THE MICHIGAN DIFFERENCE TRANSFORMING MEDICINE THROUGH PRIVATE GIVING

A. Alfred Taubman: The Vision, the Legacy Taubman’s extraordinary $100 million commitment vastly expands transformative at Michigan and ranks Taubman as the U-M’s most generous benefactor. BY JANE MYERS

IN THE 1940S, EVERY FELLOW 20th century retailing pioneers might and endow the A. Alfred Taubman taking a gal to the J-Hop needed a not have been totally obvious, but the Medical Research Institute, Taubman corsage. And every young woman signs were there. has created in perpetuity a resource needed a nice pair of shoes to match Throughout the decades of his for discovery-seeking of the kind her ensemble. Most students at entrepreneurial success, Taubman has that is possible these days only with Michigan back then would have maintained an insatiable and abid- private funding. His commitment to been thinking of where to buy those ing curiosity about life and how to the institute brings his total giving to things. A. Alfred Taubman, a young improve it. “I always wonder what it his alma mater to $141.6 million and U-M student himself, had different could be,” he says. Medical science makes him the largest donor in the thoughts. How about being the one in particular has intrigued Taubman: 194-year history of the University of who sells the corsages and the shoes to If you gave very bright minds the Michigan. the students? money they needed to chase their In recognition of Taubman’s Get the flowers, fresh and beautiful, wildest, smartest ideas, he wondered, landmark commitment, the Medical at the Eastern Market in Detroit. Find what would happen? What discover- School’s Biomedical Science Research a good shoe retailer and get sorority ies might they make that would save Building, within which the Taubman house mothers to let you display the people’s lives? “The highest reward Institute is housed, will be named the shoes outside their dining rooms. of success,” Taubman says, “is the A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Sci- Make sure the shoes are the shoes the opportunity to make a difference for ence Research Building. At more than young women want. other people.” 470,000 square feet, it is the largest For Taubman, a native of Pontiac, At the , research facility on campus, planned Michigan, who had watched his which he first grew to love as an archi- around scientific themes rather than father’s business struggles through the tecture student in the 1940s, Taubman traditional academic disciplines. Depression, such thinking was second has made his vision real — and lasting. The institute embodies the power- , even at age 18. The beginnings With the latest component of his ful vision that Taubman has for the

of the career of one of the world’s $100 million commitment to create future of human health, a vision not ERIC BRONSON, U-M SERVICES PHOTO

MEDICINE AT MICHIGAN A. Alfred Taubman THE MICHIGAN DIFFERENCE

unlike that which honed his business in Bloomfield Hills not far from his ment rarely support in very early acumen and guided his long and suc- childhood roots — classic Midwest- stages, but which can produce trans- cessful career. “I’m funding risk,” he ern modesty is an enduring part of formative leaps in understanding and says about his gift, succinctly reflect- his personality. By way of describing treatments for a wide array of diseases, ing his own core values of hard work, the reasons for his success, he will from cancer and stroke to respect for knowledge and a desire, only say, with the quiet laughter that and ALS. The Taubman funding can always, to look into the future and punctuates many of his conversations, be considered the medical research see it. “I was very careful in selecting my equivalent of a “genius grant,” allow- The Taubman Scholars at Michigan, parents. A lot has to do with the way ing them to pursue their hunches. past and future, are those physician- you’re brought up.” This “high risk, high reward” ap- scientists whose scientific vision is These days, when Taubman reflects proach has paid off handsomely at modeled on the kind of knowledge- on his long and happy life, his mind the Taubman Institute in its first driven risk that helped Alfred Taub- often goes back to the Depression three years. With the aid of institute man become one of the great success years when his builder-father strug- funding, Eva Feldman (Ph.D. 1979, stories of his generation in retail and gled to pay debts and to start a fruit M.D. 1983), director of the Taubman real estate development. farm. He remembers what a model Institute and the Russell N. DeJong “As one of the University’s great both his father and mother were for Professor of , has begun friends and visionaries who for so long has shared his leadership, his resources and ideas, Alfred Taubman will always “For him, it’s not just about making a gift. It’s be an important part of U-M’s history about helping to change the world, to get oth- and, more important, its future,” said President Mary Sue Coleman in ers involved, to make the community a much acknowledging Taubman’s gift. Ora Pescovitz, M.D., U-M execu- richer place, to make it better.” —Robert Taubman tive vice president for medical affairs and CEO of the Health System, who, industriousness and fortitude. “If par- like President Coleman, came to her ents work hard, their children want to leadership role via a research career in be accomplished,” he says. biomedical science, called the Taub- What Taubman’s modesty and man gift “an extraordinary contribu- success have compelled him to do is tion to the future of medical science, to use his considerable resources to here at Michigan and around the make a difference for all those who world. This gift will affect our lives study or care about art, architecture, and those of our families in ways that history, public policy, the vitality of we cannot yet imagine, but which will local communities, and now — per- undoubtedly offer great promise and haps more than anything — medical outcomes. What an absolutely perfect science. The institute supports a corps example of the enduring commit- of Taubman Scholars, who are both ment and generosity of Alfred and the laboratory investigators and clinical entire Taubman family.” doctors. Their work is the kind of sci- A young Alfred with his For Taubman, 87 — whose com- ence that more conservative sources parents, Fanny and Philip 38 pany, now publicly traded, is located of funding like the federal govern-

