Defining the future - todate - Columbia University Medical Center

Columbia University Names Mailman School of Public Health Building in Honor of Allan Rosenfield, M.D.

In recognition of his extensive contributions to Columbia and his lasting impact on global health policy, the Mailman School of Public Health building at 722 West 168th Street has been named in Dr. Rosenfield’s honor. The building houses the majority of the School’s departments, centers and programs.

A group of respected foundations joined together with Dr. Rosenfield’s friends and supporters to establish a sizable Tribute Fund dedicated to the renovation of the school’s new home. The Tribute Fund, launched in March 2006, has received commitments totaling more than $34 million, bringing the total support for renovations to the school’s facilities to $66 million.

“As I consider the future of the Mailman School, words cannot express how honored and humbled I am that the Rosenfield name shall become a permanent part of the building at West 168th Street,” said Dean Allan Rosenfield. “I would like to thank the Trustees of the University for this magnanimous gesture,” he added.

An alumnus of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dean Rosenfield began his career as an obstetrician-gynecologist. He is renowned for his work on behalf of women’s reproductive health and human rights, for spearheading family planning studies, and for his battle against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, both in the United States and abroad.

His pioneering program, “Averting Maternal Death and Disability,” supporting more than 85 projects in 50 countries, has improved emergency obstetric care for women in resource-poor settings in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

During his 20-year tenure as dean, the Mailman School grew to be the second largest school at Columbia and the third largest school of public health in the nation. In 2004, the school was awarded the largest federal grant that Columbia has ever received. The program has provided comprehensive HIV care and treatment to more than 100,000 HIV-positive people in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. As co-chair of the Task Force on Child Health and Maternal Health for the United Nations Millennium Project, Dean Rosenfield furthered the U.N.’s work toward reaching its Millennium Development Goals.

“In light of his wonderful legacy, which encompasses the students he has taught, the lives he has saved, and the health policy he has changed, it seems only fitting that Dean Rosenfield’s name be linked with Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health in this lasting way,” says Lee Goldman, M.D.

| TOP |

A Message from Lee Goldman, M.D.

I am delighted to address you for the first time from the forum provided by todate, a key way to keep our supporters apprised of recent events at CUMC.

Philanthropic activity is one of the important barometers of the health of the Medical Center. Giving levels tell us more than whether or not our coffers are full. They are vital signs, not unlike a pulse or blood pressure, that indicate our standing in the eyes of those whom we are dedicated to serve—whether they are patients, students or the worldwide community of individuals who benefit from our discoveries. Just like funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), contributions from our benefactors, major and modest alike, let us know if we are doing our job well from the standpoint of our most important constituents.

By this standard, we are thriving. I am enormously pleased to report that, since the inception of our capital campaign in July 2003, we have exceeded projected targets substantially. We have already raised more than $720 million in gifts and commitments toward our $1 billion goal. Even more notably, this strong trend is gaining momentum, a phenomenon that is unusual in fund raising campaigns, which typically start with a “bang” then may struggle to match the early pace. In every field of endeavor on our campus, from teaching to research to clinical care, our friends have responded generously to our call for renewed support. It bears repeating that in a climate where federal support is less forthcoming, private philanthropy fills an important gap. Your support has allowed us to keep this great enterprise moving forward at an accelerating rate.

In return, we pledge to continue to offer the extraordinary breadth of services and resources that first earned us your support and trust. I view my own principal function, in brief, as seeing to it that we do more than just retain our coveted status as one of the world’s preeminent academic medical centers. We will continue to attract the best students, scientists, faculty, and staff. With everyone’s help, we can and will enhance our resources, both human and material, and grow in stature. It is not an overstatement to say that Columbia has played an historic role in the evolution of medical science, teaching and patient care. Together, we are committed to even greater accomplishments in the future.

Lee Goldman, M.D.
Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences
and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine

To honor Dr. Driscoll’s incomparable contributions to Columbia and to the children in our care, Columbia University has established the John M. Driscoll, Jr., M.D. Children’s Fund, a department-wide endowed fund that will provide crucial financial support for young researchers in the 18 divisions of Pediatrics. Two lead donors have stepped forward to make gifts of $1 million each to the Driscoll Children’s Fund, which will be a vital and permanent part of Dr. Driscoll’s legacy.

“I’ve come to know first hand the challenges and opportunities that will face my successor, particularly with regard to recruiting and retaining the brightest lights in pediatrics,” Dr. Driscoll says. “We want Columbia to continue to be the place where the very best doctors want to be, and we need to provide them with stability and assurances about resources – financial, personnel and space – over the years and decades.” Dr. Driscoll joined the faculty of Physicians & Surgeons in 1971. In 1973 he became clinical director of the Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, which he led to international recognition by playing a role in pioneering innovative approaches to the treatment of respiratory distress in premature, pre-term, and full-term infants.

He has served as Chairman of Pediatrics since 1992, and has served as mentor to literally thousands of pediatricians, students, residents and fellows at Columbia University Medical Center. During his tenure, the Department added three new divisions and has grown from 140 to 200 faculty members. A hallmark of his tenure as Chair was the building of the new children’s hospital that opened in 2003. The Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital is a state-of-the-art facility in northern Manhattan. Dr. Driscoll is focused now on assuring the excellent quality of care delivered and research undertaken inside the facility that allows Columbia’s faculty to remain at the forefront of pediatric medicine.

“It is the mark of a great leader that he inspires others to greater heights than they thought possible, and to leave an institution in better stead than when they arrived,” said Lee Goldman, M.D., Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine, “and by that or any other standard, there is no doubt that John Driscoll has been a great leader.”

Though he is stepping down as Chair, Dr. Driscoll is not retiring from Columbia or from Pediatrics – he will continue to remain involved in the training of the next generation of leaders in pediatrics, and with the Fund that bears his name.

To honor Dr. John Driscoll, Jr. by making a gift to the Driscoll Children’s Fund and the Department of Pediatrics, contact Director of Development Sally Benner at 212-304-7219 or sb2366@columbia.edu.

Giving Well logo

New IRA Law Offers Important
Tax Advantages for Donors
Age 70 ½ or Older

Thanks to a new law enacted this past summer, Columbia University Medical Center donors now have a new way to meet both their philanthropic and financial goals, while also helping Columbia. The new Pension Protection Act, which encourages financial support of charitable organizations, features an individual retirement account (IRA) rollover provision that offers significant tax advantages for donors.

Under the new law, which is in effect through December 31, 2007, individuals who are at least 70 ½ years old can transfer up to $100,000 this year to Columbia (or another qualified charity) directly from their traditional IRA, rollover IRA, or Roth IRA without being required to report it as income for federal tax purposes. Prior to this, donors were required to report a withdrawal from an IRA as income, and to declare an income-tax deduction for the charitable contribution.

If you would like more information or are interested in using the new IRA rollover provision to make a gift to Columbia University Medical Center, please contact Senior Director of Development Michelle Cass at 212-326-5728 or email:
givingwell@columbia.edu.

| TOP |

todate: CUMC Expands Lieber Center for Schizophrenia Research with Gift from Connie and Stephen Lieber

todate: CUMC Expands Lieber Center for Schizophrenia Research
with Gift from Connie and Stephen Lieber