Volume 1 Spring 2014 - RIC - Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Volume 1 Spring 2014 - RIC - Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

VOLUME 1 | WINTER 2014
WHAT’S INSIDE:
CAMPAIGN UPDATE
ADVANCEMENT HEADLINES
A LOOK INTO RESEARCH
GIVING BACK MATTERS
WHY I GAVE
FRAMING THE FUTURE
MEET EMPLOYEE WALTER AFABLE
RIC RECOGNIZES KING HARRIS AS HE ANNOUNCES THE FAMILY’S LEAD GIFT
As Walter Afable’s brother battled an illness
that eventually resulted in a bilateral lung
transplant, the two had one goal in mind—
get to RIC to get better.
The first public announcement of a lead gift to
RIC’s Advance Human Ability Campaign for
the new Research Hospital was made at the
Annual Meeting of RIC’s Board of Directors
on November 14. King Harris, Chairman
of the Board of Directors 2001–2006, and
Chairman of the Foundation Board 2007–2013,
proudly announced his family’s $10 million
gift to fund the Harris Family Foundation
Center for Engineering in Neurorehabilitation
at the new Ability Institute of RIC, slated to
open early 2017.
“I love being here because it’s a beacon
of hope for others and because RIC
believes in investing in new technology,”
“He knew, if he could get here, he would
he noted. “It’s great that the Institute
receive world-class therapy,” Walter, the
believes so strongly in driving ability
clinical operations manager of the Prosthetics
and
research. We know there’s
Orthotics Clinical Center, said. “As he completed his inpatient work at another hospital,
something better out there, and
we would say, ‘You’ll get to RIC and it will
everyone here is committed to
be great.’”
making it happen.”
Unfortunately, Walter’s brother passed away
in 2008 before reaching RIC, but Walter says
the memory of his brother is what drives him
to support our cause.
Walter’s brother’s illness was actually the catalyst for bringing Walter and his wife back to
Chicago. They were living in Baltimore but decided to return to the area to support Walter’s
family. Walter said he was lucky to find RIC,
where he could continue to build his career in
prosthetics and orthotics while working in an
exploratory, innovative environment.
He noted that the collaborative nature of The
Ability Institute of RIC will be groundbreaking
for total patient care and support. “When
we’re all in the room together—therapists,
researchers, clinicians, and more—we can
make great things happen quickly.”
Walter’s gift was made in memory and celebration of his brother. “I wouldn’t be here
if not for him,” he remarked. “I give in his
memory and for people like him who look
to RIC as their chance for recovery. RIC is
a source of inspiration for so many people.
People look to us early in their recovery and
think, ‘RIC is going to help me.’ I want to
keep that hope alive.”
Advance Human Ability is a quarterly publication highlighting RIC’s
Capital Campaign for a new research hospital, The Ability Institute
of RIC, through personal stories and operational updates.
DONATE TODAY WWW.RIC.ORG/DONATE-ONLINE/
“This magnificent and generous vote of confidence in RIC by the Harris family will touch
many lives and will stimulate others to join in
supporting the impactful work and service of
RIC for many years to come,” remarked Tom
Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Advancement, and President of the RIC Foundation.
Following the Annual Meeting, a celebration
took place in RIC’s Heyworth Room to thank
Mr. Harris and his family for their dedication
and support of RIC’s Mission and Vision for
the future.
“King Harris has been a loyal and
devoted friend, partner, and leader
for research at the Rehabilitation
Institute of Chicago for many years.
He gets a kick out of our successes, such as
when we have major press announcements,
TV specials, or other kinds of recognitions.
He’s almost been like a proud father to
us,” said Dr. W. Zev Rymer, Vice President,
Research, RIC.
Since joining the RIC board in 1991, King
and his wife, Caryn, a longtime member of
RIC’s Women’s Board, have been steadfast
supporters of many facets of the RIC Mission
including research with the Harris Family
Laboratory, the medical residency program
with the Harris Resident Scholarship, and
much more. The Harris Family Foundation
Center for Engineering in Neurorehabilitation
located in the Ability Institute of RIC will use
neuroscience and biological engineering to
produce and improve therapies for neurological and neuromuscular disorders, such as
stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic
brain injury.
