Mrs. Samuel M. V. Hamilton, a
member of the Board of Trustees of Thomas Jefferson University,
has given $3 million to Thomas Jefferson University to honor
three physicians who cared for her late husband.
In making the gift, Mrs. Hamilton said, "My family is grateful for both the skill in treatment and the caring attitude exhibited by Jefferson physicians and staff." Mrs. Hamilton's gift is designated in honor of Robert L. Capizzi, MD, Magee Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine; Anthony J. DiMarino Jr., MD, William Rorer Professor of Medicine and Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; and Gregory C. Kane, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Program Director of Internal Medicine Residency at Jefferson.
A portion of the gift will be used to establish the Robert L. Capizzi Professorship in Medicine at Jefferson Medical College. The professorship will be held by the new Director of Medical Oncology, who will be appointed soon. The remainder of the gift will support continuing medical research in pulmonary medicine, digestive diseases, and cancer as well as education initiatives in the Department of Medicine. This will include research in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology under the direction of Dr. DiMarino, and educational programs guided by Dr. Kane, in the Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care.
In making the gift, Mrs. Hamilton commented, "My family hopes that this contribution will demonstrate our gratitude and serve as inspiration, encouragement and support for these doctors who extended such kindness to us and to Sam during a difficult time."
Paul C. Brucker, MD, President of the University, in accepting the gift, noted, "Mrs. Hamilton has given us a rare and wonderful opportunity to recognize in an extraordinary way the compassion, commitment and dedication of our Jefferson faculty."
Joseph S. Gonnella, MD, Dean of Jefferson Medical College, added, "Private gifts such as these are essential to an academic health center like Jefferson, as we continue to balance our three missions of teaching, providing the best patient care, and engaging in first rate medical research."
Mrs. Hamilton's longtime philanthropy to Jefferson has been exceptional. She has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Thomas Jefferson University since 1972, and a member of the Women's Board of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital since 1969. Among her many contributions is a $5 million gift to the Department of Medicine to support laboratory renovations and two professorships which helped launch Jefferson's current capital campaign, The Jefferson 2000 Fund. Mrs. Hamilton is Chairman of the Campaign which has a goal of raising $200 million by the year 2000. The Campaign has raised $160 million to date.
Mrs. Hamilton is Director of 218 Enterprises in Wayne, Pennsylvania. In addition to the Jefferson Board, she chairs the Board of the University of the Arts and is a member of the Winterthur Museum's Board of Trustees in Wilmington, Delaware. An enthusiastic gardener, Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and has twice won the Society's Sweepstakes Trophy. In addition, Mrs. Hamilton chairs the Newport Flower Show.