Tuesday, Oct. 6, marked the most recent edition of the Circle of Distinction event. This program, which was initiated about a decade ago in the UNMC College of Medicine and, due to its success, subsequently expanded to all UNMC colleges and institutes, recognizes the faculty newly appointed or reappointed to endowed chairs and professorships since the prior event, as well as the philanthropic donors who established these endowments. Both the awardee and donor receive a medallion commemorating the event.
These invested endowments provide an annual revenue stream whose use is governed by the agreement that established them but generally are used to provide salary support and/or support for professional activities at the discretion of the holder.
Thirty-one UNMC College of Medicine faculty were recognized at this year’s Circle of Distinction event. There are currently 125 endowed chairs and professorships in the college, approximately threefold more than 15 years ago. More are in the process of creation.
This dramatic increase reflects the generosity of our benefactors, as well as the efforts of the development officers of the NU Foundation, led in the case of the UNMC College of Medicine by Brian Anderson, as well as the Children’s Nebraska Foundation, which has supported the development of several endowed positions in pediatric disciplines.
These endowments allow us to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our faculty and provide them resources to pursue their professional passions that, in turn, benefit our trainees and community. The funds are particularly impactful in times of financial challenge, such as we have encountered the past few years and likely will continue to into the future.
Congratulations to all of our faculty who are recognized through their appointments to endowed chairs and professorships. Your accomplishments do UNMC proud and it was a pleasure to join you in the celebration of your success.