ADVANCEMENT HEADLINES
Tom Sullivan
Senior Vice President, Advancement
President, RIC Foundation
CAMPAIGN RISING
After more than 12 years
at Lurie Children’s Hospital
and having raised significant
resources to sustain the hospital
in caring for Chicago’s children, I am
thrilled to be joining the RIC Advancement
team during this exciting time in its history
and to introduce RIC’s Campaign Newsletter—Advance Human Ability. This new
communication will provide an exclusive
inside look into the all-important fundraising
initiative, construction of the new research
hospital, the Ability Institute of RIC, as well
as relevant information on the many unique
features of this special organization.
Significant progress has been achieved in
the Advance Human Ability Campaign,
with total fund raising for the new research
hospital having surpassed the $180 million
mark, toward the goal of a minimum of
$300 million. Numerous gifts and commitments have been received in recent weeks,
highlighted by a $10 million commitment
from the King Harris Family (see related
story). RIC Board Chair and campaign cochair Jude Reyes described the Harris gift
as a “…fabulous expression of devotion and
commitment by a family that has long been
dedicated to RIC and its extraordinary mission. We are deeply
indebted to King Harris and
his family for this magnificent
leadership gesture.”
Nearly 1,300 campaign contributions have been recorded
during the campaign’s initial
quiet phase. Included are six
eight-figure gifts, 22 in the sevenfigure range and 26 at six figures. RIC CEO,
Dr. Joanne Smith, describes the campaign
as “the most important fundraising endeavor in RIC’s long and distinguished history.
Its success will create an excellent platform
to support the Institute’s outstanding clinical and research initiatives for generations
to come. The impact will be seen in the
revolutionary models of integrated care and
discovery that will be implemented for the
first time in the new research hospital and
the stellar results they are expected
to produce.”
The campaign is now reaching out more
broadly to the community, seeking engagement and support from people, businesses,
foundations and organizations that empathize with the unique mission and service
of the top-ranked rehabilitation hospital
in the world. For information regarding
gift and recognition opportunities in the
new hospital, contact Tom Sullivan
(312-238-0866 or [email protected]).
ADVANCE HUMAN ABILITY CAMPAIGN FOR RIC
CO-CHAIRS AND COMMITTEE
Mike Keiser, President,
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Tom Reynolds, Partner/Litigation,
Winston & Strawn
M. Jude Reyes,
Co-Chair
Michael P. Krasny,
Co-Chair
NEW FOUNDATION
CO-CHAIRS
Connie Coolidge
Bill Wardrop, Managing Partner,
Steere Capital Partners
Linda Wolf, (retired), Former Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Leo Burnett
Company, a division of Publicis Groupe S.A.
from 2001 to April 2005.
RIC FOUNDATION BOARD MISSION:
Dan Dolan
Attract and secure private philanthropic
support (Corporations, Foundations, and
Individuals) to sustain and enhance the
capacity to serve RIC in its multi-faceted
mission—Best Patient Care and Outcomes,
Innovative Clinical Treatment, Cutting-Edge
Medical Research and Professional and
Public Education and Advocacy.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
GOAL $300 MIL
40%
120 MIL TO GO!
60%
180 MIL RAISED
GIVING BACK MATTERS
MORRIE SILVERMAN
Giving back makes eminent
sense to Morris Silverman, a
man who has risen from an
extremely modest Chicago
background to achieve considerable success in business
and life. “Morrie,” as he is
known to friends and colleagues,
believes that it is “…very good for our
nation to help people attain independence
and the ability to contribute to society.”
That philosophy explains why Morrie and
his partner Lori Komisar originally became
engaged with RIC some five years ago and
why they recently decided to make a $5 million commitment to support the new Ability
Institute of RIC being constructed on East
Erie Street in downtown Chicago. Elaborating on his thinking Morrie states, “RIC gives
people life and hope and possibility. The new
research hospital will go above and beyond in
every respect and, because of it, people with
limiting conditions will not be left behind …
they will have improved opportunities to
participate in life and work and to play meaningful roles in their communities.” Lori adds
that “RIC is truly doing God’s work in helping
people regain function and return to useful
and productive lives.”
