The Regents approved establishment of two professorships at their July meeting—the H. Marvin Pollard Professorship in Gastroenterology and the Amnon Rosenthal Collegiate Professorship in Pediatric Cardiology.
The Pollard professorship has been endowed through a $1.2 million gift from the Shirley M. McLaughlin Trust.
“Beginning in 1970 when she was referred to the U-M Hospitals, Mrs. McLaughlin subsequently was treated by a number of physicians over the years, including Drs. Richard Schneider, Julian Hoff and Mark Orringer,” explained Giles G. Bole, dean of the Medical School.
“Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin established a close relationship with Drs. Schneider and Pollard and were very grateful to the U-M Medical Center for the outstanding medical care they received. To repay the Medical Center and, in particular, Dr. Pollard, Mrs. McLaughlin requested that the H. Marvin Pollard Professorship in Gastroenterology be established in his honor,” Bole said.
Pollard, who died in September 1981, was nationally recognized in his discipline and made major contributions in the area of pancreatic cancer.
He joined the Department of Internal Medicine in 1933 and served as head of the Section of Gastroenterology in 1940–72. He retired from active clinical practice in 1977 and died in 1981.
“Dr. Rosenthal has been a superb role model as a physician, mentor and colleague for young pediatricians, especially for pediatric cardiologists, throughout his academic career,” Bole said.
“He has developed one of the most outstanding divisions of pediatric cardiology in the world. His tireless efforts on behalf of countless children born with congenital heart defects have earned him the genuine love and respect of everyone who has had the privilege of working with him and learning from him.
“This Collegiate Professorship is designed to honor a senior faculty member in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology who emulates Dr. Rosenthal’s remarkable talents and personal traits,” Bole added.
The Rosenthal Professorship is made possible through departmental support, as well as contributions and pledges from the Section of Thoracic Surgery of the Department of Surgery and faculty, alumni, family, and friends of Rosenthal.
