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From left, Thomas Kosasa, UH Foundation president and CEO Donna Vuchinich, University Health Partners of Hawaiʻi CFO Chip Ellis, Santosh Sharma; John A. Burns School of Medicine Dean Jerris Hedges and OB-GYN department chair Ivica Zalud.

Faculty of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health (OB-GYN) at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) are involved in nearly a third of the births in Hawaiʻi each year. Many of these physicians practice medicine through the University Health Partners of Hawaiʻi, which is JABSOM’s faculty practice plan.

JABSOM University Health Partners of Hawaiʻi faculty made the largest philanthropic investment in JABSOM to date by faculty. Using its professional service collections, the team donated $500,000 to create an endowment.

On January 28, the UH Board of Regents approved the Endowed Professorship in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at JABSOM.

“The OB-GYN faculty decided to make a gift with their earnings and the University Health Partners of Hawaiʻi Board voted unanimously to support this endowment,” said Shared Chip Ellis, University Health Partners’ chief financial officer. “The creation of the Department of OB-GYN Professorship is an ideal collaboration between the department and the faculty practice plan. We know that this endowment will have great outcomes. It will help the department attract, support and retain talented faculty who will give back to Hawaiʻi immeasurably. The endowment will also provide critical resources for faculty development and enhance the research, education, and community outreach missions of the department.”

JABSOM Dean Jerris Hedges said, “This is a very important gift for us. It is a powerful demonstration of how deeply the OB-GYN faculty believe in and support their department. They know that by investing in themselves they can do more to serve Hawaiʻi’s families. A gift of this magnitude will help ensure the future success of the department.”

Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children is proud of our partnership with the faculty of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, which enables us to provide the specialized maternity care that our hospital is recognized for,” said Kapiʻolani CEO Martha Smith. “This endowment demonstrates their commitment to the health of Hawaiʻi’s women and children, and we are very grateful for their continued support and collaboration in providing quality patient care.”

Donna Vuchinich, president and CEO of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, said “These gifts signal a growing recognition that private support is critical to ensuring long-term departmental success. We are most grateful to these important donors who are making such a difference for Hawaiʻi.”

A UH Foundation news release

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