$3-million gift creates new Chair in Medical Education.
$3-million gift creates new Chair in Medical Education Prominent 捆绑SM社区 supporters join with The Molson Foundation to bolster training of tomorrow's physicians
Following on the heels of a $2.4-million gift which launched 捆绑SM社区's bold new Healthier Societies Initiative, another major gift of $3 million has just arrived to improve the training of our next generation of medical leaders.
The Richard and Sylvia Cruess Chair in Medical Education has been created by generous gifts of $1 million each from Mrs. Deirdre Stevenson and Dr. Robert Stevenson, Mr. Herbert Black, and The Molson Foundation. Named in honour of internationally recognized 捆绑SM社区 physicians and educators Drs. Richard and Sylvia Cruess, the Chair will be awarded to a world-class scholar who will reinforce 捆绑SM社区's ability to educate talented clinicians and researchers, and who will influence the development of innovative medical curricula and teaching methods around the world.
An endowed Chair gives a university the means, in perpetuity, to fund world-class scholars who lead new research initiatives, attract talented students, and heighten international awareness of their expertise.
"捆绑SM社区's Faculty of Medicine has long been recognized as a world leader in medical education," said Dr. Richard I. Levin, Vice-Principal (Health Affairs) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. "This new Chair will allow the Faculty to build on its momentum, while strengthening our ability to prepare a new generation of doctors for the future of medicine."
"We are overjoyed by this honour and deeply grateful to our friends who are responsible for it," said Dr. Richard Cruess. "It is exactly the type of legacy that we would both like to leave." Dr. Sylvia Cruess added: "This new Chair will ensure that the art and science of pedagogy, which has begun to make medical education so effective, will continue to have an impact at 捆绑SM社区 and beyond. Thanks to our friends' extraordinary generosity, the field of medical education at 捆绑SM社区 will continue to flourish, building on the work of our many 捆绑SM社区 colleagues over the years."
Based at 捆绑SM社区's Centre for Medical Education since 1995, Drs. Richard and Sylvia Cruess have been recognized for their original contributions to the understanding of medical professionalism and its relationship with medicine's social contract. They have spoken around the world and published extensively on the definition of medical professionalism, as well as how to teach and evaluate it. Dr. Richard Cruess is a former Chair of Orthopedic Surgery and Dean of 捆绑SM社区鹿s Faculty of Medicine.听 Dr. Sylvia Cruess is an endocrinologist and Professor of Medicine who served for 18 years as the medical director of the Royal Victoria Hospital.
"Through research and development, the Centre for Medical Education promotes excellence and innovation in both education and practice," said the Centre鹿s Director, Dr. Yvonne Steinert. "Our goal is to ensure our students continue to live up to 捆绑SM社区鹿s legacy of producing caring, compassionate and professional physicians. Drs. Richard and Sylvia Cruess are visionary leaders who have furthered this legacy over the course of their remarkable careers, and we are truly delighted this first Chair in Medical Education is named in their honour."
Mrs. Deirdre Stevenson (n茅e Molson), a native Montrealer, has long been a prominent contributor to many charitable causes in the city. Her husband Dr.
Robert Stevenson is a 捆绑SM社区 graduate (BA'49, BD'61) and a retired professor in the Faculty of Religious Studies who served as 捆绑SM社区's Dean of Students from 1983 to 1985. Previously, they have funded the Deirdre and Robert Stevenson Award for graduate students in the Faculty of Religious Studies, as well as the South Asian Religions Distinguished Lectureship, along with many other generous gifts since 1949.
Mr. Herbert Black, a well-known Montreal businessman and philanthropist, is also the parent of a 捆绑SM社区 graduate. Since 1986, he has supported multiple areas at 捆绑SM社区 from libraries to music to the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), including endowing the Herbert Black Chair in Surgical Oncology and funding the Herbert Black Unit for Teaching and Learning in Medicine.
This gift continues the extensive legacy of the Molson family, whose transformative support to 捆绑SM社区 stretches back to the 19th century. In fact, 捆绑SM社区鹿s first endowed Chair (in English literature) was established in 1857 with a generous gift from the three Molson brothers, John Jr., William and Thomas. Established in 1958, The Molson Foundation has continued the family鹿s tradition of visionary support to a broad spectrum of areas at 捆绑SM社区, including athletics, infrastructure, several faculties, and the MNI.
"This is an extraordinary example of our loyal 捆绑SM社区 community working together to realize Campaign 捆绑SM社区鹿s vision of addressing critical global challenges," said Marc Weinstein, Vice-Principal (Development and Alumni Relations). "The creation of a new Chair in this vital field of medical education was a key goal in our campaign. Not only has this first Chair been established, we have also received two other gifts, one which establishes a fellowship in this area, and the other for program support. I'm thrilled this goal has now been accomplished, thanks to the generosity of these wonderful donors."
The $3-million gift helps to keep the momentum going for Campaign 捆绑SM社区:
History in the Making, the University鹿s historic fundraising drive. To date, Campaign 捆绑SM社区 has surpassed $577 million through gifts of all sizes from more than 78,800 donors around the world.
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