neurology lab and a procedure room.
Hyundai Hope on Wheels Donates $100,000 to Fight Childhood Cancer
On September 21, Cleveland-area Hyundai dealers and representatives from Hyundai Motor America presented a Hope Grant in the amount of $100,000 to Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital to support childhood cancer research or support programs dedicated to improving the lives of children with cancer. Gregory Plautz, MD, Chair, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, will apply the award toward study and development of a therapeutic vaccine to treat medulloblastoma, a rapidly growing tumor of the cerebellum.
To commemorate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Hyundai Hope on WheelsTM is providing hospitals and nonprofit organizations across America with donations totaling $6.8 million to help fight childhood cancer. Hyundai Motor America and its dealers joined the fight against childhood cancer in 1998 and created a program called Hyundai Hope on Wheels. At the end of this year, Hope on Wheels will have donated more than $23 million to fight childhood cancer. For more information, visit hyundaihopeonwheels.org.
Vince Gill to Headline Cleveland's Premier Fundraiser, 11th Annual "An Evening with Scott Hamilton & Friends," on Nov. 6
Taussig Cancer Institute has announced a star-studded lineup for the 11th Annual “An Evening with Scott Hamilton & Friends,” which benefits The Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship) at Cleveland Clinic.
The ice show, planned for Saturday, Nov. 6, at Quicken Loans Arena, will feature Grammy award-winning country musician Vince Gill. Dozens of Olympic and World Figure Skating champions will perform, including:
- Dorothy Hamill
- Evan Lysacek
- Sasha Cohen
- Todd Eldredge
- Michael Weiss
- Steven Cousins
- Ryan Bradley
- Christina Gao
- Sinead & John Kerr
- Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov
- Dan Hollander
Scott Hamilton turned his experience with testicular cancer and then a benign brain tumor into an opportunity to help others with cancer. He is now a lifetime spokesperson for the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, where he founded the CARES Initiative in 1999.
The ice show will be followed at 7:30 p.m. with a black-tie gala in the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.
Tickets for the ice show will go on sale Sept. 27 and may be purchased online or by calling 800.332.2287 or 216.420.2200.
To purchase tickets for the gala benefit dinner, contact Liz Lindecke at 216.445.0099.
Campaign Executive Board Celebrates Successes, Discusses Future
With the five-year Today’s Innovations, Tomorrow’s Healthcare: Campaign for Cleveland Clinic nearing its close in December, the Campaign Executive Board met on Aug. 19 to review successes and remaining goals.
Campaign Executive Board Chairman Robert E. Rich Jr. thanked members for their invaluable leadership and contributions in supporting patient care, medical research, medical education and capital projects at Cleveland Clinic and presented campaign highlights.
Norma Lerner, Distinguished Chairman of the Board, said the campaign has made “great strides,” citing new building and renovation projects on the main and regional campuses as examples of how their efforts have made a difference in increasing access to high-quality healthcare. “None of this would be possible without your support,” she said. “We all have a shared passion for advancing medicine for everyone who comes to Cleveland Clinic ... We have accomplished so much already, but there is always so much more we can do.”
Mr. Rich echoed her comments by saying that the board has “an obligation” to ensure that all targeted areas of the campaign meet their fundraising goals.
The new Chairman of Institutional Relations and Development at Cleveland Clinic, Armando Chardiet, said his goals include maximizing the time and efforts of the volunteer leaders and bringing the campaign to a successful conclusion.
Delos M. Cosgrove, MD, President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, presented an overview of current healthcare issues and emphasized the need for disease prevention through lifestyle changes, especially with regard to smoking and obesity.
Dr. Cosgrove noted that since Cleveland Clinic began its smoking cessation, nutrition, exercise and weight loss programs, smoking has decreased in Cuyahoga County by 10 percent and employees and community members collectively have lost hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Moving forward in a challenging economy and a new era of healthcare reform, “we will have to drive quality higher and reduce cost,” Dr. Cosgrove said. He thanked the board members and asked for their continuing support.