Morrie knows a thing or two about limiting
conditions. As a young boy he fell out of a
tree and injured his arm. Because his family
had limited means, his medical treatment
was inadequate and he ultimately lost his
left arm to serious infection. That limitation
did not hold him back, however, as evidenced
by his rigorous work in school, which earned
him a scholarship to the University of Illinois.
He began working for women’s clothier MJ
Petrie during summers in high school
and college and ended up spending
21 years with the firm, rising to
corporate vice president. Morrie
moved on to start his own successful and diversified business
enterprise, which has included
real estate development, restaurants, currency exchange, factoring
and a detective agency.
Morrie and Lori’s collaborative generosity
has been extended to others in numerous
forms along the way, including the special
help they have provided to a youngster in
Israel. Four years ago, Morrie and Lori discovered an Israeli teenager, Asael, whose leg had
been destroyed in a terrorist attack that took
the lives of much of his family. They subsequently brought the boy to Chicago and RIC
and had the medical and prosthetics teams
fit him with a new bionic leg at their own
expense. Asael now proudly and regularly
forwards pictures of himself walking and
dancing. They plan to provide similar help
this year for a former Israeli soldier, whose
arms were blown off by an explosive device.
Morrie Silverman and Lori Komisar both
appreciate what it means to have life altered
by misfortune and challenge. They also understand the value and importance of turning
adversity into opportunity. They are a real-life
example that making the most of unforeseen
and sometimes negative circumstances can
lead to meaningful personal fulfillment and
success. RIC and its patients are indeed
fortunate that Morrie and Lori are people of
great compassion and generosity. Many lives
will undoubtedly be touched in the years to
come because of their giving.
RIC FOUNDATION BOARD VISION:
Strive to be the charity of choice among our
regional, national and global constituents
by acting as ambassadors for RIC; inspiring
knowledge, trust and financial support.
Mike Keiser
A LOOK INTO
RESEARCH
RIC research scientist receives prestigious
$9 million NIH grant; will collaborate with
‘dream team’ of Harvard, MIT in advanced
ADVANCEMENT CAMPAIGN STAFF
Tom Sullivan
SVP Advancement & President RIC
Foundation Board
Sandra Miller
Major Gift Officer,
Women’s Board Capital Campaign
[email protected], 312-238-0866
[email protected], 312-238-8070
Jennifer Bell
Temple Seigler
Major Gift Officer, Institutional Giving
Major Gift Officer
[email protected], 312-238-4019
[email protected], 312-238-4532
Tom Flynn
Jim Smith
Major Gift Officer
[email protected], 312-238-8060
Major Gift Officer, Employee Capital Campaign
& Grateful Patient Program
[email protected], 312-238-3317
HELP US TO BE MORE “GREEN”
DONATE TODAY
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this publication electronically.
Please donate to RIC at the following link
www.ric.org/donate-online/
To be removed from our mailing list,
please call 312-238-6013.
or please make check payable to the
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and mail
to: Advancement Office, Rehabilitation
Institute of Chicago, 345 East Superior, Suite
#O-814, Chicago, IL 60611, Att: Susan Barclay
or phone 312-238-8023.
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brain research
In a move to dramatically accelerate brain
research­—and possible cures for autism, Parkinson’s and stroke—The National Institutes
of Health (NIH) awarded Konrad Kording,
PhD, research scientist at RIC, a $9 million,
five-year NIH Transformative Research Award
to build a non-invasive, molecular biologic
tool to record, measure and study how the
brain really works.
This award is part of the NIH’s “High Risk—
High Reward” program and is one of just ten
Transformative Research grants awarded
to scientists who propose highly innovative
approaches to major challenges facing the
biomedical research community.
Kording, a neuroscientist, lead researcher
at RIC and associate professor of physical
medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern
University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, will
collaborate with a national team of scientists
that include the highly regarded Harvard
microbiologist George Church and MIT
neuroscientist Ed Boyden.
