MOMENTUM
On the Cover At the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, healthcare workers like Jacqueline Ward-Gaines, MD, are on the front lines fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, bravely caring for patients. It hasn’t been an easy task, but Dr. Ward-Gaines’ background prepared her for it. Her former career as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Army led to a strong interest in emergency management, and eventually, a role as an emergency physician treating patients in the Emergency Department at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, where she brings an arsenal of skills. Dr. Ward-Gaines also holds an important leadership role on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the CU Department of Emergency Medicine, helping to ensure that all students receive an equitable education that eliminates health disparities of their future patients. In addition, She spearheads a DEI curriculum for emergency medicine residents, and works within the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine to bring DEI resources to the forefront of medicine. A faculty member since 2006, Dr. Ward-Gaines serves tirelessly to deliver high-quality care to patients, while rising to meet extraordinary new challenges.
Table of Contents 2 | Letter from the Chancellor 3 | The Campus Responds to the Unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic 4 | ostering a Diverse and Equitable Campus 6 | Community Drives Innovation in Lung Cancer Research 8 | Collaborative Treatment Inspires Infectious Diseases Fund 10 | Scholarship Honors Veterans and Their Families 12 | Care Team Provides Comfort Through Cancer Treatment
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COVID-19
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C A R E A N D C O M M U N I T Y
I N N O V AT I O N
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CARE AND COMMUNITY
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A Scientist’s Impact Through Mentorship and Novel Therapeutics
16 | An Entrepreneur’s Legacy and E D U C AT I O N
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Diversity Scholarships
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CARE AND COMMUNITY
Nurses: Everyday Heroes
22 | Alumna Creates Legacy E D U C AT I O N
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C A R E A N D C O M M U N I T Y
Honoring a Family Tradition of Dentistry
24 | A Year of Generosity ‑1‑
WEB EXTRAS
Dive into the stories of Momentum. Web Extras help you further explore the important and exciting work happening at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.
With Gratitude While the past year has been one marked by unprecedented challenges, it has also been one defined by community, hope and healing. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept our country and our world, our campus came together in a shared spirit and common purpose. Through it all, we have seen very clearly what we have long known — all of the work undertaken every day at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus matters for the simple reason that it is in service to people. Generous benefactors like you make our work possible — whether that’s pursuing new therapies, delivering care in our clinics or teaching future leaders in health to do the same. This year, you have been vital to our ability to face headon the many great challenges this crisis brings, and to address the longstanding racial inequities that deepen its impacts. We are making progress and there is much more to do. This annual publication, brought to you in digital-only format this year, was created five years ago to celebrate the impact of our philanthropic partners. And while 2020 is different in many ways from years past, that impact has perhaps never been more apparent in the lives and work of the students, faculty, staff and healthcare providers who call CU Anschutz home. The stories that follow highlight our response to COVID-19 and our commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as celebrate the selfless and compassionate care of nurses, innovation in cancer care and infectious diseases, and the life-changing impact of mentorship and scholarship support. I hope they are as inspiring to you as they are to me. On behalf of our campus community and all of those we serve, thank you. Your partnership is essential. It matters. These stories and countless more like them are a true testament to that. With gratitude,
DONALD M. ELLIMAN, JR. Chancellor University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
3,000+
1,350
40
15,000
telehealth visits per day
patients recovered and were discharged home or to a post-acute care facility
COVID-19 testing and antibody sample collection sites open across Colorado
patient samples collected for research
Tackling the Pandemic While the COVID-19 crisis has disrupted each of the mission areas of research, patient care, education and innovation at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, we met the challenge with a swift response. In early March, university leadership moved to remote teaching, learning and work and jumpstarted important research in May. At UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH), healthcare providers and other frontline staff have continued their selfless work in caring for patients, and ensuring the health and safety of our community. The true heroes during this pandemic have not only been the patients who have braved this time, but also the healthcare providers, such as doctors, nurses, other team members and countless students. They are the dedicated individuals who are on the front lines, rallying to protect the health and well-being of patients and the wider community. We count you, our philanthropic community, among these heroes, raising more than $3 million to support coronavirus relief efforts. Funds have helped accelerate the pace of research for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, as well as provided valuable resources to meet the needs of our medical staff at UCH. Your support has made an incredible impact in the fight against COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most significant challenge our generation of healthcare providers has ever faced. Our philanthropic community has given us the flexibility to allocate resources to the greatest needs of our most vulnerable patients, families and caregivers during this unprecedented time. Christopher Gessner President & CEO, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
In the midst of the crisis, we have come together to lead and support efforts to battle the pandemic. We have achieved a great deal with your help: • We boosted access to telehealth to safely deliver care to more patients, ramping up online visits from a couple hundred per week to nearly 3,000 per day. • Multiple studies are underway on campus, including the first large-scale clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. by Moderna. We plan to enroll patients in the 30,000-person experimental trial. We are also the sole regional site of a clinical trial of the antiviral drug Remdesivir. • Students contributed more than 12,000 volunteer service hours monitoring discharged patients, distributing food to providers and organizing personal protective equipment drives. • Our COVID-19 biobank has collected more than 15,000 biological samples from UCH and Children’s Hospital Colorado to inform ongoing research.
87,000 COVID-19 and antibody tests completed ‑3‑
Fostering a Diverse and Equitable Campus This year, the CU Anschutz Medical Campus announced the appointment of Associate Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement, Regina D. Richards, PhD, MSW. Having served at CU Anschutz for more than two decades, Dr. Richards is committed to guiding the campus in the years ahead by promoting diversity, as well as enhancing our connection to the broader community. We sat down with Dr. Richards to learn about her vision for change, and how philanthropy can help her reach her goals.
