Driving the Future of Children’s and Women’s Medicine

Doors Open to New C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital

The leaders and best became even better with the December 2011 opening of the U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, a new facility that helps continue to evolve, transform and drive the future of children’s and women’s medicine.

Leadership gifts from two philanthropic foundations laid the groundwork for this venture. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation helped create a center of healing for sick children more than four decades ago when the original hospital was built at the U-M. As the need for a new building became clear, the foundation again made a generous contribution toward its construction, solidifying its legacy of commitment to the children of Michigan and beyond.

The Ted and Jane Von Voigtlander Foundation made an historic gift resulting in the naming of the U-M women’s health program and the women’s hospital. Gwen Haggerty-Bearden, Steven Bearden and Jeff Von Voigtlander represent the foundation board. The gift is the largest ever given to the U-M in the area of obstetrics/gynecology and maternal health.

The massive construction project would not have been possible without these organizations, and the following generous individuals and foundations who made major contributions to the new facility.

Jeff Backus, of the Detroit Lions, met his wife, Regan, at the U-M where they became involved with Mott. The couple supports children’s health and has invested significant time and resources in Mott.

When Ed and Leann Boullion’s daughter was a cancer patient at Mott in 1991, they realized the benefits hospitalized children experience through visits from U-M student-athletes. They founded the Michigan from the Heart Foundation to ensure those visits would continue. The foundation also holds an annual golf outing to benefit Mott. The Boullions reside in Dexter, Michigan.

Jan and David Brandon, of Ann Arbor, co-chaired the Champions for Children campaign to build the new facility, and gave generously to the cause. The neonatal intensive care unit in the new building is named in honor of their adult twin sons Nick and Chris, who were NICU patients at Mott during their earliest days.

The Carls Foundation was founded in 1961 by Detroit industrialist William Carls and his wife, Marie. William died in 1995 and Marie in 1981. Today, the members of the foundation’s board, all of whom knew the couple, carry out their goal of bettering the lives of children, in part through a generous contribution to the new building.

Former U-M football coach Lloyd Carr and his wife, Laurie, co-chaired the Champions for Children campaign with the Brandons. Their leadership also inspired athletes, volunteers, faculty, staff and community members to contribute their time and resources to the project.

Paula Crosby-Flake and her late husband, Walter, created the John R. Crosby Memorial Foundation in memory of their son. Both Walter and John lost their lives to cancer. Paula’s support of Mott and cancer research has helped numerous families in difficult circumstances.

Chicago-based U-M alumni Joan and David Evans believe that getting involved at Mott meets their philanthropic goals — helping children, contributing to health care and supporting the U-M. The Evanses made a gift to support the Child Behavior Health and Autism Clinic in the new building.

A gift from the estate of Lydia Foley established the Finlan Renzo GorgEffen Fund to benefit the U-M Brain Research and Innovative Neurological Care for Newborns Program, providing state-of-the-art care for newborns with neurological problems. Two rooms and two alcoves on the 8th floor of the new Mott facility have been named for Foley and GorgEffen.

Al Glick, of Jackson, Michigan, and his family, through the Alvin L. Glick Foundation and the Alro Steel Foundation, are longstanding partners of the U-M Department of Athletics and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Gifts from both foundations have supported construction of the new hospital. Glick honored former U-M football coach Lloyd Carr by naming the cancer unit on the 7th floor the Coach Carr Unit.

Brian Griese, Steve Hutchinson, Jake Long and Charles Woodson are former U-M football players who have gone on to accomplished professional careers, and who share a deep connection with and dedication to Mott. Brian, Steve and Charles are responsible for the annual Griese/Hutchinson/Woodson Champions for Children’s Hearts Weekend, which includes an auction and charity golf outing to benefit Mott. The lobby in the new hospital is named for Charles, as is the clinical research fund he established to advance discoveries that have the potential to change, improve and advance treatment approaches for children. All four athletes, along with Brian’s wife, Brook, Steve’s wife, Landyn, and Jake’s wife, Jackie, have given generously of their personal time and resources to better the lives of Mott patients and their families.

Mother-daughter philanthropic team Lauraine Hoensheid and Jane Beam have supported the capital campaign and will be honored with three named spaces in the new facility: the Lauraine Hoensheid Radiology Waiting Area, the Beam Family Helipad and the Beam Family NICU Lounge. Beam resides in Brighton, Michigan, and Hoensheid splits her time between Brighton and Florida.

