Stories of Change

On Tuesday, October 1, the Colorado School of Public Health celebrated benefactors, scholarship recipients, and the impact of philanthropy, highlighting the vital role that scholarships have in a student’s future success and ultimately in the field of public health.

For Philip Shockman, a Loveland, Colorado, native and longtime supporter of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, his time spent working as a “soda jerk” in a local pharmacy during his formative years was so impactful that it shaped the entirety of his future career – and life.

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital co-hosted this signature philanthropic event to celebrate the tremendous impact of our healthcare and benefactor communities.

The 2024 All Alumni Celebration, held from September 26-28, was a resounding success! A record-breaking crowd of nearly 600 attendees joined the various events over the three days.

On Wednesday, September 4, 37 attendees came together at the Anschutz Health Sciences Building to honor the memory of Katie Taylor and celebrate the work of Bradley Corr, MD, through the Katie Taylor Memorial Endowed Chair in Gynecologic Oncology.

When Kenda Fuller looked back at her work over the years, she recognized that despite the changes that were happening in the world, she was surrounded only by colleagues and patients who reflected her own status: white and middle class. “Approaching retirement, I reflected on my legacy. I couldn’t leave the field without reaching back to my concern about diversity.”

This celebratory event marked an important milestone for women’s health, as the establishment of the The Anschutz Foundation Endowed Chair in Women’s Integrated Mental and Physical Health Research – with Tracy Bale, PhD, as the inaugural chair holder – is poised to be a driving force in further understanding the crucial link between mental and physical health.

Approximately eight years ago, Kerry was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. In receiving top-tier care at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Kerry and his wife Megan decided to expand their impact on healthcare by establishing the Kerry and Megan Hicks Endowed Chair in Pulmonary Hypertension.

Naomi Carolyn Minner Morris, MD, MPH, and Charles Elliot Morris, MD, became the first married couple to be admitted to CU Medical School. While Naomi named the Charles Elliot Morris Endowed Chair in Neurology in her husband's memory as a testament to his achievements, it now serves to memorialize an entire family’s dedication to serving others through medicine.

The fundraising goal was set at $35,000, yet almost 500 people from all over the world joined together to contribute more than $56,000. The tremendous crowdfunding response to the Colorado Day Blitz will help drive essential research for a disease that does not receive large-scale funding.

Music superstar directs gift toward unraveling the mystery of stiff person syndrome, other autoimmune neurologic diseases.

On the evening of June 7, 47 guests came together in the beautiful Anschutz Health and Sciences Fireplace Lounge to celebrate the Jones Family Endowed Chair in Medical Education and its inaugural holder, Tai Lockspeiser, MD.

On the evening of May 14, 2024, 41 guests gathered to celebrate the establishment of the Endowed Chair in Cardiology Imaging and its inaugural holder, Robert Quaife, MD, Director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

On the evening of Thursday, May 23, 187 guests braved the late spring elements for the Loyal Benefactor Celebration, held on the Boettcher Commons Lawn. Chancellor Elliman detailed how campus experts have risen to the challenge of harnessing the technological advances of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to better understand illness and disease, improve personalized care and save even more lives than before.

For LGBTQ+ teenagers, especially those living in America’s rural sectors, access to community – and the sense of belonging that comes with it – can often be a matter of life or death.

On Thursday, April 25, 32 guests gathered at the Denver Country Club to celebrate the Richard Brown/Annie Moore, MD, Endowed Chair Fund for Excellence in the Patient-Physician Relationship and the inaugural chairholder, Dr. Annie Moore.

On the evening of Thursday, April 18, 161 faculty, students and benefactors gathered in the Anschutz Health and Sciences building for the annual University of Colorado School of Medicine (SOM) Scholarship and Awards Reception.

Dr. Mary Krugman was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and passed away in April 2023. Now, a year after her death, her husband is honoring her memory in a way befitting of the enduring mark she’s made in nursing.

As third generation dentists, the Raabe family saw a growing need to provide access to quality dental care for older adults who are in need and unable to pay for care. They also committed to helping train the next generation of dental health professionals.

On Monday, March 18, 2024, nearly 175 faculty, staff and benefactors gathered to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Colorado School of Public Health, an evening dedicated to honoring the impact of the school's funders and community of philanthropic supporters.