Der Chef Hat Gesagt

Mr. B. has previously posted on the efforts of the University of Minnesota Medical School to raise money: "How much is a good name worth?"

The Pioneer Press has also recently outlined, in more detail than will be found below, details of the Najarian situation.

From a blanket email, The Brief:

November 28, 2007

Our drive for increased philanthropy has generated news lately – both for the success of efforts to fund the John S. Najarian Surgical Chair in Clinical Transplantation to celebrate his contributions to that field, as well as for efforts to seek significant donors for the Medical School and its priorities.

Funding the mission here at the University has become an increasingly complex and competitive enterprise. Public funds remain critical to our operations – and are declining as a percentage of overall revenues. Sponsored research dollars are now coming through a wider variety of sources – many requiring significant management for potential conflicts. And maintaining clinical income for our health professional schools will require significant investment in infrastructure to remain competitive in the consumer marketplace of health.

That’s why philanthropy becomes increasingly critical as the path to providing the margin of excellence that can distinguish this institution and its health professional schools. As you read stories concerning efforts by the Medical School to seek philanthropic dollars, know that that effort is part of a careful plan to ensure long-term success and strength for the core mission – educating tomorrow’s physicians to improve community health.

– Frank B. Cerra, M.D.
Sr. Vice President for Health Sciences