Chicago, IL-area philanthropist Jolita Leonas-Arzbaecher has made a $1 million gift to advance the work of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona (UA) Health Sciences.
Andrew Weil, MD, is director of the UA Center for Integrative Medicine, where he also holds the Lovell-Jones Endowed Chair in Integrative Rheumatology and is a clinical professor of medicine at the UA College of Medicine, Tucson.
A long-time advocate for integrative medicine, Leonas-Arzbaecher is passionate about Dr. Weil’s vision and has followed the work of the UA Center for Integrative Medicine for many years. “Dr. Weil has been the singular driving force in integrative medicine, helping to move integrative health into everyday life. I am thrilled to know that this gift can have a profound impact on the health of people in communities around the country,” she said.
“Dr. Weil and his colleagues at the Center for Integrative Medicine make wonderful contributions to the mission of the University and Health Sciences, and they have helped improve the health and wellbeing of Arizonans and people around the world,” added UA President Ann Weaver Hart. “I am so very grateful for Jolita Leonas-Arzbaecher’s generous support and the impact her gift will have in research, education and clinical care.”
The most gratifying way for Leonas-Arzbaecher to highlight reaching a milestone birthday in good health was to make a gift through her charitable foundation. Coupled with her earlier bequest to the University of Arizona, her support through the JKL Endowment Fund for the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine will have a significant impact on integrative medicine education and innovation for years to come.
Donors like Leonas-Arzbaecher who give unrestricted gifts provide essential funding to move the UA Center for Integrative Medicine forward and ensure that the organization has the flexibility to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
“Leadership development is critically important to the successful incorporation of integrative medicine into mainstream medicine. This gift to the Center will grow our faculty development efforts, support innovation and significantly advance the education of medical professionals,” said Victoria Maizes, MD, executive director of the Center.
This gift puts the UA closer to its goal of raising $1.5 billion during Arizona NOW. This comprehensive fundraising campaign, distinguished by its unprecedented scope and focus on improving the prospects and enriching the lives of the people of Arizona and the world, has nearly reached its goal 18 months ahead of schedule.
For more information, visit www.azcim.org.
