Historic Investiture: Children’s Mercy Endows Largest Group of Honorees in 125-year history
Children’s Mercy invested seven endowed positions to honor outstanding clinicians, researchers and leaders who are committed to transforming the health, well-being and potential of children across the region and world. This is the largest group of honorees ever invested at one time at Children’s Mercy.
Hospital leaders and special guests gathered to recognize the distinguished accomplishments of the following Children’s Mercy faculty and the donors who made these endowed positions possible at the 2022 Investiture ceremony on Wednesday, April 13.
Denise Bratcher, DO
Dr. Sidney F. Pakula Endowed Chair in Graduate Medical Education
Mark A. Clements, MD, PhD, CPI, FAAP
Rick and Cathy Baier Family Endowed Chair in Endocrinology
Jeanne M. James, MD, MBA, FAAP
Joyce C. Hall Eminent Scholar in Pediatrics
Eric T. Rush, MD, FAAP, FACMG
Underdown/Yeomans Family Endowed Professorship in Connective Tissue Disorders Care
Venkatesh Sampath, MBBS, MRCPCH
Sosland Chair in Neonatology Research
Sarah E. Soden, MD
Nick Timmons Endowed Chair in Developmental & Behavioral Health
Tangula Taylor, MBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC
Bernell Hevner O’Donnell, RN Endowed Chair – Chief Nursing Officer
“Established through the generosity of committed donors, endowed positions are the highest academic award one can achieve – it is an incredible honor to be the named holder of the appointment and an enduring tribute to the donor who creates it,” Paul Kempinski, Children’s Mercy President and CEO, Alice Berry, DDS, and Katharine Berry, MD, Endowed Chair in Executive Leadership, said. “Now, more than ever, endowed positions are crucial for recruiting and retaining world-class talent – they provide the recipient time and funding to focus on their work – it truly is an investment in the future of children’s health.”
The ongoing financial support endowed positions create for research and education, and numerous other areas, elevates the hospital’s academic profile and stature as a national leader in clinical care. Thank you to Dr. Lawrence Pakula of The Louis H. Gross Foundation, Inc.; Rick and Cathy Baier Family Foundation; The Hall Family Foundation; Kim and Rod Underdown and the Underdown and Yeomans Family; The Sosland Foundation; Fore the Kids Foundation and Dr. Randall and Melva O’Donnell for their visionary leadership and generosity in establishing these vital positions for the continued work of building a world of well-being for all children.