The Impact of Giving

Stories of Giving

• An Evening in Orange – Cancer Institute
• Betty Bragg – Cancer Institute
• Robert & Monica Cole Foundation – Cole Neuroscience Center
• Food City – Heart Lung Vascular Institute
• Dr. Sperry Nelson – Nelson Chair of Excellence in General Surgery
• Boog & Jeanne Potter – NICU
• University Anesthesiologists – Education

A Evening in Orange - Cancer Institute

On April 30, friends and supporters from throughout the East Tennessee community gathered at Thompson-Boling Arena to celebrate the 4th Annual An Evening in Orange. This unprecedented gala benefited the Cancer Institute at the University of Tennessee Medical Center and is the first event in Knoxville history to achieve raising $1 million. Chaired by Brandy and Bruce Pearl the evening entertained more than 700 guests with outstanding performances from the UT School of Art, UT School of Music, UT School of Theatre, and the Dance Society.

Our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all of our guests, sponsors and supporters for this amazing evening and for their compassionate generosity aiding the more than 50,000 patients who come to the Cancer Institute for care each year.

Visionary Sponsors
Aqua Chem
Regal Entertainment Group
Dr. and Mrs. John L. Bell
Drs. Wahid and Samia Hanna 

Legend Sponsors
Brandy and Bruce Pearl
Phillips & Jordan
Pilot Corporation
Smithbilt Homes, LLC
South College
TIS Insurance Services, Inc.

Luminary Sponsor
Bandit Lites

Special Partners
Lexus of Knoxville

 

Betty Bragg – Cancer Institute

Thanks to the enormous generosity of benefactor Bettie Lane Barnhill Bragg, the University of Tennessee Medical Center and UT Graduate School of Medicine will be propelled toward even greater future success by the gifts set forth in her will.

Bettie Bragg, who earned her master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Tennessee in 1951, was a former history teacher and guidance counselor at Oak Ridge High School. She now lives in Texas, but she and her husband, Oscar R. Bragg Jr., made their home in Athens and Ten Mile, Tennessee for 30 years.

Oscar Bragg, a veteran of World War II retired from the L&N Railroad (now CSX) after four decades of service both in the signal department and as a division trainmaster. He lost a battle with esophageal cancer in 1994. Says his wife, “I will never forget the compassionate care delivered to Oscar— and me too—by the physicians, nurses, and staff at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.”

Bettie Bragg’s contributions to the Medical Center, which include artwork that is displayed on the third floor, began in 1998. As a result of her foresight and goodwill, research will be conducted to find effective treatments for cancer affecting the lung and esophagus. “We’re thankful to Mrs. Bragg,” says Dr. John Bell, a surgical oncologist at the University of Tennessee Medical Center Cancer Institute.

Bettie Bragg says, “I’ve established this endowment because it’s a good thing to do, and I’m also hoping that it will inspire others to give in order to benefit cancer research.”

For more information about philanthropic opportunities in the Cancer Institute, please contact the Development Office at 865-305-6611 or development@utmck.edu.

The Cole Foundation – The Cole Center for Neuroscience

As an organization that relies heavily on private donations to stay on the cutting edge of technology and to fund innovative treatments and programs, the University of Tennessee Medical Center has been fortunate to have a long-time friend and financial supporter in the Robert H. and Monica M. Cole Foundation.

Following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 1967, Bob Cole was moved to find a way to support research and treatment methods for others with the same illness. The result was an initial $1 million endowment, made in 1968, which established the Cole Foundation.

Support of the University of Tennessee Medical Center has continued over the years.

In 1994 a grant was provided to enable the Graduate School of Medicine to create the Cole Foundation Endowed Chair of Neuroscience. Its first professor, George W. Kabalka, PhD, is widely recognized as a leader in neuroscience research and whose discoveries resonate far beyond the halls of the Medical Center.

The Medical Center’s Brain and Spine Institute, too, has benefited tremendously from the Cole Foundation’s support, receiving a generous grant that led to the creation of the Cole Neuroscience Center. The center is dedicated to helping those who suffer from neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis.

The Cole Foundation has also actively supported the University of Tennessee Medical Center Pastoral Care Program, which focuses on the physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of healing for both patients and their loved ones. Adding to the list, the Medical Explorations program, a mentoring program for young people interested in healthcare careers, has received financial support from the foundation.

For 40 years the Cole Foundation has remained committed to its original mission of helping others. The Cole family continues to be active in the foundation’s management, and several of its members sit on the board of directors, providing generous guidance to the many programs the foundation supports. Through the continued support of the Cole family and the Cole Foundation, researchers and physicians at the University of Tennessee Medical Center and UT Graduate School of Medicine have access to resources that inspire discoveries and offer so many new hope and improved quality of life.

