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Development Matters: Gratitude that Befits Our Heroes

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we all knew that unprecedented times would call for an unprecedented response. From across Penn Medicine and the family of “Penn Proud” supporters around the globe, true heroes have taken many forms. To honor these extraordinary individuals, we are proud to present …And so, from the Penn Proud family around the globe, emerged… Penn Medicine’s Superheroes of 2020 The Philanthropic First Responders who sprang into action as early as March and April provided critical support as the pandemic began hitting the Philadelphia region. We’re grateful to members of the Penn family including Sara Gowing, Margaret Anne Nolen and James A. Nolen IV, Laddie and Linda Montague, Richard Axilrod, WG’85, the John Templeton Foundation, and so many others whose support enabled Penn Medicine to move nimbly — to quickly develop the infrastructure and processes that would shape our approach going forward.

Our extraordinarily broad global network of Penn alumni, partners, and friends helped secure vital personal protective equipment (PPE) in the opening months of the pandemic. In all, our clinical teams received more than 30,000 masks — crucial to their efforts to safely deliver the care our patients needed.

Big Names in Philly Sports got into the game in early April, and we were so delighted to welcome them onto our team. Jeffrey Lurie, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, contributed $1 million to establish the COVID-19 Immunology Defense Fund. NBA All-Star and Philadelphia 76er Joel Embiid — along with the 76ers’ managing partner Josh Harris, W’86, and co-managing partner David Blitzer, W’91 — offered $1.3 million to establish a funding campaign for COVID-19 antibody testing. Together, their contributions have helped us develop a better understanding of the virus’s impact on patients and test more than 2,000 of our health care workers.

Unrestricted Research Support got us ahead of the virus — and continued funding is keeping us there. When the outbreak hit our area, hundreds of researchers across our campus could focus their efforts on developing tests, treatments, and vaccines for COVID-19. They were backed in late March by the establishment of the brand-new Center for Research on Coronavirus and Other Emerging Pathogens. Donors like Leonard and the late Madlyn Abramson, Song Li, Pam Giannini, and Margie and Andy Rooke were among the hundreds who helped Penn Medicine raise more than $8 million in support of COVID-19 research.

Support for Our Clinical Teams sent a powerful statement of solidarity for every one of our frontline health care professionals. Nearly 500 donors have raised more than $750,000 for our health care workers, helping them navigate pandemic-related financial hardship and answer the call of their community. In addition, Penn Medicine Together, launched by the Penn Medicine Board, raised more than $4 million — with some funds directed to the community for providing off-campus services like food distribution, testing, and contact tracing.

Even as classrooms stood empty, Our Wonderful Students proved eager to step into their roles as the next generation of exemplary caregivers. With our donors’ help, they were free to do so. Perelman School of Medicine students began dedicating their time to volunteering, including making significant contributions to our telemedicine work — with approximately 6,000 “visits” a day. They’ve also become deeply involved with contact tracing, which has reached out to more than 4,000 individuals over the course of more than 6,000 calls.

Engagement from Our Worldwide Penn Proud Community through virtual events, town halls, and symposia has demonstrated the collective commitment to transforming health. Thousands of viewers tuned in from dozens of countries, submitting questions, chatting with faculty about the latest in COVID-19 research and care, and offering their own words of encouragement.

Joining Forces to Take on Something Much Larger than Any of Us… It’s a story larger than life: dedicated people from wildly different backgrounds, united. We couldn’t be more grateful to the thousands of kind-hearted and generous individuals all over the planet who have reached out and made themselves a part of this effort. Thank you from all of us here at Penn Medicine … … for the health of all.

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In This Issue:

Facing the Pandemic

Profiles of Women in Medicine, 1920-2020

The Prep: Kneeling in Remembrance and Rising to the Challenge

Editor's Note: The Pandemic Year—and How We’re Getting Through It

Vital Signs

Medicine Plus: From Preserving Mummies to Practicing Medicine

Development Matters: Remembering Madlyn Abramson;

Development Matters: Superheroes of 2020

Awards & Alumni News: Faculty Honors, Alumni Progress Notes and Obituaries

Future Prognosis: The Immune Front

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