“NIH is excited to continue the support of
visionary investigators, among all career
stages, pursuing science with the potential
to transform scientific fields and accelerate
the translation of scientific research into
improved health, through the Common Fund’s
High Risk-High Reward Research Program,”
said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD.
“This program allows researchers to propose
highly creative research projects across a
broad range of biomedical research areas that
involve inherent risk but have the potential for
high-rewards.”
If successful, the research would allow scientists to simultaneously collect recordings
of activities from all the nerve cells in the
whole mouse brain. Doing so will increase
the capture of this data by 100,000-fold,
change profoundly how the brain is studied
and accelerate efforts to understand and
cure multiple brain diseases and conditions.
The NIH-funded effort will work in parallel
with President Obama’s recently announced
BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing
Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative. That
$100-million program seeks to help researchers find new ways to treat, cure and even
prevent brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s
disease, epilepsy and traumatic brain injury.
PHOTOS OF GROUNDBREAKING
President, CEO Joanne C. Smith, MD with
Former President, CEO Dr. Henry Betts
The late Wes Dixon, former Chairman
of the Board, with wife Sue Dixon
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel with Advance Human Ability capital
campaign chairs, Michael Krasny, RIC Board Vice Chair & Jude Reyes,
RIC Board Chair
US Senators Mark Kirk
and Dick Durbin
Former RIC Military patients join violinist Jason Yang and singer
Diana DeGarmo to close the ceremony with “America the Beautiful”
ABILITY
INSTITUTE
FAST FACTS
242 BEDS
•
The Ability Institute of RIC will open
in early 2017 with 242 beds
1.2 MIL SQ FT
GROUND
BREAKING
•
A total building size of 1.2-million square
feet, with 800,000 square feet dedicated
to clinical/research programs
•
7-story parking garage and 3-story
Medical Office Building
5 INNOVATION CENTERS
Focused Centers of Expertise,
Resources & Technology
BRAIN
Left to right: Eric G. Neilson, MD; Tom Reynolds; Mayor Rahm Emanuel; Jesse Sullivan; Michael Krasny; Joanne Smith, MD; Jude Reyes; King Harris;
Mike Keiser; Connie Coolidge; Senator Dick Durbin; Senator Mark Kirk
SPINAL CORD
NEURO-MUSCULOSKELETAL
INSIDE RIC: BUILDING FOR ABILITY
RIC is embarking on a bold endeavor to create a revolutionary
new model of care that more fully integrates scientific research
and clinical care in one environment enveloping the patient—the
Ability Institute of RIC. Construction of this 1.2-million square-foot
research hospital signals a new era in rehabilitation medicine, and
its completion in early 2017 will invigorate RIC’s vision to Advance
Human Ability.
PEDIATRIC
With the foundation laid and building continuing on schedule,
please look to the Spring edition of Advance Human Ability for
updates on the construction and for the continued shaping of
the Ability Institute of RIC.
VISIT OUR CONSTRUCTION LIVE FEED
advancehumanability.org
JULY 2013
On July 1st, RIC welcomed
friends and supporters to
celebrate the ceremonial
Groundbreaking for the
Ability Institute of RIC.
CANCER
This newsletter will provide progress updates on the construction
of the new hospital, located at 355 East Erie, and a closer look into
the future spaces that will make up the Ability Institute of RIC.
Novel Translational
Rehabilitation Laboratories
•
Speech & Cognition (“Think, Speak”)
•
Fine Motor (“Arms, Hands”)
•
Gait & Locomotion (“Legs, Walking”)
•
Coordination & Endurance (“Total Body”)
•
Pediatrics (All Abilities for Kids)
NEW CARE SUPPORT LABS
NOVEMBER 2013
On Monday, November 25,
1,600 yards of concrete was
poured uninterrupted to
complete the core mat slab
of the foundation.
5 ABILITY LABS™
JANUARY 2014
With underground work
completed, the groundwork,
including the seven-story
parking garage for the Ability
Institute of RIC, has begun.
