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Transforming Medicine Campaign

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
 —Psychologist William James (1842-1910)

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.


Raising the bar
The financial goal of the Transforming Medicine Campaign for Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is to raise $250 million by 2009. Even more far-reaching is its goal of "raising the bar" in medicine.Of questioning assumptions—respecting tradition but not following it blindly. Of erasing boundaries—translating science from the lab bench to the bedside by connecting researchers with clinicians.Of creating solutions to the nation's most critical health-care issues. Of transforming medicine.

Campaign update
The Transforming Medicine Campaign has reached an exciting milestone, with gift commitments now surpassing $200 million. The Transforming Medicine gala in mid-May epitomized the energy and momentum driving the Campaign and itself raised over $1.1 million for the C. Everett Koop Medical Science Complex.The Campaign total to date includes 15 gift commitments of $1 million or more.These lead gifts are supporting a variety of campaign priorities—including endowed scholarships and professorships; cancer care and research at Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center; special programs at the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth; innovative mental health initiatives; palliative-care efforts; and the collaborative, translational research that will eventually move into the Koop Medical Science Complex.

Learning more
For more about the Transforming Medicine Campaign, visit http://transmed.dartmouth.edu


Kate Villars is assistant director of development communications for DMS-DHMC.

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