10/9/2009

Owsley Brown Frazier continues commitment to rehabilitation

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release:    For More Information:
October 9, 2009 Barbara Mackovic, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare
      (502) 587-4230
       Gary Mans, University of Louisville
       (502) 852-7504

Owsley Brown Frazier continues commitment to rehabilitation

Louisville, KY (October 9, 2009)  Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation announced today that Owsley Brown Frazier has made a $1.5 million gift to establish the Owsley Brown Frazier Endowed Chair in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Frazier Rehab Institute and the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

“In the 1950s, my mother, Amelia Brown Frazier, helped create what has become the Frazier Rehab Institute,” said Owsley Brown Frazier, chair of the UofL Board of Trustees. “Through her own personal experience with a disabling accident, she had a goal of making sure people didn’t have to leave their homes in and around Louisville to receive the best possible rehabilitation care in the world. Her desire has been met and I am trying to do my part to ensure it continues.”

Mr. Frazier’s leadership gift is structured so that the Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation will give $1 million to the UofL Foundation which will match $750,000 for the endowed chair through Kentucky’s Research Challenge Trust Fund—otherwise known as Bucks for Brains—and $250,000 through the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust for the chair’s work in spinal cord research. The remainder will be used for the chair’s position as medical director at Frazier Rehab Institute, a 135-bed facility and regional care network offering all facets of rehabilitation from physical therapy to occupational, speech, recreational and pulmonary therapy.

“This gift will allow UofL to recruit a medical leader who will not only teach residents, but expand the exceptional evidence-based care provided at Frazier Rehab, as well as implement cutting edge basic and translational research, and recruit other nationally ranked researchers and clinicians to Louisville,” said Martin Bonick, president/CEO, Jewish Hospital and Frazier Rehab Institute and JHSMH Vice President.  “Our goal is to continue developing nationally recognized rehab programs at Frazier Rehab in spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, movement disorders and pediatrics in collaboration with UofL. Mr. Frazier’s immensely generous gift provides the resources to take a bold step ahead, and for that we are so very grateful to him.”

“Through the years I have had occasion to need the services at Frazier Rehab Institute,” said Mr. Frazier. “Each time I have been thankful that I have not had to travel great lengths to receive what I believe to be the best care in the world. I hope this gift helps solidify a foundation to further enhance the research of rehabilitation medicine that is occurring at Frazier Rehab and UofL.”

“Mr. Frazier’s efforts to enhance the rehabilitation program at UofL and Frazier Rehab are longstanding and this gift demonstrates that continuing endeavor,” said Dr. James R. Ramsey, president of the University of Louisville.  “Over the years, our collaborative efforts with Frazier Rehab Institute have brought about many advances in rehabilitative medicine. Just last week Dr. Susan Harkema talked about her research to translate animal studies into humans, which may allow people who previously were paralyzed to walk again. And our relationship with the entire JHSMH organization allows for UofL to pass on to the next generations of health care providers the knowledge and insight through our academic and training programs that are housed throughout the Jewish Hospital Medical Campus.”

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