What called you to do this critical work? Regina D. Richards, PhD, MSW
Honoring the Legacy of a True Pioneer in Medicine The Charles J. Blackwood, MD, Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund recognizes the life and legacy of 1947 alumnus Dr. Charles Blackwood, the first African American graduate of the CU School of Medicine. The scholarship was named in Dr. Blackwood’s memory with the support of fundraising efforts by Drs. Johnny Johnson, Warren Johnson, Regina Richards, Terri Richardson, Brenda Allen, and many other members of the Mile High Medical Society, a Denver-based organization of Black healthcare professionals. Dr. Blackwood’s legacy lives on through this scholarship, paving the way for generations of diverse healthcare leaders.
I do this work because it’s the right thing to do. I do this work because there are social determinants of health that influence differences in the delivery of, and access to, healthcare. They can work to the advantage of some and the detriment of others. I understand the structural systems that have been built, and I want to eliminate barriers to social justice and help achieve a sense of belonging for all.
What campus initiatives are underway?
Part of my vision is to help foster a diverse and equitable campus, where underrepresented and minority populations feel that they belong here. It’s about dismantling and eliminating the barriers that prevent them from obtaining positions on our campus. We also need to adopt best practices around hiring procedures. To be an excellent academic medical campus, we have to aspire to have excellent people here. When we look for excellence, diversity shows up and has a seat at the table.
What community efforts are you prioritizing?
There is such richness in our surrounding community. Our responsibility is to change our culture, climate and the landscape so that the community will want to engage with us. We can start by exploring opportunities to recruit from within the community. We can also engage our communities by conducting studies with diverse populations. Using a health equity lens, we can celebrate the science behind our differences, and develop evidence-based practices that will elevate not just some, but all.
How can philanthropy help?
Philanthropic resources can help us assist families that are underinsured or uninsured in accessing basic care and subspecialty care. Health is not just diagnoses and diseases —it is those additional services that we must provide, such as mental healthcare and preventative care. Philanthropy can also help us uplift the community we serve. As an academic medical campus in an ethnically diverse region, we are uniquely positioned to create strong ties with the communities and individuals around us that enrich our lives. It is our responsibility to reach beyond the bounds of our campus to bring others along. Dr. Blackwood with young patient, Nancy, and her mother, Thelma
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We look forward to building on the foundation of strength Dr. Richards has helped put into place on our campus, and to developing new initiatives that make an impact across our greater community. Donald M. Elliman, Jr. Chancellor University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Does private support impact minority health?
Private support can help our campus become a platform for minority health and health disparities research, made possible by working with generous benefactors to establish named centers for minority health. Named funds such as endowed chairs, professorships or lectureships are also opportunities to advance minority health and honor the legacies of underrepresented minorities in medicine.
How do scholarships support a diverse student body?
Dr. Richards and some of her mentees
Scholarship support helps remove barriers for underrepresented minorities who look to access a worldclass education at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Financial support for mentorship also allows students from diverse backgrounds to achieve their dreams of becoming tomorrow’s medical leaders. I would not be
where I am today without the mentorship I received. Philanthropy can also enrich students’ educational experiences through funding for conferences, professional development and participation in other community-driven projects. Everyone has dollars to give, no matter the amount.
Ensuring a Diverse Healthcare Workforce Scholarships are making a difference for individuals like Sanaa Ahmad, a medical student in the Class of 2022 and recipient of The Anschutz Foundation Endowed Scholarship. Ahmad attributes a healthcare career exploration program in high school, which provided volunteer experience and mentorship, to sparking her interest in medicine. She said, “This scholarship makes me feel supported to make medicine a more inclusive and advocacy-oriented field – it reminds me that I have a team on my side.” ‑5‑ ‑5‑
Symbiosis and Golf: Driving Innovation in ALK+ Lung Cancer
We are each made of approximately 20,00025,000 genes. Each of these genes can have between a few hundred to 2 million DNA bases. Of the innumerable potential combinations of genetic material that make us both similarly human and uniquely individual, just a small handful of errors can lead to serious illnesses. Sometimes we are born Emily Daniels with her parents, Ellen and Frank Rondi (center), and her younger sister, Melissa Rondi, at the Links for with these errors and sometimes we acquire them Lungs golf tournament later in life in response to environmental factors. For Emily Daniels, an acquired break in one of her genes known as the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene caused some of her lung cells to behave abnormally, and ultimately develop into cancer cells. Nancee Pronsati was also affected by this change, which is known to be responsible for nearly one in 20 cases of lung cancer. After her diagnosis of ALK positive (ALK+) lung cancer, Emily and her family channeled their fears, anxieties, drive and grit into creating a community to treat her disease. In its first two years, the Daniels family’s annual Links for Lungs golf tournament has raised $300,000 from 400 golfers to support ALK+ lung cancer research. When Nancee and her family moved from New York to Denver so she could start treatment at the CU Cancer Center, they teamed up with Emily to contribute an additional $100,000 in funding for research. With the support of 400 golfers and 150 additional benefactors whose contributions range from $10 to $10,000, the Daniels and Pronsati families now have an entire community passionate about advancing ALK+ lung cancer research. D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, director of thoracic oncology and member of the Thoracic Oncology Research Initiative at the CU Cancer Center, values this philanthropic support to help his team pursue innovative ideas and leading-edge discoveries in personalized medicine. This approach relies on deepening our understanding of how a person’s genetics may predispose them to certain diseases. Advancing this research has made the CU Cancer Center one of the leading centers in the world for ALK+ lung cancer. D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD
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Left: The Pronsatis are helping to make Denver a hub of research, treatment and community for ALK+ Right: Emily Daniels with her children; Opposite page, top photo: Arrowhead Golf Club, setting of the Links for Lungs golf tournament
Led by Dr. Camidge, one study was conducted by the Academic Thoracic Oncology Medical Investigators Consortium (ATOMIC), a group of 14 major American and Canadian cancer centers. The team sought effective treatments for ALK+ lung cancer patients for whom the standard first-line therapy stopped working. They found great success, with a 40 percent positive response rate seen when these patients were treated with a drug called brigatinib. Even though a different, smaller study suggested brigatinib may be ineffective as a second-line treatment, Dr. Camidge and his team chose to dig a little deeper. Philanthropic support has helped them analyze samples from this study to determine who is responding and who is not. “It is only then that we can continue to drive research and treatment that is personalized to individuals. One size really does not fit all,” Dr. Camidge said. With the right resources, Dr. Camidge and his colleagues have the ability to ask big questions and pursue novel ideas. They have helped to change the standard of care many times over the last few years. “There are so many approaches to explore, and we need to prioritize our time and our resources,” said Dr. Camidge. “Philanthropic support gives us the freedom to move quickly and to respond to the needs of the moment.” It is fitting that when asked to give advice to young physicians at the 2017 World Conference on Lung Cancer, Dr. Camidge said, “Look for the question, make it feasible to answer, make the answer important – then you can change the world.” Thanks to the support of the Daniels and Pronsati families and those who are rallying around their cause, researchers like Dr. Camidge are making a meaningful and lasting impact on cancer patients and their families.
