Donors honored for contributions to pediatric research

Wayne State University’s School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Michigan joined together Jan. 31 to honor donors who altogether pledged more than $17 million during the past two years to support the institutions’ shared pediatric research mission through endowed chairs and professorships.

“These endowed positions, which are only possible because of these extraordinarily committed donors, will be used as recruitment tools for years to come to allow the university and hospital ¾ as partners ¾ to continue to attract the brightest scholars and clinicians to advance the field of pediatrics,” said John Crissman, MD, dean of the medical school.

About 300 people attended the reception, which was in Comerica Park’s Tigers Club. The funding, which established 11 endowed chairs and two endowed professorships, allows WSU faculty members at Children’s Hospital of Michigan to continue and expand their research into a wide range of areas including pediatric urology, pediatric cancer and child neuropsychiatry.

An endowed chair can be established with a $1.5 million commitment. A portion of the market value of the funds is available annually for research, leadership in national organizations or to support the activities of the named chairs. Endowed professorships are established with a $1 million commitment, with a portion of the funds available annually to support the named professor.