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Endowing at Summa HealthEndowing at Summa Health

Programmatic Giving Opportunities

Summa Health offers a variety of programmatic opportunities that advance clinical excellence, inspire innovation and enhance patient care. Your gift could be instrumental in attracting the next generation of our dedicated physicians. 

— Make an Immediate Impact —

Summa Health offers diverse, program-specific giving opportunities that provide an immediate impact in enhancing the patient experience and empowering clinical excellence.

Your support of programs at Summa Health will:

  • Benefit patients by supporting the highest quality care.
  • Support your area of interest.
  • Honor or memorialize a loved one, a respected physician or caring healthcare provider.

In grateful recognition of your generous gift, there are naming opportunities.

(Click on each area to learn more)

Naming Opportunities Minimum Gift Content
Institute $5,000,000
Institute

Institute

An institute is a large-scale, interdisciplinary, comprehensive system of care delivery that includes clinical research and education, and where multidisciplinary teams collaborate around a health specialization in a dedicated space or at multiple locations.

Center $2,500,000
Center

Center

A center identifies an interdisciplinary program, with or without a dedicated space, directed by a dedicated leader. An example of a center at Summa Health is the Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Center for Breast Health.

Fund $25,000
Fund

Fund

Funds provide direct support for the clinical area of your interest. An example is the Donovan Family Fund for Veteran Care at Summa Health.

— Create a Legacy —

You create a permanent legacy of support for Summa Health when you establish an endowment. The principal of your gift remains intact and generates interest income. This income is made available each year to enhance programs and services. The legacy of your endowment will live on in perpetuity for the benefit of future generations.

(Click on each area to learn more)


Naming Opportunities Minimum Gift Content
Endowed fellowship $2,000,000
Fellowship

Endowed fellowship

An endowed fellowship is an incentive for attracting high-performing fellows who have strong potential to make significant contributions to clinical initiatives at Summa Health in a specific area such as orthopedics, behavioral health, women's health and others.
Endowed chair $1,500,000
Chair

Endowed chair

Established in perpetuity, a prestigious endowed chair at Summa Health is an especially meaningful way to honor and recognize a doctor’s exemplary contributions to the practice and science of his or her medical specialty. The honor of being a chair holder is awarded to the most talented and experienced clinicians, and at Summa Health they are highly esteemed.

The income generated from the principal of an endowed chair supports the chair holder’s research, education and other key endeavors, ensuring the continued advancement of his or her field. Endowed chairs are fundamental to the mission of Summa Health to deliver the highest quality, compassionate care and contribute to a healthier community by:

  • recognizing and retaining world-class clinicians,
  • supporting the recruitment of top talent both nationally and internationally,
  • providing a perpetual income stream for leading-edge research, innovative care and training the next generation of physicians, and
  • bringing emphasis to areas of clinical and research importance such as interventional cardiology.

Some examples of endowed chairs at Summa Health include:

  • Vincent and Nancy DiGirolamo Endowed Chair in Oncology, held by Gilbert Padula, M.D., medical director, Summa Health Cancer Institute
  • Jim and Vanita Oelschlager Endowed Chair in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, held by Joseph Varley, M.D., chair, Department of Psychiatry
  • Vivian E. von Gruenigen, M.D., Endowed Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology, held by Edward M. Ferris, M.D., chair and medical director, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Endowed director $1,000,000
Director

Endowed director

An endowed directorship provides perpetual support for and recognition of the outstanding leadership, clinical excellence, research impact and innovation of the chair holder or director.

Endowed fund $50,000

Endowed fund

Endowed funds provide perpetual support for the clinical area of your interest.

A gift of any size can make a significant impact on Summa Health programs and services.

Through your legacy gift, you become a partner with Summa Health in providing the highest quality care in an enhanced healing environment for the patients we serve in our Juve Family Behavioral Health Pavilion on the Akron Campus, opening in January 2023.

For more information, contact Phylis Ferrara, president, Summa Foundation, at 234.312.5868.

Why support programs at Summa Health?