ASCP Members Continue a Legacy of Giving

As the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Foundation celebrates its inaugural year, it is important to remember that while the ASCP Foundation is new, the practice of members giving to honor their colleagues is not. In 1997 ASCP member Philip Barney, MD, FASCP, and a group of colleagues contributed to ASCP to honor friend and colleague Dr. George F. Stevenson.

Dr. Stevenson

Dr. Stevenson was exactly the kind of leader and pathologist one would expect to be honored by a memorial fund. After joining ASCP as a staff member in the 1950s, Dr. Stevenson quickly became involved in helping build the ASCP that members enjoy today. From 1967 to 1972, he was commissioner of Continuing Education, developing programs for pathologists. From 1974 until his retirement in September 1992, he held a number of staff positions, including senior vice president for Educational Activities Planning and Scientific Director. Dr. Stevenson also served as a professor of pathology at Northwestern University Medical School.

Prior to joining ASCP, Dr. Stevenson received a BA and an MD from the University of Western Ontario. He completed an internship at Civic Hospital in Ottawa, Canada; and residencies in surgery at St. Joseph Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and pathology at St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He completed fellowships in pathology at the Cleveland Clinic and Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago. 

Joining Dr. Barney in giving to ASCP to honor Dr. Stevenson were David F. Keren, MD, MASCP; Yener Sahir Erozan, MD, MASCP; George J. Carroll, MD; Yolanda C. Oertel, MD; Coye C. Mason, MD; Stebbins B. Chandor, MD, FASCP; and C. Barrie Cook, MD, FASCP.

These individuals each contributed $1,000 or more in Dr. Stevenson’s name and encouraged many others to do the same. The ASCP Foundation is pleased to honor these individuals as members of the 2018 Leadership Circle, and Dr. Barney as a member of its Founders Society for his ongoing and generous contributions.

The legacy of ASCP members giving to honor their colleagues continues. In January 2018 the ASCP Foundation announced the creation of the Cindy Johns Patient Champions Memorial Fund. The Cindy Johns Patient Champions Memorial Fund is dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of the laboratory to educate and empower patients and their caregivers. Cindy Johns was ASCP’s first Patient Champion, an ambassador for empowering and educating patients, and raising awareness of the crucial role the medical laboratory plays in patient care through real-life stories.

Ms.Johns

Through her story, Cindy empowered other patients to ask the right questions and understand their treatment options. The Cindy Johns Patient Champions Memorial Fund will support Patient Champions like Cindy, through scholarships, advocacy, education and materials that showcase the vital connection between patients and the medical laboratory. “Cindy was fearless in her battle against cancer and her belief that laboratories save lives. Her passion for life, dedication to ASCP, and fierce intelligence will be missed by all who had the privilege to know her,” shared ASCP Chief Executive Officer Blair Holladay, PhD, MASCP, SCT(ASCP)^CM.

Already several members of the ASCP Board of Directors, ASCP Foundation Board of Directors, and ASCP staff have contributed to the fund. To give to the Cindy Johns Patient Champions Memorial Fund and to watch a video about Cindy’s legacy, please visit www.ascp.org/patients. 

Should you know of an ASCP member who has touched your life that you wish to memorialize through the ASCP Foundation, please contact Colleen Nolan, ASCP Chief Strategy Officer at colleen.nolan@ascp.org.