Philanthropic support gives us the freedom to move quickly and respond to the needs of the moment. D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD Director of Thoracic Oncology, CU Cancer Center Joyce Zeff Endowed Chair in Lung Cancer Research ‑7‑
Collaborative Treatment at UCH Leads to New Infectious Diseases Fund “When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses – not zebras.” Medical students learned this phrase since it was first taught in the 1940s to discourage them from chasing after rare or exotic disease diagnoses, and instead assume that a patient has an illness more common to their region. For example, if patients present with flulike symptoms in late October in the United States, it’s most likely correct to assume they have influenza. Luckily for George Sissel, his primary care physician at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH), Ron Colson, MD, heard hoof beats but had a hunch he was dealing with something more complicated than a common illness. George’s symptoms looked like the flu, and it was the right time of year for it, but something prompted Dr. Colson intuitively to order a blood culture. He instructed George and his wife, Mary, to head to the emergency room if his symptoms didn’t improve over the course of the day. They did return to UCH that evening to check into the ER. The next morning, the blood culture of the day before revealed Neisseria meningitidis, a rare bacterial infection that targets the central nervous system and can prove lethal within days. Because George was treated so quickly, he and his wife believe, the deadly infection stopped at his shoulders before it could get to his brain or heart, thus saving his life. After 13 days at UCH and 10 days of rehabilitation following surgery on both shoulders, George was back to full health and thriving. The work at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus led to George’s successful recovery. He commented, “The fact that Dr. Colson ordered the blood culture that morning meant that the morning after I entered the emergency room they had the results. They could give those results immediately to Professor of Medicine Michelle Barron, MD, in the Division of Infectious Diseases and practicing physician at UCH, who said, ‘This is a problem.’ She notified the Denver Public Health authorities.” This infection could have affected others that might have been in contact with George. The health department helped identify those individuals and offered them prophylaxes to prevent them from also getting sick. The Sissels were impressed by the constant collaboration they witnessed throughout George’s treatment. He said, “My cardiologist at UCH, Dr. Robert Quaife, was in regular consultation with Dr. Colson, and my shoulder surgeon, Dr. Nicholas Alfonso, and certainly Dr. Michelle Barron – all of them would collaborate and communicate and say, ‘What do you think we have here? We have a serious problem.’ The coordination and cooperation of all the medical personnel were just fantastic. Our family is convinced that that they all, as a group, saved my life.” George and Mary Sissel
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Michelle Barron, MD
Ronald Colson, MD
Robert Quaife, MD
Nicholas Alfonso, MD
The coordination and cooperation of all the medical personnel were just fantastic. Our family is convinced that they all, as a group, saved my life. George Sissel Dr. Barron impressed the Sissel family during George’s treatment. In January 2020, Mary, along with their daughter, Jenifer, and their son, Greg, generously established the Sissel Family Infectious Diseases Fund to support Dr. Barron in her research on infection prevention and control. A few months later, George also made a gift to support the fund. Mary said, “We watched Dr. Barron in action and wanted to support her. We know that she is sincerely dedicated to finding answers to difficult and complex infectious disease challenges. We observed her expertise and her commitment, and our family decided to invest in her work — even more critical and timely today.” When the Sissel family informed Dr. Barron that they wanted to support her work philanthropically, she was stunned. “I almost cried,” she said, “I was at a point in my research career where finding support had become increasingly challenging. Before they did this I thought, well maybe I need to wrap this up and I’ll just be done with it. Their gift has reinvigorated me. Somebody believes in me.” Dr. Barron’s plan for the Sissel Family Infectious Diseases Fund includes looking at patients who have had COVID-19 to see if there are correlations between other diseases, and whether they develop bacterial and fungal infections at higher rates than expected. Her results could inform or create new preventive measures to protect vulnerable patients from infection. In the future, Dr. Barron hopes to tackle broader public health issues that affect overlooked Colorado residents. “There are pockets of our community that are disenfranchised in terms of medical access and literacy. It would be interesting to fund a program that would research and create helpful programs including cultural- and language- specific resources for preventive care.” Though they met under dire and extremely unlikely circumstances, the Sissel family found inspiration in the collaborative nature of their UCH team. The family’s generosity, paired with Dr. Barron’s relentless compassion and curiosity, may one day offer the same lifesaving experiences for families across Colorado and beyond.
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Dario Martinez and David Elm, PhD
Elm Scholarship Honors Veterans and Their Loved Ones Two days after Dario Martinez graduated from high school, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. At just 17, he wasn’t old enough to sign his contract himself, so his mom had to sign it for him.
David Elm, PhD, a legendary former CU Skaggs and Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty member and the namesake of the scholarship, said Dario was exactly the type of student he had in mind when he created a scholarship at CU.
Not long after that, Dario left his home in Alamosa, Colorado, to become a Marine, eventually deploying to Afghanistan and becoming a marksman team leader.
