The Wayne State University School of Medicine held its fourth annual Golden Gala on Saturday, honoring five leaders in the fields of medicine and public policy, and thanking hundreds of donors for their contributions to medical student scholarships and student organizations.
"It is my great privilege to lead a school that attracts students who want to do more for others even before receiving their medical degree," Dean Valerie M. Parisi, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., told the audience of more than 570 during the event at the MGM Grand Detroit Hotel. "Witnessing their dedication and their actions makes the heart soar and leads me to believe that we and our descendants will be in good hands in many ways."
She announced that in the past year donors contributed more than $3.4 million to support student scholarships and the school's more than 60 student organizations.
"Tonight is a thanksgiving of sorts," Dean Parisi told the crowd. "We gather here to celebrate giving, and to thank you for helping others to achieve their dreams."
Longtime Detroit media icon Cynthia Canty served as emcee for the Roaring Twenties-themed gala, which included a plated dinner, live music and dancing, vintage car displays and a silent auction. Canty also produced a video honoring the evening's five honorees, who received the annual Ambassador, Trailblazer and Distinguished Service Awards for contributing to the school's legacy and commitment to the community. WSU President M. Roy Wilson, M.D., reflected on the world of medicine in the era of the theme. Several major medical discoveries were made in the 1920s, including the first use of insulin to treat diabetes, the first vaccine for whooping cough and the discovery of penicillin.
"When you think about it, the genesis of scientific discoveries and medical advances stem from inquisitive, agile minds that are nurtured in an environment that encourages and supports innovative thinking and research - an environment like that found at the Wayne State University School of Medicine," he said.
The WSU Board of Governors was represented in the formal program by board member Sandra O'Brien, who spoke about the importance of the School of Medicine's community partnerships, designed to improve the lives of the area's residents and neighbors, and to assist those most in need. "This is the spirit of the Wayne State University School of Medicine and it's a vitally needed spirit and institution as we work toward the newest renaissance of the city of Detroit," she said. "It's also the spirit reflected in the dedication, compassion and deeds of the honorees we recognize this evening."
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow received the Distinguished Community Service Award for making access to quality, affordable health care a top priority. She ensured that the landmark Affordable Care Act protected comprehensive health coverage for women, including maternity care, and has been recognized for her efforts to make prescription drugs more affordable. She was instrumental in getting hospitals and providers to adopt electronic medical records to reduce medical errors and save money in the health care system, and is a leading advocate of community health centers, which provide affordable, high-quality care in more than 180 communities in Michigan.
Grand Haven resident James Haveman, A.C.S.W., the former director of the Michigan Department of Community Health, received one of the evening's two Distinguished Service awards, given to physicians, researchers, non-medically related individuals or alumni who have made major contributions to humanitarian causes or community participation. Haveman has had a strong relationship with the School of Medicine for more than 20 years, collaborating in the early 1990s with the WSU Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences to ensure patients in Detroit received the best mental health care possible. He also worked to provide annual funding to support academic and community-based programs.
His co-honoree, former St. Clair Shores resident Beth Ann Brooks, M.D, earlier this year retired from her position as resident mentor and director of the department's general psychiatry program and child and adolescent psychiatry residency programs. She has been named to the peer-reviewed Best Doctors in America 10 times. She is nationally recognized for her contributions to resident education, and now lives in Nebraska.
The Ambassador Award honors individuals and corporations who, through acts and deeds, epitomize the spirit of Wayne State University and the School of Medicine. The 2014 honoree was Ann Arbor resident John Carethers, M.D., a 1989 graduate of the Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Carethers, who called himself "just a kid from Detroit" in his remarks Saturday, is the John G. Searle Professor of Gastroenterology and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. He is the 10th of 12 children and grew up on Detroit's northwest side. After graduating from the School of Medicine with honors, he completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1992. Dr. Carethers was elected to the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine in 2012.
The Trailblazer Award went to Dearborn resident Lawrence Crane, M.D., '66, F.A.C.P., F.I.D.S.A., a professor of medicine in the WSU Department of Internal Medicine's Division of Infectious Diseases. In the early 1980s, Dr. Crane changed the lives of thousands living with HIV when he decided to provide medical care to those with Gay-Related Immune Deficiency, later renamed AIDS. He has been a vocal advocate for patients, championing access to HIV care regardless of insurance status, race or sexual identity. He was instrumental in getting local patients the first antiretroviral AIDS drug, zidovudine, or AZT, which was discovered at the School of Medicine. Dr. Crane directs Wayne State's Adult HIV/AIDS Programs and Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic, the largest of its kind in Michigan.