Celebrating a Transformational Gift to Ophthalmology, 6-3-25

Dear faculty, staff and students,

We are thrilled to share some remarkable news for the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. This morning, we announced a historic $40 million gift to the Department of Ophthalmology at the CU School of Medicine. This extraordinary commitment will bolster our thriving ophthalmology research enterprise and enable top talent to drive innovation in established and emerging areas of vision research and care.

The transformational gift ‒ one of the largest in campus history ‒ was made possible by one of our longstanding philanthropic partners, whose family holds a deep passion for improving health and healthcare in Colorado and beyond. Their generous investment has established the Department of Ophthalmology Research Endowment, which will provide resources to speed innovation and research with the potential to save and restore sight. A portion of the gift is available for immediate use, including funding allocated for critical basic science research in vision preservation and restoration, while the remainder will provide ongoing support well into the future. 

Inspired by the exceptional care they received on our campus, the benefactors made this gift to help ensure every patient seen at the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center has the opportunity to experience healing and hope as they have. We are tremendously grateful for this landmark investment in vision research, which will launch transformational changes in eyecare.

Our ophthalmology department has a long-established track record of discovery and innovation, and has developed treatments that are in use worldwide. Ours is the only academic vision center in the Rocky Mountain region offering all clinical subspecialities, and one of the largest in the country. Among the department’s many pride points is the CellSight program, renowned for its pioneering ocular stem cell-based therapies for blinding diseases.

With a flourishing ophthalmology enterprise in place, this infusion of resources positions the department well to expand its impact. The gift will enable our faculty to accelerate promising studies, launch new research initiatives, and translate breakthroughs from the lab to the clinic and the market. Together, these efforts have the potential to revolutionize eyecare and redefine possibilities in the field. 

This philanthropic commitment is a testament to the caliber of our ophthalmology program and the visionary leadership of Naresh Mandava, MD, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Endowed Chair in Retinal Diseases. We would like to extend our special thanks to Sarah Kabat, vice president of patient-coordinated services and advancement at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, for guiding this family through their care on our campus and the creation of an enduring legacy that will make a difference for many.

Please join us in celebrating this transformational commitment to our campus and the incredible possibilities this gift will bring to the field of ophthalmology and those we serve for decades to come.

Sincerely,

Don Elliman
Chancellor

 

John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA
Richard D. Krugman Endowed Chair
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
Dean, CU School of Medicine