“He’s the perfect fit for what that scholarship is meant to be,” Elm said. “He chose to go into the military and chose the Marine Corps. You couldn’t ask someone to do more than that.”
He didn’t know it at the time, but signing up for the military as a teenager would eventually lead Dario to a career in healthcare. That’s because he saw many of his fellow veterans become addicted to prescription medications.
The scholarship reached a major milestone when more than 50 benefactors joined together to raise $100,000. The fundraising goal, originally set in March 2018, was met on Dr. Elm’s 80th birthday in January this year. This success means that veterans or their dependents will benefit from the scholarship for years to come.
“Unfortunately, a lot of my peers didn’t do so well,” he said. “Their struggles made me want to learn more about medications.”
Dario, a 2020 doctor of pharmacy graduate, said he’s excited about how the scholarship impacts future students because he knows that receiving the award goes beyond financial support.
Dario discovered he could make a difference by studying pharmacy at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. It’s that dedication to the profession and his military service that led Dario to become the first recipient of the C. David Elm Pharmacy Practice Scholarship, which is awarded to active or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their dependents.
“It was a great honor — not just to get the scholarship, but getting to meet Dr. Elm,” said Dario. “He’s such a great guy. His mentorship since that day has been phenomenal. I couldn’t have been happier to have met him.” ‑ 10 ‑
The Apothecary at CU Boulder’s Wardenburg Health Center (left), and David Elm, PhD, (right)
Throughout his career and since his retirement, Elm has been known for mentorship.
community it’s going to develop for the recipients moving forward,” Dario said.
Starting in 1978 as the manager of the Apothecary — the full-service professional pharmacy at CU Boulder’s Wardenburg Health Center — Elm guided and taught more than a thousand pharmacists who went on to serve patients in every corner of the state. When the university approached him about establishing a scholarship in his name, Elm was certain that he wanted the award to honor those who have served.
The impact is clear for the newest recipient of the scholarship, third-year pharmacy student Mario Careaga, a six-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Mario said, “I’m grateful for this scholarship, which acknowledges veterans and their families — the support of whom is invaluable and deserves recognition. I will do my best to show my appreciation through the work I put in this year and those to come.”
“They have, in essence, signed a blank check to our country, payable if needed with their lives,” Elm said. “There is no greater call to duty than to put yourself in harm’s way to serve your country.” Elm knows the impact of military service on a personal level. His son, Jason, served in both Gulf Wars, and his grandson, Dave, is serving in the Army Reserve. Additionally, his brother-in-law, Lt. Gen. James Gordon Roudebush, served as the 19th Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force. Dario said he knows future recipients of the scholarship will be linked by Elm’s commitment and mentorship. “I’m really excited to see what this scholarship is going to do for future students and the type of
Mario Careaga
They have, in essence, signed a blank check to our country, payable if needed with their lives. There is no greater call to duty than to put yourself in harm’s way to serve your country. David Elm, PhD C. David Elm Pharmacy Practice Scholarship
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Linda and Mike Rengel
Care Team Provides Comfort Through Cancer Treatment Spring was winding to a close and summer was almost in full swing. It was June 2014. This time of year is Linda Rengel’s favorite, as the turn in the weather signifies a start to tennis season. That’s when she noticed a small lump at her left clavicle. After being told by her general practitioner that it was nothing to worry about, she sought a second opinion. A friend with whom Linda played tennis referred her to the UCHealth Women’s Integrated Services in Health (WISH) clinic at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH). By the time she visited the WISH clinic, the lump had grown to the size of a golf ball and Linda was immediately referred for a biopsy.
services, from family support to nutritional counseling.” From the beginning of her journey, Linda found comfort in the community of support provided by her medical team. “I am indebted to the radiation oncologist who went through my scans, slice by slice, and found triple the number of metastases that helped better inform my targeted radiation.” She is also very grateful for her oncologist Erin Schenk, MD, PhD. “I am over the moon with appreciation for her warmth and thoroughness. She is so caring and takes the time to go over how every single system in my body is doing.”
“It was pretty frightening to learn that the diagnosis was stage 4 advanced metastatic lung cancer.” Her only experience with lung cancer was with her father, who was a “two-pack-a-day, hard-living Oklahoma oilman.” After seeing the trajectory of his disease following her own diagnosis, Linda knew she wanted a different experience, and approached her diagnosis with a different mindset. She credits her nurses with helping her view the diagnosis as a chronic long-term condition that was manageable and not the death sentence she had envisioned. “I investigated everything CU Anschutz had to offer including their complementary and integrative medical “specialties,” Linda said. “It was comforting knowing that they had this enormous menu of
Linda with her late father, who had lung cancer ‑ 12 ‑
This should be the model, widely shared, of what cancer care can look, feel and be like. CU Anschutz has some of the best minds and facilities with some of the hardest working people who truly want to ease the cancer burden. Giving back was a no-brainer. Linda Rengel Linda’s journey has also included giving back to organizations dedicated to lung cancer research and treatment. One such group is ALK Positive, a patient support group that provides information, resources and research funding to change the future of anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive (ALK+) lung cancer. She credits D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, director of Thoracic Oncology, CU Cancer Center and Joyce Zeff Endowed Chair in Lung Cancer Research, with investing valuable time into advising the group. “I love how active Dr. Camidge is with ALK Positive in both a research and support role.” She credits him with pushing the research forward, which brings with it a renewed hope.
best minds and facilities with some of the hardest working people who truly want to ease the cancer burden. Giving back was a no-brainer.” Faith is a cornerstone of Linda’s life. She serves as a pastoral counselor at Mile Hi Church. Her work often puts her in contact with individuals who, like her, are dealing with life-changing diagnoses. She has not hesitated to bring others into the fold. “I’m not shy anymore about asking them where they are getting care and recommending UCH.” A recent study from Jose Pacheco, MD, assistant professor of medical oncology, showed progress made in treating late-stage lung cancer over the last two decades. Patients diagnosed nationally with stage 4 lung cancer from 1995 to 2001 had a 2 percent survival rate after 5 years. Now, 50 percent of patients treated for stage 4 ALK+ lung cancer at UCH between 2009 and 2017 are living 6.8 years after diagnosis. Linda is looking toward the future with optimism. “Every quarter, new drugs are being developed, new clinical trials are coming on line and the research focus is continually adapting.”
