NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tulane University School of Medicine has received its largest donation ever: $25 million, to support research.
The school will rename its Department of Medicine for John W. Deming, a medical school graduate who died in 1996, at age 76.
Medical school dean Dr. Lee Hamm said in a news release Monday that the money will provide critical support to launch the careers of junior investigators while also helping senior faculty members.
Deming's wife, Bertie Deming Smith, says she wanted to honor the deep love her husband of 50 years held for Tulane, and his belief in the importance of education.
“Tulane and the School of Medicine would not be where it is today without the exceptional commitment and remarkable foresight of the Deming family,” said Tulane president Mike Fitts. “No family has been as significant to the success of the school over the years. This is a gift that will build our research enterprise and encourage breakthroughs that we can only imagine today. This is a gift with an importance that will radiate well beyond our current boundaries.”
Deming grew up in Evergreen, Alabama, and graduated from Auburn. He worked in Alexandria, Louisiana, from 1950 to 1985.
