Stories of Change

Joanne Posner-Mayer, PT ’73, has never forgotten the opportunity that changed her life. As a first-generation college graduate and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, her time at the University of Colorado’s Physical Therapy Program laid the foundation for a remarkable career and a lifelong commitment to philanthropy.

On the evening of Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 40 guests gathered in the Reilly Fireplace Lounge to celebrate the powerful partnership of philanthropy and medical research through the establishment of the Interventional Cardiology Endowed Chair.

On the evening of Monday, June 2, 2025, guests came together to honor the establishment of the Lucas Family Endowed Chair in Diabetes and Endocrinology. Held in the Reilly Fireplace Lounge in the Anschutz Health Sciences Building, faculty, community members and the Lucas family celebrated the transformative power of philanthropy and medicine and recognized the inaugural chair holder, Mike McDermott, MD.

As the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center headquartered in and serving the state of Colorado, the CU Cancer Center stands as a beacon of hope for the thousands of patients who come to the CU Anschutz Medical Campus looking for answers.

Distributions from this fund will provide support for the new faculty chair in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Department of Surgery within the CU School of Medicine, assisting with research expenditures, conference participation, curriculum development and more.

Each year, the CU Board of Regents, along with faculty members from each campus, award extraordinary individuals with honorary degrees; this is the highest award the University of Colorado can bestow. In recognition of his outstanding achievements in improving patient care and the practice of medicine, the University of Colorado will honor George “Doc” Lopez, MD ’73, with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters at the CU School of Medicine’s spring commencement ceremony this year.

This collaborative effort will focus on the development of a cancer imaging AI program that will benefit from interdisciplinary expertise and infrastructure support. Key priorities will include research advancements, faculty recruitment and the creation of resources to push the boundaries of radiological imaging and cancer detection.

This visionary gift, totaling $2 million, will support the ongoing fight against melanoma by providing a dedicated faculty chair focused on innovative research and education in this critical area.

We are honored to announce the creation of the Jennifer Turner-Valle Research Fund for Multiple Sclerosis and the Jennifer Turner-Valle Endowed Fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis, established by Tim Valle in memory of his late wife, Dr. Jennifer Turner-Valle, a distinguished leader in optical engineering and business.

Celebrating the establishment of the Penny S. Burke Endowed Chair in Behavioral Neurology, supported by a $2 million dollar gift from Timothy Burke in honor of his beloved, late wife.

Through the support this endowed chair will provide, Dr. Reusch – a distinguished physician-scientist known for her pioneering diabetes research and exceptional patient care – and the Center aim to develop treatments that lower cardiovascular risks in those with T2D, enhancing longevity and independence.

We are pleased to share that thanks to the generosity of the Honnen family – Eileen Honnen and her children – three funds have been established: the Christine L. Honnen Endowed Chair in Regenerative Medicine, the Christine L. Honnen Fund in Regenerative Medicine and the Christine L. Honnen Fund for Excellence in Behavioral Health.

Dr. Espinosa and his collaborators are paving the way for the first immunomodulatory therapy for children with Down syndrome, which could launch a new age of treatments to improve the quality of life and extend the lifespan of millions of individuals living with this condition.

The anonymous $40 million gift to Colorado’s only academic eye center will boost research into treating and curing the most serious eye diseases while investing in new technology and recruiting top talent.

A new fund supporting early-career faculty, researchers, and entrepreneurs at CU Innovations and CU Denver.

Wagner J. Schorr, MD, passed away peacefully at his home in March 2025, surrounded by his beloved family. Over the course of his 89 years, he led a life marked by service, scholarship, deep humanity and inspired philanthropy.

“Sometimes, I get discouraged because I want to do so much more,” Mario Romero says earnestly. “But a $400 tattoo is something. In the end, it’s about putting yourself in others’ shoes and having grace for people. If R3hab Ink could grow to the point of being able to donate a $20,000 check someday, well, that would be more rewarding than any amount of money you could ever give me.”

Each year, Dual Star Company performs a fundraiser for local organizations. This year they partnered with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus to support the ALK+ Lung Cancer Colorado Fund for a dear friend and member who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non Small Cell, ALK Positive (nonsmoker) Lung Cancer at the age of 44.

In late February, 42 guests gathered at the Anschutz Health Sciences Building for a heartfelt celebration of the Stan and Mary Ellen Cope Family Endowed Chair in Thoracic Surgery. The endowed chair was born from the deep gratitude of Stan and Mary Ellen Cope due to the exceptional care that Stan received at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and specifically from Robert Meguid, MD, MPH.

On Thursday, March 27, 142 guests gathered in the Elliman Conference Center at the Anschutz Health Sciences building for the annual University of Colorado School of Medicine (SOM) Scholarship and Awards Reception. It was a night filled with hope, gratitude and a shared vision for a brighter future in medical education.