Linda is also involved with Cancer League of Colorado (CLC). When researchers at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus partnered with CLC to raise funds in support of cancer research, she was inspired by the call to action. She felt it was a “winwin situation” to philanthropically support two organizations that have impacted her life in such meaningful ways. She said, “I gave back because my experience was such a breath of fresh air when comparing it to my father’s. This should be the model, widely shared, of what cancer care can look, feel and be like. CU Anschutz has some of the
Cancer League of Colorado (CLC) has been a longstanding partner of the CU Cancer Center. Over the years, the organization has supported clinical trials that have brought therapies to patients faster, providing alternatives when standard therapies were not effective. Last year, CLC partnered with the CU Cancer Center to offer a match, tripling the impact of gifts to investigator-initiated trials on campus. The momentum this match created allowed us to surpass our goal, and individuals like Linda stepped up in support of these critical high-risk, high-reward projects. Partnerships like that of Cancer League of Colorado allow us to continue to innovate, providing the most effective therapies available to patients in Colorado and beyond.
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Impact Amplified: Eduardo Davila, PhD, on Gratitude and Paying it Forward
Eduardo Davila, PhD, is a powerhouse in the field of immunology and solid tumor immunotherapies. Recruited in 2018 to the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Dr. Davila quickly joined the leadership team at the CU Cancer Center, in charge of educational programs. He is leading our efforts in understanding the role of the immune system in the development and progression of cancer.
Eduardo Davila, PhD
Dr. Davila was drawn to CU Anschutz by the strong immunology program as well as the exceptional clinical research team, which he notes has “the most robust phase I capabilities in the nation,” offering options to people with advanced cancer when conventional treatments no longer work. The CU School of Medicine was able to recruit him with a generous gift from The Patten-Davis Foundation that endowed the Amy Davis Chair of Basic Human Immunology. Dr. Davila, who holds the chair, stresses that philanthropic funding played a critical role in his decision to join CU Anchutz.
With private support, Dr. Davila notes, faculty are able to protect some of their time, devoting themselves to pursuing new ideas that will move medicine forward. For him, that time is spent mentoring students and working alongside the current and future generations of scientists to discover the next line of immunotherapies. Dr. Davila believes his role is to help others, whether as a mentor or as an immunologist — and, upon learning of his story, it is apparent how he has turned immense gratitude into action. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, to parents from central Mexico, Dr. Davila and his now-wife welcomed their first child the summer after graduating from high school, in an environment filled with poverty, gang violence and drug abuse. Yet, Dr. Davila understood that higher education was important and enrolled in college despite being told by counselors that his future was not likely to include higher education. Unfortunately, Dr. Davila found that pursuing an education was too much for him at this time. “I failed dismally in trying to have a fulltime job, be a young father and attend college full-time. I failed at all three of those assets at the same time.” Dr. Davila took a year off and accepted a job as a cashier at a liquor store in order to support his young family. “It was so intellectually unchallenging that I felt like part of my soul was missing because I did not have the academic stimulation I needed. That’s when I decided to leave El Paso and try school again.”
Knowing that we can do good in this world is my ultimate drive. Eduardo Davila, PhD Professor of Medicine, CU Division of Medical Oncology Amy Davis Chair of Basic Human Immunology ‑ 14 ‑
Dr. Davila moved with his wife and two children to New Mexico and enrolled at New Mexico State University. There he met Glen Kuhn, MD, and Antonio Lara, PhD, both professors of chemistry and biochemistry. These relationships were pivotal. “They saw something in me that I did not yet see in myself,” said Dr. Davila. Lara offered Dr. Davila an opportunity to work in his lab. The ability to do what he loved changed Dr. Davila’s perspective and he began to imagine new possibilities. He graduated with a dual degree in chemistry and biochemistry, and qualified to participate in Maximizing Access to Research Careers, an NIH-funded program that offers financial support to foster generations of scientists from underrepresented minority groups. With this support, Dr. Davila was able to participate in research collaborations and present at national conferences. At one conference, he met Rick McGee, PhD, who ran the Patient Oriented Research Program at the Mayo Clinic. Impressed by Dr. Davila’s work, McGee recruited him to the program, and Dr. Davila and his family moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where he studied for eight years. Dr. Davila and his family then moved to New Orleans where he held his first faculty position at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. The support Dr. Davila received up to this point in his career built within him an immense sense of gratitude that would continue to grow each time he received a new opportunity. He understood how close he had been to not overcoming the challenges he had faced, and this ignited in him a dedication to mentoring those passionate about the sciences, who may be overlooked due to their circumstances or background. After his experience at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Dr. Davila was recruited to the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where he became the founder and director of the NIH-funded Science Training for Advancing Research Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (STAR-PREP). He said, “I finally felt like I was able to start giving back to the community that I came from.” The STAR-PREP program helps individuals from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in pursuing an MD/PhD. The program strengthens the research skills and academic competitiveness of participants to help meet a critical need for diverse investigators in basic and translational research. The program is
Top left: Antontio Lara, PhD, a former mentor of Davila’s Bottom right: A young Dr. Davila and his family
intended to support those with disadvantages, who work alongside a graduate research lab technician to learn how to conduct research in a professional lab setting. While CU Anschutz didn’t have a PREP program at the time Dr. Davila was recruited, it was a clear need. “A huge factor in my decision to join CU was the opportunity to bring light to underrepresentation and mentor students from the surrounding area,” he said. Dr. Davila submitted a grant to build a PREP program here. “It brings me joy knowing that I have experienced enough successes and failures in my life that I can expedite someone’s career or someone’s experiments by offering them insights and wisdom,” he said. Dr. Davila’s gratitude for the opportunities he has received and the generosity of those who have supported his work is what fuels his inquisitive nature. “What keeps me going is the ability to advance what was once a few years ago an idea in my head, and bringing that to a clinical setting — it’s incredibly rewarding. At the end of the day, that is what I’m drawn to — impacting someone’s life whether it’s as a mentor, prolonging their life, or reducing their suffering from cancer. Knowing that we can do good in this world is my ultimate drive.”
