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The Power of Giving (cont'd)
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Alumni
Giving Back to the Alma Mater
While a student at MSUCOM, Robert G.G. Piccinini, D.O., F.A.C.N., spent six weeks in Italy on an overseas study trip. The trip was a particularly meaningful one for him. “It really gave me an appreciation for how medicine can be practiced in other cultures,” he says. The trip was also special for another reason. He got to see a part of the world that is close to his family’s heart.
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Amedeo Piccinini |
Dr. Piccinini, Class of 1992, had two grandparents who immigrated to the United States from Italy: his maternal grandmother, Ida Amici, in the 1920s, and his paternal grandfather, Amedeo Piccinini, in the 1960s.
Both grandparents greatly influenced Dr. Piccinini’s life. “They taught me an appreciation and respect for other cultures,” he says. “My grandfather used to remind me about a doctor he knew who spoke five languages. He was impressed
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Ida Amici
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that the doctor could treat patients in any of those languages.”A farmer in Italy before he came to the U.S., the grandfather taught himself to read and write in English.
That encouragement and love for learning inspired Dr. Piccinini to become a doctor himself and also to give back to the community and to his alma mater. A practicing clinical psychiatrist, he is the regional coordinator for clinical faculty in the Detroit area and he serves on the MSUCOM Alumni Association Board.
In addition, Dr. Piccinini recently made a substantial gift to the college. A portion of the money will be used to establish the Amedeo Piccinini Endowed Scholarship in honor of his grandfather. The scholarship will assist students who wish to travel overseas while in medical school, so that others can have the same experience he enjoyed. A second endowed scholarship will be named in honor of Dr. Piccinini’s grandmother and his mother, Filomena Amici.
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It’s important to understand that our ways are not the only ways,” says Dr. Piccinini. “Not every culture approaches illness in the same way, and knowing this can make a better doctor-patient relationship.”
Endowments, like the ones established by Dr. Piccinini, are an important part of the college’s strategy for the future. “All donations to the college are appreciated,” says Dean William D. Strampel, D.O., “but endowments are especially valuable. They are a legacy for the college and for the osteopathic profession.”
At MSU, if a fund reaches $30,000 within the first five years, it becomes fully endowed. The money is invested and only the interest is spent while the principal remains in perpetuity. This is why Dr. Strampel has made it one of his priorities to increase the number of endowed chairs and scholarships. They not only provide funding but also can serve as recruiting tools for students and faculty.
“Anything that improves the reputation of the school improves the reputation of its graduates,” says Dr. Strampel. “For alumni, that makes their degrees even more valuable.”
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Honoring a Classmate
Stefan H. Kobiljak, D.O., was fresh out of medical school when a tragic car accident cut short his life. However, the Class of 1985 graduate will not be forgotten in the halls of MSUCOM.
In fact, the Kobiljak name has become ubiquitous to MSUCOM students, thanks to two rooms – the Kobiljak Computer Center and the Kobiljak Resource Center – that have become entwined with the students’ daily lives. The centers were established in 1991 by a substantial gift from the Kobiljak family.
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 MSUCOM students take advantage of the Kobiljak Resource Center. |
The facilities provide computers for student use, high-speed Internet connections for mobile computing, software, required readings and a host of other resources that are a vital part of MSUCOM students’ education. They also serve as hubs of student social and study activity, providing both quiet areas and collaborative group spaces for student interaction.
The centers recently received another gift and, once again, the Class of 1985 was a part of it. When the class graduated, there was a small amount of funds left over from various class activities. The person in charge of the money was class treasurer Larry Kage, D.O.
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The funds were put into a money market account and it was basically forgotten about,” he explains. “Several years later, I was still getting the statements, and I realized it had become quite a significant amount.” In the 17 years since the class had graduated, a couple hundred dollars had grown into $7,500.
Dr. Kage, who has a family practice in Flint, ran into a few of his classmates at alumni functions and mentioned the money to them. However, no one was sure what should be done with it. Finally, Dr. Kage decided that best thing to do was give the money back to the alma mater. It was only natural, he thought, that the money support the legacy of Dr. Kobiljak.
“I was surprised and very pleased to be contacted by Dr. Kage,” states Mark Notman, Ph.D., executive director of medical informatics at MSUCOM. “With recent college efforts to promote medical informatics throughout our curriculum, the use of computer-mediated instruction has expanded quite a bit and all the resources we can garner to support and expand this are important,” he adds.
“When I got the e-mail I was almost in tears,” says Debbie Porter, director of the Kobiljak Centers. “It means a lot that the students are willing to give back to the school and in honor of their classmate.” Mark Hodgins, who oversees the computer lab, agrees. “This is their facility. We work hard to be responsive to the students’ needs.”
That can be a challenge, especially when it comes to keeping pace with the rapid changes in technology. In a time of shrinking budgets, that challenge becomes even harder. “It’s going to be impossible to keep up without these types of gifts,” said Mr. Hodgins.
A portion of the $7,500 has been spent on some necessary minor repairs. The remainder will be used, as needed, to purchase equipment or software in support of the college’s curriculum. Ms. Porter says the staff is careful to spend the money wisely, so that they can make the most out of this opportunity.
“It is an honor to be a part of a facility that was built as a memorial to one of our former students and is such an integral part of daily life at MSUCOM,” says Ms. Porter. “I feel a lot of pride of working here.”
Community
Devoted to Supporting
Osteopathic Medicine
The osteopathic profession has a rich tradition of helping the community. The majority of graduates from MSUCOM go on to work in primary care and community medicine. That’s one reason why it is especially rewarding when the community gives back to the profession.
There are several local foundations in Michigan that are devoted to supporting osteopathic medicine. These foundations have become important partners with MSUCOM and have helped to fund various programs and scholarship. Their generosity helps encourage osteopathic students and fosters cooperation between the college and the community.
Some recent gifts include the Riverside Osteopathic Hospital Guild Endowed Scholarship and the Riverside Medical Staff Endowed Scholarship. Another scholarship was established by the Sinai Medical Staff Foundation, which is associated with Sinai-Grace Hospital in Southfield.
Another partner is the Muskegon General Osteopathic Foundation. The foundation provides funding for Muskegon-area students who participate in OsteoCHAMPS, a program designed to give high school students an introduction to medicine and the osteopathic philosophy.
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