MEDICINE AT MICHIGAN Left Top: Eva Feldman, William Taubman, Mary Sue Coleman, Alfred Taubman, Ora Pescovitz and Robert Taubman Left Bottom: William Taubman, Gayle Taubman Kalisman, Alfred Taubman, Mary Sue Coleman and Robert Taubman Right: Alfred Taubman and his wife, Judy

the first human clinical trial these wonderful scientists at Michigan man Company and a member of the for the debilitating and deadly who are using their knowledge and institute’s leadership advisory board, disease ALS; and Max Wicha, M.D., creativity to take risks that will lead to adds, “That the Taubman Company is a Taubman Scholar and director of winning new treatments.” still so well-respected reflects much of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, is His children, friends and colleagues his personality and his values.” Taub- leading the world’s first three clinical counterbalance his modesty. “He’s man’s son Robert, president, chairman trials targeting cancer stem cells to a genius,” says his daughter, Gayle and CEO of the Taubman Company destroy them. Taubman Kalisman, co-chair of the and also a member of the institute’s “Great scientists are great entre- Taubman Institute and a U-M alum- leadership advisory board, sums it

BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT: MARTIN VLOET, U-M SERVICES PHOTO ANDLEFT BOTTOM MARTINRIGHT: VLOET, SODERBERG, SCOTT U-MLEFT: TOP SERVICES PHOTO preneurs,” Taubman says. “We have na. Son William, COO of the Taub- up: “He’s a remarkable man. He has 39

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High Risk, High Reward

NOW IN ITS FOURTH YEAR, of disease and, ultimately, to alleviate man, addresses that gap, allowing the the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Re- human suffering. pursuit of ideas that otherwise might search Institute is “dedicated to fun- Transformative research often remain forever unexplored. damental discovery and advancing our involves critical new concepts and With a focus on translational knowledge of the causes, treatments unproven avenues of scientific inquiry research — which propels laboratory and prevention of diseases and condi- — the kind of high risk, high reward discoveries into clinical treatments tions that affect mankind.” Poised science increasingly unsupported for the benefit of patients as quickly to achieve this mission, the institute by traditional sources of funding. and effectively as possible — the provides the U-M’s finest physician- The work of the Taubman Institute, Taubman Institute supports the scientists the freedom, resources and enabled by the historic generosity research of physicians with active collaborative environment they need and far-reaching vision of A. Alfred clinical practices, who treat patients to truly push the boundaries of medi- Taubman and under the leadership afflicted by disease and therefore cal discovery, to produce innovative of world-renowned neurologist and are highly motivated to find ways of breakthroughs in cures and treatment Taubman Institute Director Eva Feld- treating and curing. The institute has established three programs to support U-M clinician- researchers and their collaborators.

TAUBMAN SCHOLARS The Taubman Scholars form the institute’s core program, which pro- vides unrestricted funding for leading faculty members and collaborators to pursue transformative medical research in their areas of research interest (in parentheses).

Nicholas Boulis, M.D. (Resi- dencies 1995 and 2001), associate professor of neurosurgery at Emory University (in collaboration with Eva Feldman) (neurosurgical treatments of neurodegenerative disease) Frank Brosius III, M.D. (Resi- Alfred Taubman and Eva Feldman dency 1983), professor of internal