Golf Outing Raises over $200,000 for Pediatric Programs
A record-breaking $200,000 was raised at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital’s 16th Annual Golf Outing on August 2, 2010.
Held at the Mayfield Country Club in South Euclid, Ohio, this year’s event included an exclusive dinner for top sponsors featuring a roundtable with the general managers of the Cleveland Indians, Cavaliers and Browns, moderated by Michael Reghi from ESPN Radio.
The proceeds will support a number of pediatric programs at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, including:
To learn more about supporting Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, contact Heather Huston Barkley at 216.445.1038.
Margaret Whittemore Receives Crile Award
The annual Partners in Philanthropy celebration drew 260 Cleveland Clinic friends and benefactors to the Intercontinental Hotel and Bank of America Conference Center in Cleveland on July 20, 2010.
After welcoming guests, Joseph F. Hahn, MD, Chief of Staff, presented the 2010 George W. Crile Sr. Award to Margaret Whittemore of Oklahoma City, recognizing her generous gifts to Cleveland Clinic and volunteer work at a hospital in her hometown. The award was established by the Pyramid Legacy Society to honor individuals for longstanding service, extraordinary commitment and outstanding contributions of time, talent and resources to the mission and people of Cleveland Clinic.
Guests at this year’s event attended breakout sessions featuring presentations by top physicians in the fields of arthritis, orthopaedics, heart disease, cancer, wellness and neurological disorders.
Delos M. Cosgrove, MD, CEO and President, Cleveland Clinic, and the Rich Family Chief Executive Chair, provided an overview of projects and progress at Cleveland Clinic.
A wellness fair following the presentations offered detailed information on a wide variety of Cleveland Clinic’s institutes and programs.
Krause-Lieberman Chair Dedicated
On June 22, the Krause-Lieberman Chair in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery was rededicated at Cleveland Clinic with Matthew Kalady, MD, Vice Chairman of the Sanford D. Weiss, MD, Center for Hereditary Colorectal Neoplasia, as the chair holder.
The chair, a gift of Alan and Karen Krause and the Krause Family Foundation, was made in memory of the Krauses’ parents, Pearl and Henry H. Krause and Mildred and Philip Lieberman, and of Mrs. Krause’s brother, Dr. Kenneth I. Lieberman.
The chair supports the work of Dr. Kalady, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine; staff surgeon in the Digestive Disease Institute’s Department of Colorectal Surgery; and staff physician with the Department of Cancer Biology and the Taussig Cancer Institute. Dr. Kalady’s work focuses on the causes and treatment of colorectal cancer, including hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes.
Country Fans Kickin' Cancer; Upcoming Concerts Benefit Cleveland Clinic
Taussig Cancer Institute and WGAR 99.5 FM are teaming up to celebrate cancer survivors. Country music stars Brooks & Dunn and Brad Paisley will donate $1 of every ticket sold to their July concerts at Blossom Music Center to Taussig Cancer Institute to fund cancer research and support programs for patients and survivors.
Brooks & Dunn perform Friday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m., and Brad Paisley is Friday, July 23 at 4 p.m.
How Your Gift Can Help Prevent the Development of Breast Cancer
Cleveland Clinic researchers have developed a prototype vaccine that may protect against breast cancer, creating a significant opportunity for our supporters to help move this extraordinary research forward.
The first-of-its-kind vaccine has shown overwhelmingly favorable results in animal models, according to a study by researchers at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute. The preclinical studies were recently published in Nature Medicine, one of the leading biomedical journals in the world.
Additional funds are needed to take this promising lab research into human trials, which could begin enrollment within the next year.
To make a donation at any level — and become an exciting part of philanthropy in action — visit our secure online giving site or call toll-free 800.223.2273 ext. 41245.
Benefactor Honor Roll Recognizes Generosity of Supporters
Each year, Cleveland Clinic acknowledges our generous supporters through our online Benefactor Honor Roll — a searchable database of members in each of our recognition societies. A printable PDF certificate is available on the site for each member in the database. View the current honor roll.
