$ 1 million gift establishes pediatric endowed chair and professorship
Generous Action
$ 1 million gift establishes pediatric endowed chair and professorship
lma Golden , MD , associate
A professor of pediatrics working part-time at Scott & White Healthcare , and Bruce Golden , a mechanical engineer , are deeply committed to children , and especially to their healthcare needs . Motivated by that commitment , the couple donated nearly $ 1 million to strengthen the research and academic goals of the Pediatric Department at Scott & White .
“ We are passionate about wanting a strong healthcare system that addresses the needs of the region ,” says Dr . Golden . “ Nationally , Scott & White has a unique niche and sets some patterns on how to do excellent academic medicine in a private healthcare setting . We want to see that developed to a full extent .”
The gift provides for an endowed chair for the Pediatric Department , which will generate a stream of funding to support the pursuit of research , education and program activities . “ Dr . Don Wilson , the immediate past chair of Pediatrics , inspired us to see the value of an endowment to support a true academic chair position ,” Dr . Golden says . The chair ’ s position will allow time to focus on the teaching and medical research components that are so critical to a worldclass academic children ’ s hospital . Because of its perpetual nature , an endowed chair , through its earnings , sustains these activities throughout future years .
“ We value an organization where the physical , emotional and spiritual needs of the children and families can be addressed by loving clergy , social workers and child life specialists , as well as excellent healthcare providers . There are a lot of caring people at Scott & White who naturally reach out on multiple levels ,” says Dr . Golden .
The remainder of the Goldens ’ donation will serve as seed money that launches a fund drive to establish the Cooney professorship in pediatric surgery at the Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine in Temple .
A longtime member of the senior staff at Scott & White , Dr . Don Cooney passed away in 2008 . He was a professor of pediatrics and surgery , the director of the division of pediatric surgery and the chief of children ’ s surgery for the Children ’ s Hospital at Scott & White .
“ Our oldest son , Dr . Matt Davis , is one of the newest faculty members at Scott & White . He trained under Dr . Cooney and benefited tremendously from observing his artistry and skill in surgery . We wanted to recognize Dr . Cooney as the type of individual we love to see in pediatric specialty care . Our son , like many others , is fortunate to have learned so much from him ,” says Dr . Golden .
“ This professorship will allow us to honor Dr . Cooney ’ s memory and build on his legacy with a goal that no child need leave Central Texas for surgical care of any sort . We are truly grateful ,” says Dr . W . Roy Smythe , chairman of surgery for Scott & White Healthcare and professor of surgery , Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine . The Cooney professorship will support medical education in pediatric surgery and treatment by providing funding for visiting professors as well as ongoing educational activities for medical students , residents and fellows . ■
“ Nationally , Scott & White has a unique niche and sets some patterns on how to do excellent academic medicine in a private healthcare setting . We want to see that developed to a full extent .”
— Alma Golden , MD
Winter 09 THE CATALYST 27