Wayne State University School of Medicine alumni responded overwhelmingly to calls from their former classmates and current students during the 27th Alumni Annual Telefund. Alumni contributed a record-breaking $471,223 to the Alumni Annual Fund, the main source of funding for student support and educational programs at the School of Medicine.

Year I student Justin Trivax calls alums for pledges.

Once again, the Telefund pre-letter asking alums to give early and avoid getting a phone call during the Telefund generated a large response. The letter resulted in 917 alums giving over $176,000, which freed up callers to reach as many alums as possible. More than 1400 alums responded to the student and alumni callers by making pledges.

"I am very pleased with the extreme generosity of our alums," said Thomas Ditkoff, MD, ‘71, chair of the Alumni Annual Telefund. "We exceeded last year’s total by nearly $40,000, which will make a significant difference in the student programs and alumni programs supported by the Alumni Annual Fund next year."

More than 80 percent of the funds from the Alumni Annual Fund support student scholarships, fellowships, advanced research and educational programs, and student organizations and activities. The fund also benefits alumni through support of the annual Medical Alumni Reunion Weekend, alumni receptions at major specialty conferences and the School of Medicine alumni affairs office.

"The volunteer callers were terrific, especially the students," said Dr. Ditkoff. The top three pledge-raisers among alumni were: Donald Muenk, MD, ‘68, who raised $15,300 in pledges; Thomas Ditkoff, MD, ‘71, who raised $14,460; and Richard Ruzumna, MD, ‘61, who raised $12,975.

Amy Cooper, Year III student, was the second-highest student pledge-getter.

The top caller overall was third-year student Erica Hemphill-Rose, who raised the highest dollar amount ever among students, with $18,725 in pledges. Erica’s husband, Matt Rose, raised an additional $5,435. Matt, who is not a student at the School of Medicine, but an enthusiastic volunteer, made calls every night of the Telefund. The second highest student caller was Amy Cooper, Year III, who raised $15,404. The third highest caller was Elizabeth Desmond, Year III, who raised $7,910 in pledges.

The following alumni kindly donated their time by calling during the Telefund:

Robert Cooper, ‘52
Lawrence Crane, ‘66
Bruce Descher, ‘77
Thomas Ditkoff, ‘71
Denise Gray, ‘75
Louis Hoffman, ‘50
Samuel Indenbaum, ‘56
Carl Lauter, ‘65
Raymond Margherio, ‘65
Frank Markey, ‘45
Thomas McInerney, ‘52
Robert McKnight, ‘44
Harry Meisner, ‘48
Irving Miller, ‘58
George Mogill, ‘42
Donald Muenk, ‘68
Theodore Pantos, ‘57
Sheila Ray, ‘87
George Ritter, ‘45
Richard Ruzumna, ‘61
Dan Ryan, ‘89
Merle Rydesky, ‘64
Gino Salciccioli, ‘61
Hershel Sandberg, ‘53
Michael Sandler, ‘71
Sharon Schafer, ‘75
Jean Sinkoff, ‘65
Alan Sorscher, ‘59
John Speck, ‘77
Carolyn Sprague, ‘84
Sydney Stone, ‘51
Thomas Sullivan, ‘58
Arthur Ulmer, ‘47
Robert Zgliniec, ‘71
Alkis Zingas, ‘70

(Mrs. Jain Lauter, wife of Dr. Carl Lauter, also was a volunteer caller)