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Graduates 27 Students
On May 15, nearly 400 people gathered to honor the 2010 graduating class of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. The unique five-year program cultivates physician-scientists to understand not only how to treat a patient, but how to conduct the research that made the treatment possible. The Lerner College of Medicine was established in 2002 with an extraordinary philanthropic gift from Alfred and Norma Lerner.
View photos.
Children’s Hospital Partners with Petitti’s
Petitti’s Garden Centers has made it simple to show your support for Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital with a spring and summer funding campaign.
The Lend a Hand to Children’s Hospital program invites visitors to Petitti’s Garden Centers to purchase and display a Children’s Hospital hand logo for one dollar (or more), with proceeds benefiting the hospital’s research and education funds.
Children’s Hospital treats more than 500,000 patients each year and ranked higher in more specialties than any other children’s hospital in Northeast Ohio, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2009 “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” survey.
Petitti’s Garden Centers has seven locations throughout Northeast Ohio.
For more information about supporting Children’s Hospital, contact Krista Koch at 216.445.9412.
Gift Annuity Payout Rates Rise, Offer Greater Benefits
Charitable gift annuity payout rates are on the rise for the first time in seven years. The American Council on Gift Annuities will increase the rates as of July 1, 2010, offering greater benefits for those who choose this gift planning option.
With a charitable gift annuity, you can secure guaranteed income for life for you or a loved one while supporting Cleveland Clinic. In exchange for a gift of cash, stock or appreciated asset, you will be paid a set income for your life. Payout rates are based on your age and the rate that is in effect when you establish the gift.
To learn more, or to learn the rate applicable to your situation, please contact a member of Cleveland Clinic’s gift planning team at 216.444.1245 or email giftplanning@ccf.org
Celebrating Stanley Shalom Zielony’s Transformational Gifts to Nursing Institute
April 22 was a notable night for nursing at Cleveland Clinic. Employees, staff and friends gathered in the former HealthSpace Museum building to celebrate its new designation as the Stanley Shalom Zielony Plaza. The commemoration also served to officially dedicate the Stanley Shalom Zielony Institute for Nursing Excellence, in recognition of Mr. Zielony’s unwavering commitment to the future of nursing at Cleveland Clinic.
The New York resident directed his first gift — in 2008 — toward advancing nursing education, informatics, research and clinical practice. Just one year later, Mr. Zielony made a second gift to further the field by providing enhanced education resources, scholarship opportunities and technological advances. These transformational gifts to Cleveland Clinic also are intended to help curtail the current nursing shortage, soaring cost of higher education and rising unemployment.
The historic evening was topped off with the formal appointment of Executive Chief Nursing Officer Sarah Sinclair MBA, RN, as the inaugural holder of the Stanley Shalom Zielony Endowed Chair for Nursing Advancement, established in 2009.
Shaping Your Legacy
A bequest is one of the easiest ways to support Cleveland Clinic, while ensuring the longevity of your gift. Benefactors who include Cleveland Clinic in their wills may donate cash, securities, real estate or other assets to guarantee continued support of medical education, research and patient care.
From sample bequest language to specific program information, Cleveland Clinic’s gift planning team offers tools for individuals and their advisors. To learn more about the benefits of including Cleveland Clinic in your will—and make certain the gift reflects your personal area of interest—call 216.444.1245 or email giftplanning@ccf.org
Armando L. Chardiet Named Chairman of Institutional Relations and Development
Cleveland Clinic has named Armando L. Chardiet Chairman of Institutional Relations and Development. He will join the organization on July 1.
Responsible for leading all philanthropic initiatives and capital campaigns for the health system, Mr. Chardiet brings deep international experience and extensive development achievements to Cleveland Clinic.
“Armando’s talent, vision and depth of healthcare experience will strongly position Cleveland Clinic to continually deliver world-class patient care, innovative research and outstanding educational programs,” said Delos M. “Toby” Cosgrove, MD, President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic. “The generosity of our donors has fueled a time of unprecedented growth and innovation at Cleveland Clinic. Their support has made Cleveland Clinic what it is today—and it will carry us through a new generation of even greater achievement.”