medicine and of molecular and inte- SODERBERG,SCOTT U-M SERVICES PHOTO 40

MEDICINE AT MICHIGAN a charisma and confidence that’s contagious.” grative physiology (nephrology) Ruth Professor of Internal Medicine “Every year over the last decade Charles Burant, M.D., Ph.D., (blood vessel defenses) or so my father seems younger and Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Max Wicha, M.D., Distin- younger to me,” says Kalisman. “He’s Professor of Metabolism ( guished Professor of Oncology energized by his philanthropy. And and type 2 diabetes) (oncology and cancer stem cells) he still has this amazing ability to Arul Chinnaiyan (M.D. and understand the future — to be in the Ph.D. 1999), S.P. Hicks Endowed EMERGING SCHOLARS present but to strategically see the fu- Professor of Pathology (cancer This program provides funding for ture. I remember when I was growing genomics) early-career clinician-scientists up people thinking he was crazy. It David Ginsburg, M.D., James who show great promise to become was because he saw so much, because V. Neel Distinguished University leaders in medical science. Addi- he could see so far ahead.” Professor of Internal Medicine and tional generous donors have joined His friend Joel Tauber, who serves Human Genetics (blood clotting Alfred Taubman by contributing on the Taubman Institute’s leader- disorders) to the research of these promising ship advisory board and holds three Theodore Lawrence, M.D., investigators. Michigan degrees, credits Taubman Ph.D., Isadore Lampe Collegiate with stepping in at a crucial mo- Professor of Radiation Oncology Ronald Buckanovich, M.D., ment to protect stem cell research in (liver and pancreatic cancer) Ph.D., assistant professor of internal the state of Michigan. Taubman was Kenneth Pienta, M.D., pro- medicine and of obstetrics and the leading force behind the 2008 fessor of urology and of internal gynecology, with institute support campaign that won voter approval medicine (prostate cancer) from the Marvin and Betty Danto for a constitutional amendment eas- Family Foundation (breast and ing restrictions on embryonic stem SENIOR TAUBMAN ovarian cancers) cell research in Michigan. It made SCHOLARS James Dowling, M.D., Ph.D., possible the institute’s Consortium Through their research and their assistant professor of pediatrics and for Stem Cell Therapies, the first public stewardship of medical sci- communicable diseases and of neu- center for creating embryonic stem ence, these former Taubman Schol- rology, with institute support from cell lines in the state. “His private ars have earned renewed funding. Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg money made it possible for stem cell (childhood muscle diseases) researchers at Michigan to be allowed Valerie Castle, M.D. (Fellowship Johann Gudjonsson, M.D., the full expression of their ingenuity 1990), Ravitz Foundation Professor Ph.D. (Residency 2006), assistant and creativity,” Tauber says. of Pediatrics and Communicable professor of dermatology, with Karen Davidson, another member Diseases (pediatric oncology, neuro- institute support from Frances and of the institute’s leadership advisory blastoma, DNA repair) Kenneth Eisenberg (inflammatory board and supporter of health care Eva Feldman (Ph.D. 1979, M.D. skin diseases) both in the U.S. and in Israel, says, 1983), Russell N. DeJong Professor Erika Newman, M.D., assis- “The Taubman Scholars I’ve talked of Neurology (stem cell therapy and tant professor of pediatric surgery, to are inspired by his philanthropy. neurologic disease) with institute support from Edith They want to reward the faith he has David Pinsky, M.D., J. Griswold Briskin (pediatric oncology and shown in them. When you support Ruth, M.D., and Margery Hopkins neuroblastoma) —JM the Taubman Institute, you’re put- ting your money into young minds 41

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exceedingly rare — as a lucky at- tribute of his dyslexia, accompanied by stuttering, which presented him as a young boy in the public schools of Pontiac with reading challenges at a time when the condition was not well understood or even named. “What impresses me most about watching Al is how engaged he is,” says Abigail Wexner, a leading Abigail Wexner Karen Davidson Joel Tauber philanthropist in her own right, with her husband Les, and a member of and into the minds of great estab- course, was to eventually get things the Taubman Institute’s leadership lished scientists like Eva Feldman incredibly right, recognizing the advisory board. “He’s created a rare and so many others. It’s so validating need and taking a leadership role in model for philanthropy, one that’s for them to know that we believe in building the replacement hospital. full of emotion and thoughtful com- their work.” “He really helped to change the mitment. He’s able to translate his talent and creativity into his philan- thropy. Not a lot of people are able “You just want to get in line and follow him. to do that. You want to hook your wagon to his star.” “And, of course, he’s always con- —Karen Davidson scious of what he himself is gaining,” Wexner adds. “He’s stimulated by being around these brilliant people. While Gayle Taubman Kalis- way hospitals and clinics related to It doesn’t surprise me that medi- man calls the Taubman Institute one another,” Robert Taubman says. cal science became such a focus for “the crowning achievement of my “He helped to create a new model. Al. It provides such a great way for father’s life,” Taubman’s pivotal role His giving has always been trans- him to be part of a grand effort that as a University volunteer, advisor formational. For him, it’s not just offers the hope of changing so many and philanthropist began in the late about making a gift. It’s about helping people’s lives.” 1970s, when then-Governor William to change the world, to get others His legacy of changing many peo- Milliken asked him to serve on the involved, to make the community a ple’s lives so much for the better may advisory board for the new Univer- much richer place, to make it better.” be the ultimate testament to Alfred sity Hospital in the early stages of Finding your genius wherever it Taubman’s accomplishments. That, planning. Taubman has always loved lies might be one way of describing and being a model of compassionate repeating the story of confidently Taubman’s expanding happiness, creativity for others to emulate. telling the governor that no new almost nine decades into a fine expe- Says Karen Davidson, “You just hospital was needed, that the current rience on the planet. Even here, his want to get in line and follow him. hospital was just fine. It provides him self-effacement weighs large. He at- You want to hook your wagon to his with another opportunity to describe tributes his ability to visualize space star. He’s just never stopped thinking, his vulnerabilities and his ability, in and the way humans move through imagining how things can be better. a long career of wins, to occasionally space — a vision that is widely I want to be around for his next great

