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Martin Lipsky, MD, (left) and Robert Vickrey, MD, '02 (right) exchange remarks at the College of Medicine at Rockford news conference on January 30, 2008. Vickrey spoke on behalf of the Miller Group Charitable Trust who donated $450,000 for the first named space of the expansion – the Robert J. Vickrey, M.D. Auditorium. Vickrey now serves as a clinical instructor in the department of psychiatry at the College.
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January 30, 2008
Rockford, Illinois – The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford announced $2.3 million in additional gifts toward their capital campaign at a news conference on Wednesday, January 30, 2008. The recognized gifts are from residents in the Rockford community, a local medical group, several hospitals in Northern Illinois, and a Fortune 500 corporation.
“We are fortunate to have such strong support for this project from not only within the Rockford community, but from our medical and corporate partners, and the University of Illinois,” said Martin Lipsky, regional dean at the College. “We look forward to building more partnerships as we prepare to grow for the future.”
The expansion of the College of Medicine at Rockford is projected to have a positive impact on the local economy. During the construction phase of the expansion, an estimated 150 jobs will be added. Once completed, the College of Pharmacy will bring an additional 30 high-paying, professional positions to the area. An additional 200-250 medical and pharmacy students will come to the Rockford campus, each of which spends an approximate $40,000 in the community through living expenses such as housing, food and entertainment. After completion, the new addition will bring an estimated $40 million in direct spending and $80 million in indirect spending to the area. An additional $1 million in tourism is calculated to come to Rockford through conventions, large conferences and symposiums.
“We believe that this expansion adds to the impact Rockford has on the health of our region and the state of Illinois, and provides the tools to enhance our growth as a center for medical education and innovative research,” says Lipsky. “This project creates the resources to attract and to teach the best and brightest future doctors and pharmacists that will give back to their communities. We are creating change and making a difference, and we thank everyone who has helped make this vision become a reality.”
New leading gifts announced:
| $500,000 |
Janet Kellstrom |
| $450,000 |
Miller Family Trust |
| $250,000 |
Walgreen Corporation |
| $250,000 |
Rockford Health System |
| $250,000 |
Williard and Alice Corbett Foundation |
| $150,000 |
Rockford Gastroentrology Associates |
| $125,000 |
Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital |
| $125,000 |
Freeport Health Network |
| $60,000 |
SwedishAmerican Health System |
| $50,000 |
Harry and Helena Ritter |
| $50,000 |
Drs. Martin Lipsky and Darice Zabak |
| $25,000 |
Richard and Rose Novak |
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