In addition to his role as Chairman of Institutional Relations and Development, Mr. Chardiet will become the Executive Director of Today’s Innovations, Tomorrow’s Healthcare, Cleveland Clinic’s five-year philanthropic campaign to raise $1.25 billion. Cleveland Clinic is one of the first health systems in the country to embark on such a campaign. The funds support innovative patient care, basic and clinical research, medical and patient education, and physical expansion.
The generosity of Cleveland Clinic’s donors has laid the foundation for the future delivery of healthcare supporting key projects, such as: tuition-free scholarships for Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine students, The Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute, and the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, among others.
“Cleveland Clinic is re-defining healthcare and practicing the medicine of the future,” said Mr. Chardiet. “I am honored to become a part of this pioneering healthcare organization. With the generosity of friends, patients and the philanthropic community, Cleveland Clinic’s revolutionary spirit will bring new treatments and innovations to patients everywhere.”
Mr. Chardiet has significant expertise in developing, launching and stewarding major philanthropic campaigns across health systems. He is a recognized leader in the world of philanthropy and has significant experience in establishing a strong culture of charitable giving. Under his leadership, the University of Pennsylvania Medical School doubled the annual fundraising numbers during the course of the “Making History: The Campaign for Penn” campaign.
Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic, Mr. Chardiet was the Chief Advancement Officer and Assistant Vice Dean at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He has previous experience at the Washington Hospital Center Foundation, the development arm of the largest teaching hospital in Washington, D.C. Earlier in his development career, he held positions at Red Cross, Brown University and American University.
Mr. Chardiet received his Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and Latin American studies from Southern Connecticut University in 1973. Five years later, he earned a Master of Science degree in social policy research from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by an advanced certificate degree from Penn in research.
Florida Health and Wellness Center Receives $1 Million from Carl Hirsch
The Cleveland Clinic Florida Health and Wellness Center has received a $1 million gift from Carl E. Hirsch of Palm Beach, Florida. The largest single gift received by the Health and Wellness Center, Cleveland Clinic will name the center’s main lobby the Carl E. Hirsch Family Lounge in recognition of his generous support.
“As a native Clevelander, I appreciate the world-class care Cleveland Clinic brought to my hometown,” said Hirsch, a media industry veteran who has owned and managed numerous companies that have owned radio and television stations throughout the United States, “I am thrilled that Cleveland Clinic has made such a significant commitment to expanding services in Florida and I am proud to support those efforts. The Health and Wellness Center is a jewel of the Palm Beach community, and I am hopeful that others will be inspired to lend their support in growing this outstanding local healthcare resource.”
For more than a decade, Hirsch and his family have supported Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. They contributed $1 million to the Lerner Research Institute and Hillcrest Hospital, one of Cleveland Clinic’s nine community hospitals in Ohio, in memory of Hirsch’s father William B. Hirsch, founder of Hirsch Electric Co. (currently Lake Erie Electric – Hirsch Division), an electrical contracting firm serving the Cleveland and Akron areas.
“This generous gift will help us further our mission of providing world-class, compassionate care to our patients,” said Delos M. “Toby” Cosgrove, MD, Cleveland Clinic President and CEO. “We are grateful for Carl’s generosity and the on-going support of the Hirsch family.”
A member of Cleveland Clinic’s prestigious 1921 Society, Hirsch serves on the Taussig Cancer Institute’s Leadership Board and the Cleveland Clinic Florida Health and Wellness Center Leadership Board. His role in the Palm Beach community includes serving on the board of the Palm Beach International Film Festival.
