Celebrating philanthropy

By Kate Villars

Over a long weekend in May, a series of special events at DMS and DHMC demonstrated the energy and excitement driving the Transforming Medicine Campaign as it passed the $200-million mark on the way to its $250-million goal.

Meetings, an academic symposium, and a grand gala brought together campaign leaders and donors, DMS faculty and alumni, College and Medical Center officials, and community members to celebrate the successes of the campaign to date. A primary focus of the weekend was the future C. Everett Koop Medical Science Complex, which will include the Peter and Susan Williamson Translational Research Building; a new home for the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice; and, connecting those facilities, LeBaron Commons.

Academic symposium
An academic symposium titled Celebrating the Vision: Translational Medicine drew a standing-room-only crowd to hear three leading DMS researchers speak about their recent work. The talks highlighted the three programs—neuroscience, cardiology, and immunotherapy—that will occupy the Williamson Research Building.

Joyce DeLeo, Ph.D., director of the Neuroscience Center at Dartmouth and DMS's Irene Heinz Given Professor, discussed her laboratory's progress in developing drugs that target glial and immune cells to prevent and treat chronic pain. Richard Powell, M.D., chief of the Section of Vascular Surgery, talked about advances in minimally invasive methods for treating vascular disease. And Randolph Noelle, Ph.D., acting chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, spoke about the promise of vaccines and immunotherapeutic approaches to cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Gala raises $1.1 million
A highlight of the weekend was a spectacular black-tie gala. More than 500 guests enjoyed an evening showcasing the impact of philanthropy on medicine at Dartmouth. A timetravel theme transported guests from 1958 to the present and then on into 2058 for a glimpse of medicine's future. A fundraiser for the Koop Medical Science Complex, the event raised more than $1.1 million.

The events celebrated the successes of the campaign to date.

By Mark Washburn

Several large tents transformed a DHMC parking lot into a truly gala setting.