PINNACLE PERSPECTIVES
Walter and Carole Young with Dr. Kerrington Smith and Dr. Timothy Gardner, 2015.
How Exceptional Care Inspired Life-Changing Generosity
When Walter Young walked into Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in 2012, he was suffering from debilitating pancreatic symptoms that prevented him from digesting food properly. What happened next would change not only Walter’s life, but the future of digestive health care for thousands across New England.
After Kerrington Smith, MD, successfully removed multiple stones from Walter’s pancreatic duct, Walter finally experienced relief he hadn’t felt in years. The compassionate care he and his wife Carole received— and the innovative vision they witnessed—inspired them to leave a remarkable legacy.
A $14+ Million Gift That Changes Everything
The late Walter and Carole Young have bequeathed more than $14 million to Dartmouth Health and Geisel School of Medicine. One of the largest gifts in the academic medical center’s history, the generosity and legacy of the Youngs will create three game-changing initiatives:
The Walter and Carole Young Pancreas Center will provide specialized care for pancreatic disorders while advancing cutting-edge research, potentially helping patients like Walter receive even better treatment in the future.
The Walter and Carole Young Center for Digestive Health brings together specialists in gastroenterology, liver disease, GI surgery, and obesity medicine under one roof, making comprehensive care more accessible and coordinated.
The Walter and Carole Young Professorship in General Surgery will attract top surgical talent and train the next generation of digestive health specialists right here in New England.
What Does This Mean for Patients?
Whether you’re dealing with digestive issues yourself, caring for a loved one, or simply want access to worldclass healthcare in our region, this new gift will allow for better treatment options, shorter travel distances for specialized care, and innovative therapies that might not otherwise be available locally.
“Our goal is to provide world-class, integrated care for digestive health across New England and beyond,” says Corey A. Siegel, MD, center director, section chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at DHMC, and Geisel professor of medicine. “This gift gives us the ability to provide what we believe is the best possible care for patients, with a sustainable model that will influence digestive health for years to come.”
Tax-Smart Year-End Gifts
Giving From Your IRA
If you are 70½ years or older and don’t itemize your income tax deductions, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) offers all of the benefits of an itemized income tax charitable deduction. A QCD can also satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) without increasing your income taxes.
Remember, it’s best to consult your financial advisor when considering a gift to charity.
Stocks and Bonds
Did you know you can save income tax and capital gains tax when you give shares of a publicly traded security that you have owned for a year or more?
If you itemize deductions, you can deduct the full fair market value of donated shares from your taxable income. Your deduction is limited to 30% of your adjusted gross income, but you can carry forward any unused portion of your deduction for up to five additional years.
If your stock, bond, or mutual fund has increased in value, those assets qualify for long-term capital gain tax benefits. If you were to sell these assets, you would be obligated to pay tax on the amount of the gain. However, if you give your asset to a charitable organization, you will not pay tax on the gain and can ensure that the full value is used by the charity to make a difference today.
Join the Pinnacle Society
Save the date for the annual Pinnacle Society luncheon. June 2,
2026 • The Hanover Inn
Watch for more details via email and the Postal Service.
For more information about the Pinnacle Society, contact Katie Blackman at 603–646-5858 or DH.Geisel.Planned.Giving@dartmouth.edu.
Highlights from the Pinnacle Society Luncheon
Over 90 Pinnacle Society and Dartmouth community members attended the 2025 Pinnacle Society Luncheon, hosted by Joanne Conroy, MD, D ’77, CEO and president of Dartmouth Health, and Duane Compton, PhD, former dean of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and professor of biochemistry and cell biology. Nathan E. Goldstein, MD, led an impressive panel discussion featuring Ellen Flaherty, PhD, APRN, AGSF, and Angelo E. Volandes, MD, MPH, on the importance of aging well and healthcare decisions.
A Gift in Your Will
If you wish to leave a gift in your will to Dartmouth Health or Geisel, the process is relatively simple. Below is suggested language to share with your estate attorney when drafting your bequest.
Dartmouth Health sample language:
“I give to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, One Medical Center Drive, HB 7070, Lebanon, NH 03756-0001, a New Hampshire nonprofit corporation, or its successor, Federal Tax Identification Number 26-4812335, [the sum of $_____________ or _____________% of my residuary estate], for the unrestricted use (or a specific purpose) of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health.”
Geisel sample language:
“I give to Trustees of Dartmouth College for Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, One Medical Center Drive, HB 7070, Lebanon, NH 03756-0001, Federal Tax Identification Number 02-0222111, [the sum of $_____________ or _____________% of my residuary estate], to be used for the benefit of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth as the Trustees thereof may direct (or a specific purpose).
For more information or to discuss directing your gift to a specific purpose, contact Katherine D. Blackman, Director of Planned Giving. Email DH.Geisel.Planned.Giving@dartmouth.edu, or phone at 603-646-5858. You can also visit DHGeiselPlannedGiving.org. All inquiries are confidential.
Introducing Evergreen: An AI-Powered Student Wellness Platform
On October 10, Dartmouth President Sian Leah Beilock, PhD, in conversation with Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global, announced the launch of Evergreen, an innovative wellness platform created by Dartmouth students and researchers to deliver realtime, personalized insights that help students flourish academically, mentally, and personally. Powered by generative AI and built on decades of Dartmouth research, Evergreen is designed to support student success throughout their Dartmouth journey.
44th Annual Prouty Reaches New Record
More than 5,000 cyclists, walkers, rowers, golfers, and volunteers raised over $10.2 million for Dartmouth Cancer Center at the 44th annual Prouty, northern New England’s largest familyfriendly fundraising event. As the Cancer Center continues to provide life-saving cancer care and fuel innovative research, the funds and awareness raised through The Prouty play a critical role in advancing the Center’s mission to one day end cancer. Save the date for next year’s Prouty: July 11, 2026
An Ambitious Expansion of Patient Pavilion
In 2023, the opening of the Patient Pavilion at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, New Hampshire, brought an additional 64 state-of-the-art patient rooms and 240,000 square feet of space and technological enhancements to the hospital. At the time, the Pavilion’s second and fifth floors were left intentionally unfinished. Construction is now underway to complete those spaces with new and expanded facilities dedicated to cancer and cardiovascular care and innovative treatments.