Announcement of Hirsch’s gift was made by Dr. Cosgrove at the second annual BREAKTHROUGH! Gala held February 26, at The Breakers. The $1 million gift, combined with the generous support of gala fundraisers and other donors, surpassed the Health and Wellness Center’s initial fundraising goal of $5 million. It will help fund Phase II of construction to build out an additional 8,000 square feet on the 14th floor of CityPlace Tower. Clinical space is being added to accommodate seven more full-time physicians, including specialists in internal, pulmonary and sports medicine, plus an infusion suite, expanded cardiac testing area, new neurology lab and new procedure room.
Cleveland Clinic Receives Grant to Develop Antiretroviral Strategies to Prevent and Treat HIV
Cleveland Clinic’s Medicine Institute has received a $653,595 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to design antiretroviral strategies to prevent and treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using mathematical and computational modeling.
The research is aimed at reducing the global spread of HIV infection as well as HIV drug resistance, a frequent, serious consequence of antiretroviral use.
“Antiretrovirals are arguably one of the most effective tools available to curb the HIV pandemic,” said Ume Abbas, MD, the study’s principal investigator and a staff physician in Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Infectious Diseases and Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute’s Department of Quantitative Health Sciences. “However, we need a better understanding of how antiretroviral use impacts the epidemic over time and whether drug resistance is more problematic when antiretrovirals are used for treatment or as a preventive in uninfected persons.”
Antiretrovirals could be used in two ways to reduce HIV transmission: first, by suppressing viral replication in HIV-infected persons when administered as antiretroviral treatment (ART), thereby lowering their infectiousness; and secondly, by reducing susceptibility of uninfected individuals when administered as antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Cleveland Clinic researchers, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, will use mathematical and computational models that incorporate recent knowledge about HIV pathogenesis, transmission and drug resistance to simulate the impact of antiretroviral treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis on the emergence and spread of HIV drug resistance in resource-limited settings.
“Mathematical and computational modeling can provide important insights about the dynamics of HIV infection at both the individual and population level and help design optimal prevention and control strategies,” Abbas said.
Lerner College of Medicine Receives Howard Hughes Medical Institute Award
The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University (CCLCM) has earned a four-year, $700,000 grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to support the Med into Grad program.
The Med into Grad program is a novel curriculum incorporating medical knowledge and skills into basic science education. The goal of the program is to help future scientists develop an understanding and an appreciation for medically relevant principles.
“Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute is as an ideal training ground for graduate students to learn to perform medically relevant research,” said Martha Cathcart, PhD, Director, Molecular Medicine PhD Program. “The support of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute will help us train the biomedical scientists of tomorrow and lay the groundwork for future clinical breakthroughs.”
CCLCM is one of 23 programs – out of 103 proposals – to earn a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute this year and one of only 11 nationwide to receive a renewal of their original grant. Proposals were evaluated by academic scientists and graduate educators.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute awards the grant as a way to enhance the education of tomorrow’s biomedical researchers. The institute will work closely with the grantees, following their progress, learning their successes, and sharing the findings with other institutions.
Junior League of Cleveland Donates Books to Taussig
Since August, Cleveland Clinic cancer patients and their families have had the convenience of borrowing books, videos and magazines from Taussig Cancer Institute’s new lending library.
The library, located on the institute’s first floor, was set up in August by the Junior League of Cleveland.
The idea for the library came about when Junior League member Christine Bates spoke with René Barrat-Gordon, a social worker at Taussig Cancer Institute. Every year the Junior League, a volunteer group, meets with nonprofit organizations to learn about their needs and determine how the league can be of service.
“I came up with the idea of the kids' books and movies because we treat a lot of patients who have young children,” Ms. Barrat-Gordon says. “These kids will come with their parents and there is nothing for them.”
She also suggested donating handmade blankets for patients to use during chemotherapy. “I wanted to present a small project that didn't take too much time as these are working women volunteering,” says Ms. Barrat-Gordon.
The Junior League members donated 50 handmade blankets in addition to numerous boxes of their used books, videotapes and magazines for both adults and children. They plan to replenish the lending library four times a year. Taussig patients and their families are free to borrow these items for as long as they want, says Ms. Barrat-Gordon, who says that feedback has been good. “Patients I have worked with love the lending library.”