42 get things wrong. What he did, of acknowledged as extraordinary and idea.” [M] INSTITUTETHETAUBMAN OF COURTESY

MEDICINE AT MICHIGAN Professorships Recently Inaugurated

On September for Fundraising Volunteer Leadership physician-researchers and recognizes 30, 2010, the in 2006. The first Stern Professor is his numerous contributions to the U-M Robert P. Kelch, Alon Kahana, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant and to the specialty of pediatrics. Boxer M.D., Research professor of ophthalmology and visual is the Henry and Mala Dorfman Family Professorship in sciences. Professor of Pediatric Hematology/ Pediatrics and Oncology and a professor of pediatrics Communicable A faculty member and communicable diseases. The first Diseases was in- who served as the Boxer Professor is Steven W. Pipe, M.D. augurated to honor a man who has had Health System’s (Fellowship 1996), an associate profes- an extraordinary impact on the Univer- top executive for sor of pediatrics and communicable sity of Michigan and its health system. five years was diseases and of pathology. From 1981-94, Robert Kelch (M.D. 1967, honored Decem- Residency 1970) served as chair of the ber 2, 2010, with Department of Pediatrics and Commu- the inauguration nicable Diseases and physician-in-chief of the Gilbert S. Omenn Collegiate of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. In Professorship in Human Genetics. Gil 2003, he was named the second U-M Omenn, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor of executive vice president for medical internal medicine, of human genetics affairs and CEO of the Health System. and of public health, and director of the He retired in 2009, earning EVPMA and U-M Center for Computational Medi- professor emeritus status. Janet R. cine and Bioinformatics. He served Gilsdorf, M.D., a professor of pediat- as the University’s first executive vice When Patti Bugas Harris lost her rics and communicable diseases, was president for medical affairs and CEO husband, Charles G. “Bucky” Harris, to named the first Kelch Professor. of the Health System from 1997-2002. Alzheimer’s disease in 1997, she joined A gift from Omenn and the Omenn the search for a cure for this devastat- The Helmut F. Darling Family Advised Fund helped ing disease by endowing a research Stern Career establish the professorship, held by fund in the Medical School to support Development Professor of Human Genetics and of scientists on the frontlines. In 2009, Professorship Internal Medicine John V. Moran, Ph.D. the Harris family took its commitment in Ophthalmol- to a new level; they made additional ogy and Visual The Laurence A. gifts that transformed the research Sciences was Boxer, M.D., Re- fund into the Bucky and Patti Harris inaugurated No- search Professor- Career Development Professorship in vember 3, 2010. Established through ship in Pediatrics Neurology. Inaugurated January 26, the generosity of Helmut Stern — a and Communi- the Harris Professorship supports a lifelong benefactor of the University of cable Diseases junior-level faculty member in the De- Michigan, including the W.K. Kellogg was inaugurated partment of Neurology whose research Eye Center — the Stern Professorship January 20. Es- shows unusual promise in the field of will advance the work of junior faculty. tablished in 2009 by the Department of Alzheimer’s disease and related disor- Stern, who was bestowed an honorary Pediatrics and Communicable Diseas- ders. Assistant Professor of Neurology J.D. by the U-M in 2004, was recog- es, the professorship is named for one Peter K. Todd, M.D., Ph.D., was installed nized with the David B. Hermelin Award of the Health System’s most lauded as the first Harris Professor. —KB 43

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