Stories of Giving

A commitment to fighting ALS is a common thread that unites the Cellucci Fund marathon team in a profound way. This year’s team raised more than $105,000, exceeding their goal and bringing critical funding to ALS and related research at UMass Chan and in the lab of Robert H. Brown Jr., DPhil, MD, the Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Neurosciences and professor of neurology. 

When Jürgen Holleck, MD’99, R’02, and Walter Mutter, MD’99, returned to the UMass Chan campus for Reunion 2024 in May, for old times’ sake, they visited the Student Lounge, where they used to play ping pong to unwind after long days of studying.

Are we more microbial than human? This thought-provoking question was posed at the 39th annual meeting of the Hudson Hoagland Society (HHS) held on May 14 at UMass Chan Medical School. 

Bob Wellman, PhD, and the late Mary Wellman, PhD, shared a commitment to psychology and education that will live on through a new bequest intention. 

Leslie Shaff, MD’84, P'99, MBA, JD, MAT, always wanted to be a doctor. However, when she graduated from college in the late 1960s, the message received by many women at the time was clear: You can’t practice medicine and start a family. Aspiring female physicians, including Leslie, often felt forced to choose one path or the other. 

Meghan Banik Sass, MD’03, R’05, F’09, and Ugyen Sass, recently endowed a fund for autism research at UMass Chan on behalf of their family, which includes daughter Rosie, age 13, along with Vivian.

As an esteemed professor of surgery emeritus and founding chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery, Bruce Cutler, MD, has built an enduring legacy at UMass Chan Medical School, well-known among the division for his fierce commitment to providing the highest standard of patient-centered care. Now, Dr. Cutler’s decadeslong connection to UMass Chan has evolved to cherished benefactor, alongside his wife, Kim, with the establishment of the Cutler Chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.

For 40 years, Gerard R. (Gerry) Cox, MD’83, MHA, has built a distinguished medical career rooted in government and military service, including his current role as the assistant under secretary for health for quality and patient  safety in the Veterans Health Administration. Now, Dr. Cox is building a legacy in medical education through a scholarship he funded with his wife, Catherine W. Cox, RN, PhD, to benefit students at UMass Chan Medical School.

More than 2,500 people took part in the 25th annual UMass Cancer Walk presented by Harr Toyota at Polar Park on Sunday, Sept. 24. Participants raised nearly $750,000 to support adult and pediatric cancer research and clinical trials at UMass Chan Medical School.

“Enjoy your time with him,” said the genetic counselor. Linda and Tommy Pham’s son, Raiden, had just been diagnosed with UBA5 disorder, an ultra-rare, life-threatening disease with no available treatments, and these words signified a devastating take on his prognosis.