Buksteins give $1.1 million to School of Medicine
May 9, 2008
Last weekend, the School of Medicine received a $1.1 million donation for an endowed professorship to advance cancer research at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. The center treats 200 to 300 cancer patients on an average day.
MU graduate Michael Bukstein and his wife Sharon donated $1.1 million last weekend for an endowed professorship at the School of Medicine.
The professorship will benefit cancer patients by advancing research efforts focused on improving the prevention, detection and treatment of the disease. The endowment establishes the Michael J. and Sharon R. Bukstein Chair in Cancer Research.
“The endowed chair will benefit the cancer research endeavors of one faculty member,” School of Medicine spokesman Richard Gleba said.
The position will be awarded to a faculty member who would expand cancer research at university medical research facilities, including the School of Medicine and the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.
Kristi Gafford, executive director at the cancer center, said the endowment is important to the prevention of cancer.
“Cancer research is an important part of what we do,” she said. “Our goal is to research ways to prevent or cure cancer, in addition to treating patients.”
She said the cancer center and medical school both greatly depend on philanthropy.
“Any time there are community members wanting to give back to cancer, we work to make it happen,” she said. “It’s hard for us to do all the things we want to do without the help of people like Michael and Sharon Bukstein.”
She said the Buksteins’ donation isn’t yet targeted toward to a specific cancer research.
Community members help fund several research initiatives for diseases, including breast cancer and leukemia, Gafford said.
“Depending on the researcher’s interest, they develop their focus in a particular area of cancer,” she said.
Gleba said endowments to the school are important for faculty members as well as students.
“Donations allow us to attract the best and brightest faculty, and students benefit by participating in faculty research efforts,” he said.
The research performed by endowed chairs draw research grants from other agencies, Gleba said.
“Ultimately it benefits cancer patients from Missouri and beyond,” he said.
The medical school has raised more than $100 million in gifts and pledges as part of the For All We Call Mizzou campaign. The campaign plans to announce it has raised $1 billion in the spring of 2009.
Michael Bukstein is a general surgeon, president and CEO of a clinic in Hannibal, Mo., and the president of the MU Medical Alumni Organization.
He also is the chairman of the Comprehensive Cancer Action Plan for Missouri.
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