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Medical Entrepreneur George “Doc” Lopez, MD Supports Students A 1973 CU School of Medicine alumnus, George “Doc” Lopez, MD is a tremendous example of the far-reaching impact of scholarships — valuable resources that helped him realize his dream of becoming a physician. In his 47-year career, Dr. Lopez, now retired, has become well-known for inventing infusion therapy devices to enhance and save lives at the point of care, and for his many contributions to the field of medicine.
George “Doc” Lopez, MD
Dr. Lopez experienced success early in his career, beginning medical school before he even had his undergraduate degree. He joined the CU School of Medicine his junior year on a partial scholarship, after initially attending San Jose State University in California, where he grew up.
Dr. Lopez views his acceptance into CU as the defining point of his career. He said, “I wouldn’t be who I am today if I hadn’t gotten into medical school.” One of the few out-of-state students in his class, Dr. Lopez felt welcomed and empowered by the diversity of thought and leadership at the CU School of Medicine. Dr. Lopez recalls that on the first day of class, the dean said those in the room were among the brightest in Colorado, and the out-of-state students were their top applicants. It was a moment of realization for Dr. Lopez, especially as his father wanted him to do physical labor instead of going to college. Dr. Lopez is a person who looks for solutions, which is evident in his career. He not only became a physician, but also maintained an entrepreneurial spirit that drove him to inquiry. He saw opportunities to improve the practice of medicine, in addition to treating patients. While he began his career as an internist, a traumatic experience with a patient caused him to think outside of his clinical capabilities. “He was a 38-year-old man with a wife and two boys,” recalled Dr. Lopez. “He came rolling into the ICU where I was working, with chest pain and shortness of breath.” The patient was experiencing a life-threatening viral heart infection. During his care, his IV line became disconnected accidently, and he passed away as a result. Dr. Lopez made a commitment to prevent such a tragedy from happening again, which drove him to invent a device that would lock an IV into place. He saw this as a simple solution to an unnecessary, lethal problem. Yet, when he tried to sell his device to multiple companies, he was unsuccessful. Dr. Lopez’s class photo from 1973
Dr. Lopez traveled the country pitching his idea to friends who became early investors and co-founders of ICU Medical, with the goal of producing a device called the ClickLock system. This critical device alleviates the risk of IV needle dislodgement, which could affect not only patients but also healthcare workers potentially exposed to disease. The ClickLock system is now the standard equipment used to administer IVs in hospitals in the U.S. and around the world. ‑ 16 ‑
Left: Dr. Lopez and his wife, Dr. Diana Kostyra Lopez Below: Lopez holds records in free immersion and variable ballast diving; Dr. Lopez and his granddaughter, Emily
The success of the ClickLock system led to the development of other medical devices, including the DianaTM, a ChemoClave® system named after Dr. Lopez’s wife, Dr. Diana Kostyra Lopez, who passed away from cancer in 2006. The ChemoClave® system includes needle-free vascular access devices that allow pharmacists and nurses to safely mix and administer drugs used to treat cancer patients. Within the infusion therapy marketplace, Dr. Lopez’s inventions are considered “best in class” and his presence is a force in the medical device industry. Since ICU Medical’s founding in 1984, its products have saved countless lives and the company has grown exponentially. In 2014, Dr. Lopez retired as CEO and chair of the company, but has remained on the board of directors. Under his leadership, the company has broadened its impact with products designed for use in hospital operating rooms and intensive care units. Even today, Dr. Lopez’s drive to ask questions and improve lives continues in his personal quest to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease, having been diagnosed in 2008. In addition to his achievements in medicine, Dr. Lopez enjoys many outdoor pursuits including skiing, surfing and swimming. During his storied career, Dr. Lopez left an enduring footprint on the medical world. In 2018, he was honored with the Distinguished Achievement Award for work benefiting the community, the field of medicine and the provision of healthcare, by the CU Medical Alumni Association. While reflecting on all he has accomplished, Dr. Lopez emphasized that the early scholarship support he received gave him access to experiences and opportunities that, in turn, defined his career. Dr. Lopez is immensely grateful for his success, and believes that the best way to ensure others have the same opportunities he did is to support the next generation of medical students. With the establishment of the George “Doc” Lopez, MD, Distinguished Scholars Fund, Dr. Lopez’s giving philosophy is simple: “It’s the right thing to do.” Through this four-year scholarship, Dr. Lopez supports students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in medicine, who are eager to earn a CU School of Medicine degree. He noted that the school’s emphasis on inclusiveness and diversity is prominent today, as it was during his time as a student. His gifts position the CU Anschutz Medical Campus to train diverse classes of doctors and entrepreneurs who are dedicated to pursuing their dreams and eager to change the world. Dr. Lopez hopes the recipients of his scholarship will go on to “pay it forward” when they are able. He intends to help guide the best and brightest students along many career paths, whether caring for patients, finding tomorrow’s treatments or creating businesses to improve medicine. By removing the burden of debt, Dr. Lopez hopes to bolster students’ ability to change the future of medicine and to leave a lasting mark on the world.