For more information about philanthropic opportunities in the Cole Neuroscience Center, please contact the Development Office at 865-305-6611 or development@utmck.edu.

Food City – Heart Lung Vascular Institute

The strength of a community is clearly demonstrated by partnerships formed to improve its residents’ quality of life. The partnership formed between Food City and the University of Tennessee Medical Center to expand the Healthy Living Kitchen program is a prime example of the potential of this cooperation.

“With Tennessee ranking as the fourth-most-obese state for adults, I’m proud to announce this partnership, which represents a commitment from both organizations to address the health needs of those we serve,” says Joseph R. Landsman Jr., president and CEO of the University of Tennessee Medical Center. “Together we’ll expand the message of positive nutritional choices, reaching out to people in the region, including the loyal Food City customer base and the thousands of Food City associates.”

Consisting of a University of Tennessee Medical Center registered dietitian, a cardiac nurse specialist, and a senior executive chef, the Healthy Living Kitchen team presents healthy-cooking classes and provides information on nutrition, label-reading, and making the right choices while grocery-shopping. With the help of Food City’s generous donation and a variety of in-kind services, the partnership is expected to result in a greater reach for Healthy Living Kitchen programs through educational efforts at schools and community events, as well as grocery-shopping tours with a University of Tennessee Medical Center registered dietitian at select Food City locations.

“Food City is excited to partner with the University of Tennessee Medical Center to bring about the expansion of this needed program,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City’s president and CEO. “We’re proud to be a local, family-owned company employing more than 13,000 associates. As the leading supermarket in our region, we have a responsibility to our customers, associates, and community to do all we can to educate them on the importance of making wise decisions with regard to their purchases. Many of the issues that affect our health and wellness are a direct result of our eating habits, good or bad. We feel this program will work hand in hand with our NuVal nutritional-scoring system to provide consumers with the added insight necessary to make more informed choices for their families.” Food City’s NuVal system scores food by giving it an overall nutritional-quality score; the higher the score, the more nutritious the food. NuVal scores are displayed on shelf price tags, scale labels, and other in-store signage.

Food City and the University of Tennessee Medical Center agree that the Healthy Living Kitchen program is an ideal fit with the missions and goals of both organizations.

For more information about upcoming Healthy Living Kitchen classes and grocery-store tours, visit online or call 865-305-6977.

Dr. Sperry Nelson – Nelson Chair of Excellence in General Surgery

Not one who seeks out the spotlight or wants to be “fussed over,” Dr. Sperry Nelson would much prefer to quietly go about his business spending much of his time ensuring the future of the General Surgery program at the UT Graduate School of Medicine.

How is he doing this, you may ask?  In addition to teaching surgical skills to medical students and residents, Dr. Nelson has created the Nelson Chair of Excellence in General Surgery as well as the University of Tennessee Rural Surgery Endowment Fund at the UT Graduate School of Medicine.  From completing his internship and residency training at the UT Graduate School of Medicine to serving in numerous other capacities including department chair and volunteer faculty member, Dr. Nelson’s commitment to the Medical Center, Graduate School of Medicine, and most clearly the people of East Tennessee, runs deep.

A third generation general surgeon, his passion for maintaining and further developing a vibrant surgical training program that serves this region is a very personal one.  “It’s just something that I feel I have been personally led to do. The people of East Tennessee need this and deserve this,” remarks Nelson.

According to Nelson, the benefit to the communities in which surgeons and other physicians are trained is unquestionable.  A large percentage of residents choose to practice in communities in the areas immediately surrounding where they were trained.

“That’s good news for us,” says Nelson.  “It is both an issue of quality and quantity.  We need more surgeons than are currently being trained, and it isn’t a quick fix.  It can take years to catch up.  General surgery as a specialty has changed over time.  Many of the procedures my grandfather and father - and even I - performed early on are now provided by specialists.  Consequently, monies for training general surgeons are often not earmarked and often don’t make their way to those programs and individuals who need it most.”

Particularly hard hit in Tennessee are rural counties where general surgeons are often the driving force for keeping rural hospitals open.  Recognizing this need and as true testament to his commitment to making a difference, Dr. Nelson has generously offered to match all charitable gifts made to the Rural Surgery Endowment Fund dollar for dollar.

When asked about the most rewarding aspects of his philanthropy, Dr. Nelson notes simply that, “I am one of those fortunate people who is able to do what I am passionate about each day.”

For more information about philanthropic opportunities in the Department of Surgery, please contact the Development Office at 865-305-6611 or development@utmck.edu.

Boog & Jeanne Potter – NICU

Toward the end of her pregnancy, Jeanne Potter felt as if the doctor’s office had become her second home. Expecting twins, she went for daily checkups with Dr. Robert Elder, her OB/GYN at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

“We were doing all the right things, but there were still complications,” says Potter.