•
Imaging and Interventional Suite:
MRI and CT scanning capabilities
•
Ultrasound, fluoroscopy, DEXA and
bone-density diagnostics
•
Rehabilitation Intensive Care Unit (RICU)
•
Infusion Suite
WONDERFUL PUBLIC SPACES
AUGUST 2013
OCTOBER 2013
DECEMBER 2013
The first phase of construction
of the Ability Institute of RIC
was the excavation of the site
at 355 East Erie.
Earth retention was installed around
the perimeter of the site and at the
center core to facilitate excavation
and foundation construction. At the
same time, an additional excavation
project, including underground
piping, electrical installation and
concrete placement for the foundation
commenced on the site.
355 East Erie, the new
site of the Ability Institute
of RIC, saw the installation
of the core form for the
starter wall.
DONATE TODAY WWW.RIC.ORG/DONATE-ONLINE/
•
Sky Lobby—2-story reception on 10th floor
•
Sky Garden—Expansive, outdoor green
area confluent with the Sky Lobby
•
LIFE Center—Patient and Family
Resource Center
•
Spiritual Center
•
Conference Center
UPCOMING
RIC EVENTS
LEARN MORE
ADVANCEHUMANABILITY.ORG
DONATE TODAY
WWW.RIC.ORG/DONATE-ONLINE/
Dr. Jordan Grafman presents
RIC Brain Research
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
6:00-7:30 pm
Please contact 312-238-6013 to inquire
about an invitation
DONATE
TODAY!
345 East Superior Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
INSPIRING PATIENTS
CHIP BATTOE
Chip, 33, was riding his scooter home from
church on Easter Sunday when he was hit by
a car and fractured his spine. After his preliminary prognosis, doctors told him he had
less than a 5% chance of ever walking again.
A vivacious, soon-to-be married man with
a determined spirit and long list of dreams
in his dream book felt this response was
unacceptable.
Chip came to RIC unable to move even a single toe. Within days the team had him up and
walking using special equipment. After only
a few weeks as a patient in RIC’s Inpatient
Ability Lab,™ Chip was wiggling his big toe
and the entire foot. His integrated care team,
including doctors, therapists and researchers, shared his contagious commitment to
enhancing his ability and within two months
Chip left RIC.
Chip continued therapy through RIC’s outpatient clinic and on October 26th, just seven
months following his accident, Chip did walk.
Surrounded by friends, family and even one
of his therapists (Walter Afable), he walked
down the aisle and wed his wife Rebecca.
In November 2013, Chip announced that he
would participate in RIC’s annual fundraiser, SkyRise Chicago, by climbing at least 33
flights of the 103 stories. The average climber
can ascend the Willis Tower in about 45 minutes, so when he and his team arrived at floor
33 one hour and forty-five minutes later we
all believed it a significant accomplishment.
However, Chip’s competitive drive wouldn’t
allow him to settle. After a brief rest, he
re-entered the stairs at 66 and made his way
to the top. Met with a round of applause,
hugs and very few dry eyes, Chip reached
the top of Willis Tower in four hours and
twenty-five minutes, seven months after his
devastating accident.
Today he continues to make improvements
at the outpatient clinic where he participates
in multi-hour therapy sessions two days per
week. Chip is now working toward walking
with only one crutch, which will increase his
functional abilities dramatically. “I’ll actually
be able to carry my own plate to the couch,”
he said with a wry smile.
#1 Rehabilitation Hospital for 23 consecutive
years per U.S. News and World Report
#1 Research Ranking from NIH
DONATE TODAY WWW.RIC.ORG/DONATE-ONLINE/
Chip and Rebecca have collaborated on an
extensive dream book filled with challenges
and milestones.“The likelihood of a person
actually accomplishing their dreams increases
exponentially if you actually write them down,”
he said. They have recently gone back through
that book, which includes everything from
physical challenges, such as a ½ Ironman
Triathlon, to visiting every country in Africa.
They have determined that, despite the accident not a single one needs to be deleted—
just adapted based on his/their ability.
RIC Women’s Board Private
Preview Party of the Chicago
International Art, Antique &
Jewelry Show
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Please contact Beverley Williams
at 312-238-6023 for information