University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

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University of Iowa Foundation News Release
June 15, 2007

Pomerantz Gives $2 Million to Endow UI Ophthalmology Chair

Marvin PomerantzPhilanthropist, businessman and civic leader, Marvin A. Pomerantz of Des Moines, has made a $2 million gift commitment to the UI Foundation to permanently endow the Pomerantz Family Chair in Ophthalmology at the University of Iowa.

The Pomerantz Family Chair will provide support in perpetuity to a distinguished senior faculty member in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, a unit of the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. Pomerantz said the gift grows out of his family’s desire to advance UI ophthalmological research, noting that the department is recognized internationally as a leader in eye-related research and treatment.

"My wife, Rose Lee, and our family are deeply committed to supporting the outstanding work conducted at the University of Iowa,” Pomerantz said. “UI ophthalmology faculty already are making major breakthroughs in neuro-ophthalmology and other visual sciences fields, leading to better lives for generations of people around the world. With significant financial support, UI physicians’ scientific and clinical contributions will advance to an unparalleled level, and we are delighted to be of assistance in their efforts.”

UI Vice President for Medical Affairs and UI Carver College of Medicine Dean Jean E. Robillard said, "Marvin and Rose Lee Pomerantz have demonstrated extraordinarily visionary leadership to the UI’s academic medical center, and indeed to the entire University, for many years. We are humbled by their generosity, and extend our sincere thanks.”

Marvin Pomerantz earned a UI business degree in 1952, and in 1961 established the Des Moines-based Mid-America Group, a regional real estate, investment and development firm. He is a lifetime honorary director of the UI Foundation Board of Directors and serves on the UI’s Henry B. Tippie College of Business Board of Visitors. He was co-chair of the National Campaign Steering Committee for the UI's successful $1 billion "Good. Better. Best. Iowa" campaign, and he is a past president of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

In their long-time support of the University of Iowa, the Pomerantz family have also established the John W. Colloton Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine in the UI Carver College of Medicine; the Marvin A. and Rose Lee Pomerantz Chair in the UI College of Public Health; and two endowed faculty chairs in the UI Tippie College of Business. They also provided major gift support for the Pomerantz Family Pavilion at UI Hospitals and Clinics, and for the upcoming construction of a new facility to house the College of Public Health. In 2001, they made a $10 million naming gift for the Pomerantz Center, which houses the UI's Admission Visitors Center, the Academic Advising Center, MBA Career Services, the Executive MBA Program, the UI Alumni Association's Career Information Network and the Marvin A. and Rose Lee Pomerantz Career Services Program. Pomerantz also has made significant contributions for other UI areas, including the Marvin A. Pomerantz Business Library, Hancher Auditorium, athletics and the UI Museum of Art.

The Pomerantz Family Chair in Ophthalmology is the seventh named, endowed chair in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and the 32nd in the UI Carver College of Medicine.

Named Chairs in Ophthalmology

  1. William E Scott Chair for Education in Pediatric Ophthalmology – Ronald Keech, M.D. (estab. June 2001, awarded March 2002)
  2. The Frederick C. Blodi Chair in Ophthalmology – Wallace Lee Alward, M.D. (2nd recipient, Sept. 2006)
  3. The Roy J. Carver, Jr. Chair in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology -- Thomas Casavant, Ph.D. (2006)
  4. The Martin and Ruth Carver Chair in Genetics -- Val C. Sheffield, M.D., Ph.D. (2006)
  5. The Seamans-Hauser Chair in Molecular Ophthalmology -- Edwin M. Stone, M.D., Ph.D (2006)
  6. The Lillian C. O’Brien and Dr. C. S. O’Brien Chair in Ophthalmology -- Keith D. Carter, M.D. (May 2007)
  7. The Pomerantz Family Chair in Ophthalmology – to be announced (June 2007)

Named Professorships in Ophthalmology:

  1. The Judith (Gardner) and Donald H. Beisner, M.D., Professorship for Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery -- James Folk, M.D. (June 2007)
  2. The Clifford M. and Ruth M. Altermatt Associate Professor of Glaucoma -- Young Kwon, M.D. (June 2007)

For more information about UI Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, visit its web site at www.uihealthcare.com/eyecare.

The UI acknowledges the UI Foundation as the preferred channel for private contributions that benefit all areas of the university. For more information about the foundation, visit its web site at www.uiowafoundation.org.

STORY SOURCE: UI Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, Iowa 52244-4550
CONTACT: Flynn Andrizzi, senior vice president, development; The University of Iowa Foundation; (319) 335-3305
mailto:flynn-andrizzi@uiowa.edu.
Writer: Nic Arp.

last updated: 06-16-2007