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Nurses: Everyday Heroes Nurses are everyday heroes, working tirelessly to bring care and connection to patients. As the trusted professionals we look to during our most vulnerable times, nurses bring compassion to patient bedsides. They are leaders, advancing nursing practice and care delivery across the healthcare system, and are essential to safe and effective patient care. This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, a trailblazing figure who set the first standards in nursing. In May, the country also celebrated Nurses Week, which was particularly meaningful as nurses rose to the challenge during the global coronavirus pandemic. And, throughout the year, we saw nurses make sacrifices on the front lines to protect and care for others. Our campus community recognizes the leadership role nurses play in healthcare, and we have been fortunate to benefit from philanthropic support that honors their significant contributions. This year, patients paid it forward with their gifts, demonstrating tremendous gratitude for nurses and the care they provide. During the week of Giving Tuesday in May, patients joined us to collectively honor nurses for their tireless service.
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Nurses are vital to the healthcare delivery system. As trusted partners and advocates for patients and their families, nurses build relationships that directly inform treatment plans and outcomes, providing a critical element of compassion and care. Katherine Howell, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC Chief Nursing Executive, UCHealth Chief Nursing Officer, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
FOLLOWING THE FRONT LINES As we reflect on the year, we remember closely following the journey of CU nurses and students as they navigated the challenges of work and study during the global coronavirus crisis. In many ways, we saw CU nurses rise to the challenge to serve patients and communities through it all. And, we supported our nursing students as they celebrated commencement in innovative ways. With great pride, we read stories about our alumni, who have gone on to devote their time and talents to the betterment of the community. We also witnessed an outpouring of support from far and wide, as individuals and communities joined us in honoring nurses. This year, we learned a great deal about nursing and those who pursue this courageous and compassionate work. We were left with one very important lesson — nurses are truly everyday heroes.
Philanthropy helps ensure that nurses are there when we need them, and that they are supported in their education and careers. The impact of philanthropy in nursing is perhaps best told through the unique stories of our benefactors – from their personal struggles to their motivations for giving.
Giving Back to CU Nursing
her gratitude for a CU education and a desire to pay her success forward, Chiyoko continues to guide aspiring nurses into their careers through the Chiyoko Furukawa, PhD, Scholarship Fund at CU Nursing.
Patient Leaves Behind Legacy
The feeling of gratitude that Chiyoko Furukawa, PhD, MS, RN, inspires philanthropy often an alumna of the CU College stems from the lasting impression of Nursing, decided to make nurses impart upon patients. a difference in the world by David “Scott” Ferguson was one giving back after retiring from such patient. He was so touched her nursing career. In her by the care he received that he youth, Chiyoko faced incredible left behind a memorial fund in challenges, beginning when her his name supporting scholarships family left the west coast for for nursing students. At 49 years Utah to avoid being placed in old, Scott died in April 2019 a Japanese internment camp from melanoma. His wife said amidst xenophobic unrest during Scott’s goal was to ensure that WWII. Her father, however, was patients like him experienced separated from the family and the comfort of compassionate moved to a camp. Nevertheless, as care he received. He also wanted Chiyoko Furukawa, PhD, MS, RN, right, she overcame the circumstances to help people like Brian Dorset, pictured with a scholarship recipient. that arose in her life, she kept certified nurse assistant (CNA), Chiyoko’s giving is motivated by her sight of her vision to pursue a who cared for him throughout his gratitude for her CU education and her nursing degree. Chiyoko earned cancer treatment. desire to pay her success forward her bachelor’s degree in Brian forged a special bond with Scott. At age nursing at CU in the early 1960s, and went on to 15, Brian suffered a massive brain hemorrhage earn her master’s degree and teach graduate and that resulted in chronic seizures, and he was not undergraduate nursing students. During her time expected to live. Brian told Scott that he had been of practice she noticed a need for detailed training influenced by the nurses who cared for him to pursue on how to care for geriatric patients, and developed a nursing career, inspiring the scholarship idea. a curriculum to address this gap. Scott’s scholarship will ensure that patients will With more than five decades of nursing experience, be able to experience the humanity often provided Chiyoko demonstrated a profound dedication to by nursing professionals like Brian in difficult her life’s work and a commitment to advancing medical situations. the careers of nursing students. Motivated by
Top left: Scott Ferguson, 49, loved the mountains and the outdoors Bottom left: CU Nursing alumna Margo Schenk; Scott’s wife, Darice Henritze; and Brian Dorsett, CNA Right: Scott with nursing staff
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The future of nursing is driven by its past, and our college has a long history and rich tradition of leading nursing education, research and practice. In 2020, CU nurses everywhere have risen to meet extraordinary challenges, and I have no doubt that they will continue to set tomorrow’s standards of care. Elias Provencio-Vasquez, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAANP Dean and Professor, CU College of Nursing
Philanthropy is essential to CU Nursing’s success as an institution and helps bolster our leadership at the forefront of nursing education and training. These valuable resources also help us provide integrated behavioral and primary care to CU Anschutz students, faculty and staff at the campus health center, and offer comprehensive midwifery care for mothers throughout pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Philanthropy allows us to broaden our expertise, from expanding our military nursing program and focusing on a deeper understanding of veterans, to transforming our curriculum so students better understand mental health issues. Together, we are doing all that we can to maintain and elevate the standards of the nursing profession. At CU Anschutz, we are proud of our long history and rich tradition of pioneering nursing education, beginning with launching the first nurse practitioner program in 1965. Today, our
campus is the ideal place to shape the future of the nursing profession with two nationally ranked hospitals that treat more than 2 million adult and pediatric patients each year. We are committed to delivering the very best care, as evidenced by patient outcomes at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, which has received its 5th prestigious Magnet designation for nursing. Also of note, before the decade ended, CU Nursing celebrated 120 years of excellence in nursing care, research and education. CU nurses set the standards of care and will define what the patient experience looks like tomorrow, with the support of generous benefactors who believe in their work. Nurses are the throughline and the heart of a patient’s care journey. As the world calls for more nurses, we take pride in knowing that CU nurses are everyday heroes who make a difference.
