James W. Fox IV, MD, JMC '70, Chairman of JMC's Annual Giving Fund Committee, recognizes Robert E. Karns, MD, JMC '50, for his generosity to Jefferson's Department of Radiology.

Jefferson Medical College Alumnus Creates Robert E. Karns, MD, Research Fund for Radiology

Robert E. Karns, MD, JMC '50, capped a half-century of support of Jefferson by giving $100,000 at his 50th reunion to establish the Robert E. Karns, MD, Research Fund for Radiology, the largest endowed fund in the Department of Radiology.

This gift is a new milestone in the physician's long and satisfying history with Jefferson Medical College. "Among the happiest days of my life are the day that I received my acceptance letter to Jefferson, the day that I graduated from Jefferson, and the day at my 50th reunion that I made this gift," he relates.

The decision to support radiology was a natural one for Dr. Karns, who, for 31 years, was Chief of Radiology in Manchester Memorial Hospital, Manchester, CT, also serving as Chief of Staff in 1983. Twelve years ago, he moved to a suburb of Cleveland where he worked part-time as a radiologist for six years before retiring. He maintains ties to medicine by volunteering at the Cleveland Health Museum. A lifelong loyal supporter who includes Jefferson in his will, Dr. Karns wanted to do something special for Jefferson to mark his 50th reunion and to make a difference during his own lifetime.

Advancing Two Research Areas
David C. Levin, MD, Chairman of the Department of Radiology, plans to use the Karns Research Fund to advance radiology research in two areas: using MRI and ultrasound to help characterize and treat musculoskeletal disorders, and using power Doppler sonography to detect prostate cancer.

Support for radiology research is both important and needed, Dr. Levin emphasizes. "One area of medicine in which very large strides are being taken is imaging research," he says.

"There are many ways to use imaging technology to diagnose and treat disease. Research funds are important in making that work possible. We are grateful to Dr. Karns for establishing this fund to advance radiology research, and we hope other Jefferson alumni will do the same."

Creating the Karns Fund provides as much satisfaction to Dr. Karns as it does to the Department of Radiology. "It gives me great joy to have given this money and established this fund," says Dr. Karns. "I consider it a payback for all the things that Jefferson has done for me."

News Briefs | Photo Album | Calendar | Announcements | Notables