Providence St. Jude Medical Center establishes its first Endowed Chairs

Thanks to generous gifts from the Klaus family and from the estate of the late Marvin Blaski, Providence St. Jude Medical Center has established its first Endowed Chairs in the Providence South Division. The Junko and Frank Klaus Endowed Chair in Movement Disorders spotlights clinical expertise at Providence St. Jude and supports new neuroscience research and therapeutics. The Marvin Blaski Endowed Chair in Stroke Care provides institutional resources in perpetuity to support the continued excellence of the medical center’s nationally recognized stroke program.

“These gifts will advance the specialties of our expert physicians and assist us in staying at the forefront of improving technology and programs for our patients,” says Laura Ramos, chief executive, Providence St. Jude Medical Center. “We are deeply grateful to the Klaus and Blaski families for this opportunity to reap all of the benefits an endowed chair represents.”

Endowed Chairs support chairholders in advancing their specialties and are a prestigious honor for the awarded physician. The income generated from the endowment fund provides annual financial resources to develop innovative approaches and programs. The benefits of Endowed Chairs are far-reaching. They enhance the organization’s reputation, which serves to draw and attract other renowned clinicians and staff.

Supporting our best and brightest

When donors choose to fund Endowed Chairs, hospital leaders select outstanding clinical leaders in the donor’s field of interest. Providence St. Jude selected two dedicated physician leaders to hold their first Endowed Chair positions. Johnson Moon, M.D., is awarded the Junko and Frank Klaus Endowed Chair in Movement Disorders, and Ashish Nanda, M.D., now holds the Marvin Blaski Endowed Chair in Stroke Care.

Dr. Moon and Dr. Nanda will use the funds to support data collection, research conferences and bringing new therapeutics to Providence St. Jude’s Neurosciences Institute.

“This endowed chair, focused on neuroscience, gives us the ability to bring the latest innovations to Providence St. Jude and be a strategic partner in the region-wide Providence Research Network,” says Dr. Moon. Dr. Nanda adds, “I know I speak for the Providence St. Jude family as well when I express our heartfelt gratitude for the generosity of our dedicated community of supporters.”

Investing in the future

We thank all our donors who are investing in Providence St. Jude so we can continue providing quality health care to our community, now and in the future.

“These endowment gifts forever bind the Klaus and Blaski family legacies with the future of Providence St. Jude, creating an everlasting impact within the community,” says Dub Drees, chief philanthropy officer. “We know that their generosity will inspire others not just at Providence St. Jude but across our division. Thank you for your partnership, trust and belief in our mission — and for being part of the St. Jude family.”