Nursing by the Numbers *giving to the CU College of Nursing since 2019
1,039 nursing students
23
$645,695
education and outreach programs
total scholarships awarded
ST
558
82
total benefactors*
first-time benefactors* ‑ 21 ‑
$
$369,008 total giving*
Gratitude Inspires Alumna to Create Legacy When Cynthia Somers decided to make a planned gift to support student scholarships at the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH), she did not realize that she would be filled with an “unexpected joy.” A 2012 ColoradoSPH alumna, Cynthia was recruited after graduation to work on a groundbreaking project through Connect for Health Colorado, with the goal of ensuring all Coloradans have healthcare access. In her role, she quickly became sought after for her knowledge of healthcare policy, and her comprehensive understanding of data, health systems, payers and policy was welcomed by others in the field. “My CU education prepared me for my career in many ways,” said Cynthia. “Public health is the lens through which I now see the world.” She credits her ability to collaborate with stakeholders, approach complex problems, and educate groups of people with different backgrounds to ColoradoSPH. She now owns a successful consulting practice. The gratitude Cynthia felt for ColoradoSPH’s role in her story was clear as she considered her financial planning. She said, “I thought about my legacy – whom did I want to benefit from my success?” In appreciation for her education, Cynthia decided to give back through a planned gift supporting scholarships for public health students at ColoradoSPH, by adding CU as a beneficiary of her 401(k). At the end of her lifetime, Cynthia’s scholarship fund will support one or more public health students each year who are studying mental and behavioral health, an area of importance to her. “I feel great joy, as well as peace of mind, that I will inspire future generations of students to continue to contribute to the mental health field,” said Cynthia. “I hope that this award will encourage students to make a positive difference in healthcare delivery, and that, by then, mental health will be treated as importantly as physical health.” Cynthia stresses the need of having financial plans in place and taking the time to be thoughtful. Most significantly, she underlines that anyone can make a planned gift, no matter the amount. For Cynthia, giving back to ColoradoSPH has been a satisfying journey. “I wasn’t expecting how much fulfillment I’ve received through this gift planning process,” she said. She noted that her philanthropic advisers have worked tirelessly to connect her to old and new faces at ColoradoSPH, including her past professors, all of whom are making strides in mental health research, program offerings and innovation. Cynthia said, “The thought that I can potentially make a difference by helping a future generation of students, even though I don’t know what challenges they will face – it fills my heart. It wasn’t something I was expecting. You just have to go through it to know what it feels like.” Cynthia enjoys life in the outdoors and skiing ‑ 22 ‑
Honoring a Family Tradition of Dentistry
Leo Nassimbene, DDS, MSD, and Don Nassimbene, DDS
The Nassimbene family has deep ties to dentistry in Colorado. Jack Nassimbene, DDS, and Leo Nassimbene, DDS, MSD, third generation Coloradans, advocated tirelessly at the local and state dental association levels and state legislative levels for the creation of a dental school in Colorado. They were instrumental, along with the dental associations, in raising the funds needed to establish the institution that became known as the CU School of Dental Medicine, which welcomed its first class of students in 1973. Dr. Jack Nassimbene rallied support from peers and family alike, and his passion for dentistry was infectious — he inspired four family members to pursue dental careers: his sister, Jean, and three cousins — Leo, Don and Ray Nassimbene. Between them, they represent more than 250 years of experience in the field. Don Nassimbene, along with his brother, Leo, and cousins, made the decision to honor their family’s longstanding history and tradition of dentistry, while also supporting those entering the field. In 2019, Don established and funded the Nassimbene Family Endowed Scholarship Fund at the CU School of Dental Medicine, providing valuable resources to support the careers of aspiring young dentists for generations to come. The decision has been worthwhile and fulfilling, said Don, whose late son, Brad Nassimbene, graduated from the CU School of Dental Medicine in 1999 and later joined him in his Colorado practice. “It’s a challenge for dental students to afford their education, with the burden of student loans. Scholarships help remove some of the financial pressure on students and provide the resources they need to focus on their studies.” Leo said he feels lucky for the support he had during his own educational journey. “When I was in dental school, my brother and I had a father who could afford to put us through,” he said. “Today, students owe so much. If scholarships can help them along – then that’s a wonderful thing.” The inaugural recipient of the Nassimbene Family Endowed Scholarship is first-year dental student, Patrick Murphy. “I could not be more grateful and proud to be this year’s recipient. It is great to feel the unwavering support and a sense of community here at the dental school,” he said. The Nassimbene family’s legacy will live on at the CU School of Dental Medicine, and their aspiration to support student success will make a lasting impact in the lives of future dental leaders and the patients they will serve. Patrick said, “I look forward to being able to give back someday, just as the Nassimbene family has done. It is through the generosity of benefactors like them, that our world becomes a better place.” ‑ 23 ‑
Jack Nassimbene (center) and Leo Nassimbene (back right) with Colorado Dental Association officers
A Year of Generosity YOUR IMPACT AT CU ANSCHUTZ* *2019-2020 numbers generated from unaudited fiscal year 2020 financial statements
$263.1M contributed
6,533 benefactors 5,718 individuals 815 organizations
ST
2,604 first-time benefactors
Momentum
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Volume 5 | Fall 2020 Momentum is an annual publication that celebrates the power and impact of philanthropy at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
new funds established
cuanschutz.edu/support/momentum Vice Chancellor of Advancement: Scott Arthur Writing: Mary Eisenstein, Courtney Keener, Trisha Kendall, Emily Lefferts, Anthony Maestri, Carolyn Wilson Design: Lell Gillette, Andrew Vessely Project Management: Cassie Leyva, Nicole Rodriguez
13001 East 17th Place | Aurora, CO 80045 supportcuanschutz.ucdenver.edu | advancement@cuanschutz.edu | 303.724.8227 ‑ 24 ‑
11 new endowed chairs established