“One day she came in and I said, ‘Look, we’ve got to have these babies today,’” says Elder, who is also medical director of UTMC’s Center for Women and Children’s Health.

Timing was everything. With her husband, Boog, at her side, Potter immediately checked in for an emergency C-section, and within hours son Corson and daughter Addison were born – two months premature and severely underweight. The Potters knew the twins were destined for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU. As for the experience they would have there, again, timing was everything.

The Potters, who delivered in April 2007, were among the first families to benefit from the medical center’s Phase I expansion of the NICU. The $4 million renovation had just been completed and had brought with it state-of-the-art equipment, specialized services, and a designation as the region’s first and only Level III private-room NICU. Nearly half of the 58-bed nursery had been converted from a crowded, noisy, bright, and open environment into a suite of individual rooms – each with sophisticated controls for light, sound, and temperature designed to ease the entry of sick, premature, and at-risk babies into the world. The Potter children stayed together in one of five new “twin rooms” created by the Phase I expansion.

Phase I renovated 28 of the NICU’s 58 beds with a planned Phase II expansion to convert the rest of the unit. “It’s like A Tale of Two NICUs right now,” says Elder. “While the same exceptional care is available in both the open bay and the private rooms of the NICU, the private rooms provide a soothing, personal environment for babies and parents to bond, nurture and heal.”

The medical center is in the midst of a capital campaign to make Phase II a reality. While Phase I was funded by operational cash and federal assistance, the additional $4.8 million necessary for Phase II is coming entirely from philanthropic dollars. Thanks to Boog and Jeanne Potter’s $50,000 gift and other gifts from throughout the community, the medical center has raised $2 million so far toward this effort.

“I can’t think of a better way to make a difference than helping kids get better care right at the beginning of life,” says Boog Potter, who runs several businesses with Jeanne’s help. “We were definitely in the right place at the right time when the twins were born. If we can help in some way to let other families have that kind of experience, that’s our motivation.”

“The research is clear: there are definite medical advantages,” says Dr. Mark Gaylord, a neonatologist and professor of pediatrics at UTMC. The lower light cuts the chance of retina damage, separate rooms reduce the spread of infection, and the sound-dampening floors and wall treatments minimize sleep problems. “We cut the noise to about 30 decibels in the single rooms, compared to twice that or more in the open areas,” says Gaylord.

“It was still a shock in terms of the wires, the tubing, the ventilators. Nobody can prepare you for a premature birth,” Boog Potter says. “But the atmosphere and the care made all the difference.”

“As difficult as it was, we had the feeling we were in great hands,” says Jeanne. “The NICU holds a special place in our hearts, and always will.”

Click here to learn more about the NICU Campaign.

For more information about philanthropic opportunities in the NICU, please contact the Development Office at 865-305-6611 or development@utmck.edu.

University Anesthesiologists – Education

Dr. Jerry Epps had dreams of playing basketball at the University of Kentucky when he was growing up.

Instead of a basketball his hands hold medical instruments daily as he seeks to save lives at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

The anesthesiologist finds instant gratification in giving the best care to patients, but “one of the greatest gratifications comes from seeing the impact you are making by educating and training residents,” said Epps. He is an associate professor of anesthesiology and pediatrics, who also serves as the chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at UT Graduate School of Medicine.

“Resident education is what brought me to UT and it is what has kept me here for the past 21 years,” Epps said.

Epps along with fellow physicians of University Anesthesiologists at UT Medical Center and Graduate School of Medicine are committed to the education of resident physicians, medical students, and nurse anesthetists in the specialty of anesthesiology.

Along with medical training and research, the generous gifts of the University Anesthesiologists support a scholarship program for nurses with a concentration on nurse anesthesia and the Medical Stimulation Center, which offers cutting-edge medical training with the use of patient mannequins and virtual reality stimulators.

The implementation of the nursing anesthesia educational scholarship allows a student to focus on “being trained and educated and not let cost be a hindrance,” said Epps. “Scholarship support is needed as you look at our healthcare system continuing to be impacted by the nursing shortage.”

Epps said the key to training medical professionals evolves around having a Medical Stimulation Center. “This is where some of the best learning practices take place,” he said. “Everyone─from patients to physicians─in the hospital benefits from a stimulation center. It is where medical knowledge becomes applicable. To see the accomplishment on the face of a resident when they get the desirable outcome they have been hoping for is priceless.”

At the frontiers of medicine, Epps could not imagine trading in his white coat for a basketball jersey. “Miracles happen every day, here at UT,” he said.

For more information about philanthropic opportunities at the UT Graduate School of Medicine, please contact the Development Office at 865-305-6611 or development@utmck.edu.