Supporting Medical Education

Almost a century ago, John W. Sterling, of the Yale College Class of 1864 (right), ably demonstrated the ability of one person to shape and institution. Sterling made a bequest to Yale that funded a building boom in the 1920s and 1930s that literally defined the campus, raising many of the university’s signature structures. The Sterling bequest extended to faculty and students as well: to this day, the 36 Sterling Professorships are the highest honor bestowed on Yale’s faculty—including Thomas Steitz, recipient of the 2009 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, whose achievements are chronicled in this issue of Medicine@Yale.

Creating new endowed professorships is one of the medical school’s highest priorities. At no point in history has medical research made advances at the pace seen in the last 10 years, and this progress will pale by comparison to what we are poised to accomplish in the years ahead. Providing steady, secure support for the scientific pursuits of our very best faculty members is one way to sustain our rapid progress in understanding and treating illness.

A $3 million gift will create an endowed professorship in your name or a loved one’s name. Please consider a donation today.