Reflecting on the success of the Pivotal Moments Campaign with School of Medicine committee chairs, Drs. Pamela and Brooks Bock
December 31, 2018
"Thank you! As committee chairs for the Pivotal Moments Campaign, it has been our great pleasure to serve the Wayne State University School of Medicine community and play a part during such an important time for the institution. The School of Medicine changes lives, something we know from first-hand experience. A multitude of peoplealumni, friends, faculty, staff and students have worked together to make these life-changing moments possible. School of Medicine donors have gone above and beyond for the school. These generous philanthropic investments provide necessary resources beyond traditional funding sources to support the school's mission. From the launch to the conclusion of the campaign in 2018, the school has received tremendous support, surpassing its goal of $190 million, which has had a monumental impact on students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the patients they serve. These funds have allowed the school to inspire students and faculty to be curious and passionate; discover new approaches in research; create fresh expressions of existing knowledge; and engage in community service, enriching the culture and economy of Detroit and beyond. Thank you for making the Pivotal Moments Campaign a success and for building upon the exciting future ahead for the School of Medicine." - Drs. Pamela and Brooks Bock
Cultivating a culture of philanthropy
When the Wayne State University School of Medicine started looking for volunteers to help drive fundraising efforts during the Pivotal Moments campaign, it found a natural leadership combination in two of its ownPamela Bock, M.D., and Brooks Bock, M.D.
Together, Pamela and Brooks were charged with the School of Medicine's share of the university-wide campaign which concludes in tandem with Wayne State's sesquicentennial anniversary this yearand also marks 150 years since the university's founding as the Detroit Medical College in 1868. The campaign's ambitious goal to raise $750 million was designed to support a collective vision of making Wayne State University and the School of Medicine the nation's preeminent public urban research university. Wayne State successfully reached the campaign goal in July 2018, three months early.
"The Bocks both received their medical educations here, they both formerly worked here and their ongoing commitment to the School of Medicine has been nothing short of phenomenal," said Dean Jack D. Sobel, M.D. "They were the perfect co-leaders for our campaign."
The Bocks now live and practice medicine in Vail, Colorado, but have always maintained a close bond with their alma mater.
"When we were asked to serve as co-chairs for the medical school campaign, we agreed, because both of us have benefitted from our medical education greatly and we both have contacts in the city and state, and throughout the medical community," said Brooks Bock, Class of 1969, and founder and first chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the School of Medicine.
An obstetrician and gynecologist, Pamela Bock, Class of 1987, happily agreed to co-chair the campaign, because, in her words, "I owe my success to the university and the School of Medicine. What better way to show my appreciation?"
Both Pamela and Brooks credit the School of Medicine with catalyzing their medical careers.
"I was able to have a lot of hands-on training that most medical schools do not offer. I think that's what is unique about Wayne's program," Pamela said.
Her husband agreed. "Wayne State University gave me the opportunity to develop leadership skills, a quality medical education and to have experiences while in medical school at the clinical level that I probably would not have had at other medical schools."
Their passion for the School of Medicine's nationally-renowned clinical programs inspired Pamela and Brooks to ensure that future generations continue to have access to it. Established in 2013, the Pamela A. Bock, M.D., and Brooks F. Bock, M.D., Endowed Medical School Scholarship will reduce the financial barriers associated with pursuing a medical education, enabling more talented students to follow their dreams of becoming a Wayne State-trained physician.
Pamela Bock knows firsthand the financial challenges medical students face. "I was short on cash all the time," she recalled. "I lived in a senior home located near the school because it was cheap. The School of Medicine and Dr. Jane Thomas (former assistant dean for Student Affairs) helped set me up there due to my cash problems. There were a few other students in the same building. Now, I am very happy to be able to fund a scholarship. Helping a student to be able to focus on their education and not worry about money issues is my reason for establishing a scholarship."
"Both of us have benefited greatly from our medical education and we recognize the expense today and the fact that students have to undergo very, very deep debt," Brooks said. "We've been fortunate in our practices and our lives, and we wanted to give back in that way."
Setting the School of Medicine up for future successes
Pivotal Moments: Our Campaign for Wayne State University has been an opportunity to celebrate the experiences that have defined our history and help to inspire new ones for our students, our university, our city, and the world. Funds raised during the campaign have provided immediate resources to support students, faculty and research, with an additional goal of securing future pivotal moments through permanent endowment funding. The primary areas of support for the School of Medicine during the Pivotal Moments campaign involved concentrations of strategic importance, including:
- Student success and achievement
- Academic excellence and faculty advancement
- Research innovation and discovery
- Community health and wellness
Each priority area has associated fundraising initiatives that advance the school's academic, research and clinical endeavors to improve the health of our communities. To learn more about the campaign and the programs our generous donors continue to support, please visit: giving.wayne.edu.