Endowment to Support International Program

A new gift from an old friend—the Jerome Jacobson Foundation—will ensure Kellogg can continue to grow international partnerships to save sight, drive research progress, and educate the next generation of ophthalmology leaders at the University of Michigan and globally.

“Anything we can do to help the rest of the world is the right thing to do,” says Louis Rubinfield, a foundation trustee. “We are excited about Kellogg’s partnerships, especially in Africa and the Caribbean, and want to allow those who will be supported by the endowment to get better training and to impact the world. That’s a big wish, but everything takes one small step at a time.”

Dr. Tsedeke Alemu, retina specialist at St. Paul's, Dr. Nelson, Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin, M.D., the Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Scott Lawrence, M.D.

The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is one of the most active participants in the Medical School’s Global REACH program, the platform for international collaborations. The Jacobson Foundation has been making annual gifts to support Kellogg’s international activities for many years. The $1 million gift—establishing the Jerome Jacobson International Program—will continue that support in perpetuity, fueling joint efforts noted in prior and this year’s Annual Reports:

• Ophthalmology residency training and pediatric eye screenings in Ethiopia at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium College of Medicine

• Pediatric ophthalmology and other subspecialty fellowship programs set up in Ghana

• Joint research and training experiences in India

• Screening and eye surgery in Jamaica

• Joint training opportunities and high-impact clinical and epidemiological research in Kenya

• Collaborative research projects and educational exchanges in Brazil

• Research projects in Vanuatu, to detect diabetic retinopathy using a camera developed at Kellogg

Mr. Jacobson, who passed away in 2008, was diagnosed with glaucoma as a young adult and was deeply grateful for the care he received at Kellogg, which helped him maintain his sight throughout his life. A distinguished economist who worked for the State Department during the Kennedy Administration, Mr. Jacobson was knowledgeable about international issues, including trade policies. Supporting Kellogg’s international work is very meaningful, says foundation trustee John R. “Dick” Breen.

“I am always amazed at how much potential is involved in these exchanges between doctors and countries and how it benefits everybody in the long run.”

Outside St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College.