PANDA Establishes $5M Endowment at Steele Children’s Research Center

PANDA (People Acting Now Discover Answers), the Phoenix Women’s Board of the University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center, has established a $5 million endowment in honor of Dr. Fayez K. Ghishan’s 25th anniversary as director of the Center. The endowment honors Ghishan for his life’s work of improving treatment and seeking cures for childhood diseases.

When Ghishan arrived at Steele Children’s Research Center in 1995, no pediatric basic science research was being conducted in Arizona. Under his leadership, the center has become Arizona’s flagship pediatric research institute. The Steele Children’s Research Center also provides clinical care in Phoenix and Tucson.

Ghishan is internationally recognized for his research in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. He has made groundbreaking scientific discoveries, including cloning genes involved in intestinal function; written hundreds of research articles on studies to advance the world’s knowledge in his area of study; earned continuous funding for his research for three decades; and twice received the National Institutes of Health’s prestigious MERIT Award for “Consistent and Excellent Contributions to Scientific Knowledge.”

He and his team of researchers and physician-scientists conduct research in areas including autism, autoimmune disorders, cancer and blood diseases, Type 1 diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and lung disease.

PANDA founding member Jacquie Dorrance, founder Robyn DeBell, President Tammy Ryan,
founder Penny Gunning, founding member Nancy Berge

The Fayez K. Ghishan, MD PANDA Endowed Directorship will support pediatric research and leadership at the Steele Children’s Research Center while acknowledging, in perpetuity, Ghishan’s research, dedication and connection to pediatric patients. The $5 million endowment comprises $1.5 million from PANDA, $1.5 million in gifts from two anonymous PANDA members, and a $2 million gift from PANDA member Jacquie Dorrance and her family.

With this endowment, PANDA has created $11 million in endowments at the Steele Children’s Research Center since 2013. PANDA members surprised Ghishan with the news during an August 29 PANDA event held via video conference.

PHOTOS COURTESY PANDA

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