Jane and Cyrus Farrehi at the Medical School 's gala sesquicentennial celebration on October 13, 2000

They never went to school at Michigan. Their lives were never saved by Michigan physicians. They never even lived in Ann Arbor. So why did Cyrus Farrehi, M.D., and his wife, Jane, decide to give $1.5 million to the new Cardiovascular Center in the U-M Health System?

The answer is two-fold and beautiful. First, it lies in a deep-seated sense of civic duty that drives this Flint-based cardiologist and his wife. Theirs is a belief system born of an abiding love of — and concern for — humanity. Second, it recognizes the crucial role of the world's institutions of higher learning. They consider U-M an extraordinary exemplar of this group, accomplishing great things, simple or complex, every day, just a 50-minute drive from their home.

Lots of people acknowledge society's many ills, wring their hands, assign copious blame, and then go about their day. Cyrus and Jane Farrehi, quite simply, decided to get busy and do something in a big way, and the people of Michigan will be the better for it. Their gift will make possible the Cyrus and Jane Farrehi Professorship of Cardiovascular Research in the University of Michigan Medical School, a new position that will supervise all heart and vascular research, either bench or clinical.

Farrehi explains. "We are not graduates of the University of Michigan and don't need to be. Our feelings about U-M are a part of our convictions as ordinary citizens.

"All colleges are of great social import and all deserve backing from every citizen. U-M also happens to be a flagship. We strongly believe that our centers of higher learning are the hatching ground for solutions to problems we face — fundamental problems such as ignorance, stagnation, decay, poverty, inequality and intolerance. Bearing the burden of progress, these centers are also vulnerable. Jane and I believe the simplest and most effective way to help humanity in its cultural evolution is to promote higher learning and the centers that provide it."

Farrehi was born in Malayer, Iran. He received his medical degree from the University of Teheran in 1958. He completed his internship and residency at Wayne County General Hospital where he met Jane, the daughter of a nurse he worked with. The pair was married in 1964.

Farrehi completed a cardiology fellowship at the University of Oregon in 1964. Since then, his career has brought him to the faculties of the University of Alberta Medical School, the University of Oregon Medical School, the University of Michigan-Flint, and the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, where he is a clinical professor of medicine. Farrehi has also served as chief of staff at McLaren Regional Medical Center and president of the Genesee County Medical Society. Today, in addition, he deeply enjoys sharing a private practice in Flint with his son, Peter, and, he confesses, wears heart ties all year round. Farrehi is also among 34 distinguished members of the U-M Cardiovascular Center 's national advisory board, established to help guide the center's programs and future plans.

The Farrehis and former Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Gil Omenn

With Farrehi's strong conviction that universities hold within them the power to solve so many of the world's social ills, why did he choose to support the Cardiovascular Center and not, say, a public policy think-tank?

"As a cardiologist," he says, "I thought the more faithful I remained to my personal interest and work, the better I could be in providing help."

Farrehi seems genuinely surprised by the attention the gift has garnered. "It was an extremely easy decision," he says, "when I recognized that, in an effort to improve the world-at-large, we must begin in our own locality. The centers of higher education come first if there is to be any hope for progress in the big picture."

Jane Farrehi says that respect for education runs deep in her family. "My parents were great role models in supporting schools. There were nine of us and we all went to Catholic schools, but my parents always voted for public school millages because they realized how important public education was. Cyrus's mother was a teacher and a very generous person too."

The Farrehis themselves may not be Michigan grads, but three of their four children have spent valuable time here. Peter Farrehi, M.D., did his internship, residency and two fellowships here. His wife, Janice Farrehi, M.D., also completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the U-M. The Farrehi's younger daughter, Mary Delzer, graduated with a kinesiology degree, and daughter Lisa Miserlian was in the midst of an internal medicine residency here when she put medicine on hold to raise a family. Paul Farrehi chose Colorado College and Washington University School of Law.

"I really think it is our duty to support and help not only those who can't afford higher education, but also those institutions that are very worthy, as I believe the University of Michigan is," says Jane Farrehi. "Cyrus has worked very hard to be able to do this. He has always been impressed by the U-M's accomplishments and contributions to academics, science and education."

-WH