Future shines brighter than ever, for students, innovation and research, and community health 

Northeast Ohio Medical University announced its largest and most comprehensive fundraising effort at a public event in the NEOMED Education and Wellness (NEW) Center, Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. The Campaign, titled, Shine On: The Campaign for Northeast Ohio Medical University, has a $40 million goal.

Shine On addresses three major campaign priorities – Advancing Students, Advancing Innovation and Research, and Advancing Community Health. While many were already thrilled to know that the University’s future would shine brighter than ever, they were treated to a surprise as Jay A. Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., president of NEOMED, cued students standing above the NEW Center’s atrium, to reveal  (one number at time), the $28.3 million raised already during the Campaign’s quiet phase.

“NEOMED has been providing education, research and service for more than 40 years to Northeast Ohio,” noted Dr. Gershen. “So, it’s miraculous to think that we’ve never had a campaign for more than $4 million. But things are changing, and we are finding more ways to keep education affordable, to advance science and to deliver population-based health to our communities.”

Nationally, while student debt for a public school medical education shows an average increase of 3 percent, NEOMED’s first year medical student debt is down considerably, by 14.4 percent.

“It’s a testament to our campaign leadership and community of givers,” said Daniel Blain, vice president for advancement and president of the Northeast Ohio Medical University Foundation. “Reaching 70 percent of our goal before even going public is outstanding and would not have been possible without our campaign chairs and leadership team, our university board of trustees and our foundation board.”

As the last student revealed the final number to showcase the funds raised “to date,” Dr. Gershen concluded with, “this is a reason to celebrate,” prompting the Rootstown High School marching band to enter from the opposite side of the atrium and make a surprise appearance to close the ceremony with a few songs before everyone was treated to a campus-wide lunch.

Learn more about the Shine On Campaign, and how you can help NEOMED to shine brighter than ever.