Voices of Vellore 2015 Holiday Appeal
Your Giving Brings Joy Everywhere at CMC
With gratitude and hopefulness I welcome you to our Voices of Vellore 2015 Holiday Appeal. We’ve received fabulous feedback about each and every one of our editions of Voices of Vellore in 2015 that we thought we’d use this format to wrap up the year and ask for your support. Many of you have sent personal messages and emails throughout the course of the year. We love hearing from you! Each note reminds us that CMC still makes an indelible mark on everyone who learns about us or
visits. Your notes are a true extension of the warmth and fellowship that exists in Vellore. Inside this issue you will read updates on the major projects you supported this year and some thoughts about where we are headed in 2016. We are profoundly proud of CMC’s extraordinary range of strengths: Research that has an impact on global health; a sterling reputation for its Standard of Care offered to all; willingness among staff and faculty to Meet the Need, whatever the sacrifice required; and above all, its absolute conviction that Ida Scudder’s Vision Can and Will Be Upheld, regardless of the challenges that arise every day. We at the Foundation promise to continually provide easy access to our financial documents and to practice the highest level of stewardship with every dollar you entrust to us. This year our Board recommitted itself to CMC’s strategic priorities, just as Director Dr. Sunil Chandy reaffirmed CMC’s unwavering belief that the Foundation is a cornerstone of CMC’s growth as a global presence. Thank you for your generosity. With warm wishes for a peaceful Holiday and New Year, KG
(INSIDE) An Update on Some of the Projects Your Gifts Support
RUHSA’s New Outpatient Department New Picture coming from Rita Construction of the new Outpatient Department is nearly finished! Head of RUHSA Dr. Rita Isaac (Batch of ‘76) hopes to have a dedication ceremony in late January! There’s much more work to be done to complete the renovations at RUHSA. We’ll be accepting donations throughout 2016
Advancing Care in the Jawadhi Hills
The Development Committee of the Board, working closely with Community Health & Development (CHAD) has launched a fund raising effort to support sanitation, hygiene, fresh water and social services in four new Model Villages. One of the first priorities that a generous donor supported was keeping the Health Center staffed more regularly. We will keep you posted as this project develops throughout 2016.
The Dr. Ida B. Scudder Residence for Retired Faculty PDF of floor plan?? – in drop box
Thanks to all who gave, especially the Scudder Association who made a special gift to name the facility for their beloved “Ida B.” Alumni and friends raised over $400,000 for the new facility that will be constructed on the new Drs. Paul and Margaret Brand New Life Campus (near CHAD). Funds are still coming in and will be needed for “finishing and furnishing.” Pledges are welcome! Design is being finalized and construction will take place in 2016 (our original start-date was delayed by budget and government permits). We will continue updating you.
15,000 Pairs of Eyeglasses Donated to Schell Eye Hospital, RUHSA and CHAD
This 5-year-old was blind when she got to an eye clinic at RUHSA. Double cataracts were immediately diagnosed and surgery cured her. Her sunglasses helped protect her eyes while they healed. Working with a fantastic US non-profit called Restoring Vision, the Foundation was able to use some of its donations to send 15,000 pairs of glasses – both readers and sunglasses. Sunglasses are essential for patients who have had cataract surgery. Over 7,400 eye surgeries were performed this year – most were for cataracts and were free or low-cost. Watch a beautiful short video on the Schell Eye Hospital at https://youtu.be/9M52B6WoIHw.
An Annual $50,000 Research Grant for Junior Faculty
After half a century of stewardship of endowment funds, the Foundation is able to dedicate earnings from permanently restricted gifts for Research, to fund a $50,000/year grant for CMC junior faculty members’ projects. This was agreed upon with CMC, after much deliberation and conversation. A formal Memorandum of Understanding between the Foundation and CMC details the parameters for the award. We will announce details as they are available. In photo, Foundation Board member Dr. Meredith Hawkins works closely with CMC junior and senior faculty studying diabetes.
2015 Faculty Fellowships
For over 20 years Foundation donors have supported Faculty Fellowships – 6-week study/research periods at research hospitals in the US for senior faculty members. This year five fellowships were awarded. Here, one of our Fellows, Dr. Vinod Abraham (Batch of ‘89), is enjoying the company of his niece Lisa Alexander. Vinod recently arrived in Rochester, MN to begin his project at the Mayo Clinic. He is staying with his sister (Lisa’s Mom), Dr. Priya Alexander (also Batch of ’89), a member of the Mayo faculty.
Opportunities for Special Grants
With the Foundation’s deep commitment to research and education we are proud to devote some of the resources you donate to sponsor special requests. This year we again funded the annual Cognitio student-run AllIndia research symposium for medical students. Dr. Philip Ninan (Batch of ’69 and Chair of the Foundation’s Research Committee) was a Keynote Speaker, courtesy of the Foundation.
US Medical Students Benefit from Taking a Global Health Elective at CMC With your support the Foundation assists American medical students with travel and housing logistics as they pursue electives in global health at CMC.
Pictured here is Weill Cornell Medical College’s 2015 Ida S. Scudder Fellow (funded by the Scudder family) Katherine Noto (r) and her colleague Dharya Khazanova, both of whom completed electives at CMC this year.
We Hosted Dr. Sunil Chandy, Dr. Anil Kuruvilla and Dr. Selva Titus Chacko One of the proudest roles we are able to play with your support is to host the leaders of CMC when they visit the US. This year we were doubly honored.
Dr. Sunil Chandy and our new Board member Dr. Anil Kuruvilla attended the Foundation’s Annual meeting in May, presenting CMC’s vision for the
CMC/Foundation partnership going forward. Dr. Kuruvilla is the first CMC faculty member to fill a seat on the Foundation Board.
Dr. Selva Titus Chacko made her first visit to the US as Dean of the College of Nursing in May, meeting alumnae in 10 cities, presenting at a conference and seeking alumnae support for her leadership plans for the CON. In the photo Vijaya Hansdek (2nd from left) arranged a meeting of nursing alumnae in Baltimore.
The 4th Annual Dr. Ida S. Scudder Humanitarian Oration at CMC
The Foundation’s mission explicitly calls for a commitment to perpetuate Dr. Ida S. Scudder’s vision and legacy. One of the most visible ways we do this is through the Ida Scudder Humanitarian Oration held every August as part of Alumni Weekend. This year we invited Dr. Devi Shetty, physician, humanitarian and entrepreneur, to speak and be recognized. After the Oration special guests joined Dr. Shetty for dinner (front row, Foundation Board Chair Dr. Honorine Ward, Dr. Shetty, Foundation Board member
Emma Koshi, and behind Emma to the right, Dr. Gigi Chandy and CMC Director Dr. Sunil Chandy)
The Biggest Capital Project CMC Has Undertaken Since the Main Hospital Was Built
Along with contributors worldwide the Foundation will be making a major effort to support plans for a new CMC Hospital – a 1500-bed superspecialty facility at Kannigapuram -- beginning in 2016. Our primary focus will be the unprecedented Level I Trauma Center that will serve accident victims from around the region. Situated on the highway that connects Chennai and Bangalore, the Trauma Center will immediately play a critical role in saving the lives of previously underserved people.
Key visual is this message:
None of this would be possible without your generosity. The Foundation is working hard to earn your trust and your financial support! Help us reach our goal to be a full partner with CMC as it achieves global leadership in research and education, while maintaining its passion for the health and well-being of all people in India, regardless of their positions in life.