Carole Holmes, of Ann Arbor, and her husband, Howdy, have established the Carole Holmes Fund for Pediatrics and also support North Star Reach camp for seriously ill children, as well as the hospital. Carole is an accomplished artist and several of her works can be found within the new building.

Michiganian and former U-M football player Larry Johnson and his wife, Diane, have contributed funding toward the new hospitals, and established the Larry and Diane Johnson Research Fund for pediatric research investigators. Diane has volunteered for many Mott event committees, and Larry has contributed his time as a volunteer Santa at Mott during the holidays.

Wayne and Shelly Jones, of Belleville, Michigan, through the Jones Family Foundation, have offered their time, talent and support to the hospital; the Wayne and Shelly Jones Family Center in the new building honors their involvement.

The Benard L. Maas Foundation, created in 1942, has assisted many programs at the U-M and Mott, including gifts to bedside music, music therapy and play areas, with the goal of supporting laughter and creative enrichment as part of the healing process. Benard Maas, born in 1896, achieved success in Detroit’s auto part supply industry and dedicated himself to giving away his fortune.

Jon Runyan played football at the U-M and with the Philadelphia Eagles, and later became the fourth professional football player to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout his career, he has continued to support Mott and its patients.

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, residents Helen and Mike Vlasic have passionately supported the U-M for many years. The Helen and Mike Vlasic Family Spiritual Care area of the new hospital honors that support.

Timothy Wadhams, president and CEO of Masco Corporation, and his wife, Laurie, of Ann Arbor, made a significant gift to help construct the new hospitals. In recognition, the gymnasium in the new facility was named the Laurie and Tim Wadhams Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Gym.

William Zirinsky and Ruth Schekter, of Ann Arbor, made a gift to Mott to honor their children, Sam and Juliana Zirinsky, who were patients there. Sam died in 2004, and Juliana in 2008, both at age 9, and both from the same rare, degenerative, neurometabolic disorder. The couple supports family-centered care at Mott through the Pediatrics Palliative Care program.

—ANNA BEEMAN AND MARIE FROST

Professorships Recently Inaugurated

Max and Buena Lichter made a difference in the lives of thousands of people — Max by caring for patients for 50 years, and Buena through her dedicated volunteer work and philanthropy. To honor their memory, their children — Allen Lichter (M.D. 1972), and his wife, Evie; and Paul Lichter (M.D. 1964, Residency 1968) and his wife, Carolyn — established the Dr. Max and Buena Lichter Research Professorship in Family Medicine. Mack T. Ruffin IV, M.D., a professor of family medicine who researches patient and physician practices relative to cancer prevention, was installed as the first Lichter Professor on November 21.

The John R. Pfeifer Collegiate Professorship in Vascular Surgery was established in 2011 through gifts from multiple donors, including the Pfeifer family. Inaugurated on December 1, the professorship recognizes the achievements of a former Medical School faculty member who founded the Division of Venous Disease — the first such academic division established in the U.S. Pfeifer died in 2009. Professor of Surgery Enrique Criado, M.D., is the first Pfeifer Professor.

Where Fovette Dush saw need, she stepped in to help with little fanfare. Dush, who died in 2010 a few months after her 90th birthday, gave a substantial portion of her estate to the U-M to support neurodegenerative muscular research. The Fovette E. Dush Early Career Professorship was inaugurated December 1, installing Brian C. Callaghan, M.D., an assistant professor of neurology and associate director of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinic, as the first Dush Professor.

Established through the Charles B. de Nancrede Memorial Fund, the Charles B. de Nancrede Professorship in Surgery, inaugurated February 29, honors the founder and head of the Department of Surgery from 1889-1917 and his contributions to the U-M and the medical community. Author of the textbook Essentials of Anatomy and Manual of Practical Dissection, de Nancrede died in 1921. Professor of Surgery and Assistant Dean for Instructional Faculty Kevin C. Chung, M.D. (Residency 1994), is the first de Nancrede Professor.

The Robert Bartlett, M.D., Collegiate Professorship in Pediatric Surgery — inaugurated March 20 — was established through the generosity of alumni, colleagues and friends of Robert H. Bartlett (M.D. 1963), a pioneer in extracorporeal life support. The professorship is named for both Bartlett and his father, Robert M. Bartlett (M.D. 1934, Residency 1939). The first Bartlett Professor is George B. Mychaliska, M.D., an associate professor of surgery, and of obstetrics and gynecology, in the Medical School. —KB