The power of philanthropy
I was excited to hear this week about the landmark 10-year 540 million grant from the Gates Foundation to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at UW to strengthen freely available, scientifically rigorous health evidence used by governments, researchers, and leaders to improve the health and well-being of people in Washington and all across the world.
Philanthropy plays such an important part of what we are able to do in the UW DOM. It literally has the power to fund research institutes and programs that are life-saving to patients with both common and rare diseases. It also can be a game-changer in clinical care and education and how we provide care and medical education to the entire WWAMI region.
This week I met with the leadership of UW advancement, and we identified a number of philanthropic opportunities across multiple DOM divisions that we will actively pursue in the upcoming months and years. In my academic career, I have met so many generous and grateful patients and families that truly want to be able to change people's lives, and we in academia have the infrastructure to make those dreams come true. When I give grand rounds (September 11 at noon, hint hint) soon, I'll touch on a real-life example of how the beauty of academia mixed with some generous donors can really move the narrative from one of no hope and almost certain death to a treatable condition where people can lead a completely normal life.
In my brief time here, the most remarkable thing that I've seen thus far within philanthropy is what our faculty themselves are doing for the UW DOM. I've already spoken to three emeritus or soon-to-be-retiring professors who have informed me that they have committed to funding professorships or endowed chairs through donations and/or bequests.
I have never seen this kind of thing before and in talking with other UW DOM faculty from outside institutions, they have not either! This is clearly an amazing testament to the wonderful faculty that we attract and the deep commitment that they have to the UW DOM where they have enjoyed deeply fulfilling and impact careers. We really owe all of them a huge debt of gratitude.
I very much look forward to working with many of you on philanthropic gifts (big and small!) that will continue to make our department and institution even better than it already is!
Leading with purpose
Our prior UCLA DOM administrative chief of staff came to Seattle for vacation recently and dropped by to visit me. We had breakfast at Saint Bread and she gave me the most amazing gift from the UCLA DOM. I shed a few tears that day reading through ~50 pages of personal messages mixed with pictures of my old colleagues and friends.
One line from the first page said this: "you led with calm strength, humanity, integrity, and an unwavering belief in the people around you." Since coming to UW only two months ago, I have felt that same sentiment and drive, which is that I have an incredible amount of faith in the people around me and what we will all accomplish together. Leadership, after all, is a transfer of belief - it starts by believing in others more than you believe in yourself.
On the day that I received the gift, I sent a text to my old boss/chair Dale Abel, thanking him for such a thoughtful gift and you can see our exchange here.
I have since put this book in a very visible spot in my office here where it will serve as a constant reminder to me to continue Leading with Purpose.
That is my firm commitment to my UCLA colleagues and most importantly to all of you here in the UW DOM.