Innovation and impact are at the heart of George Mason University. At Mason, those are not just buzzwords; they are real guiding principles. Mason’s new partnership with Inova Health System is one of the best recent examples of this—and it also illustrates how visionary private philanthropy can help accomplish shared goals.
The partnership would not have happened without the shared visions of Inova CEO J. Knox Singleton and Mason president Ángel Cabrera. Mr. Singleton, a member of our Board of Visitors from 2003 through 2011, is widely acclaimed for his dedication to bettering the community. Dr. Cabrera, for his part, sees our university broadly extending its leadership in the health sciences through the Faster Farther campaign and other efforts. The partnership that they will lead comes with a $2.5 million commitment from Inova that will support research to fight cancer and heart disease and will help to secure additional major investments the state and federal governments. Mason will offer relevant new educational programs in areas related to personalized health. And Inova intends to help Mason raise additional funds for personalized medicine research and to endow a faculty chair in public health and policy.
The potential for bettering people’s lives by improving public health and well being is clear. But there’s even more here to help Mason move faster and farther. The collaboration makes Mason an even more attractive place for our faculty, students, and visiting researchers. Discoveries that are likely to follow will spur opportunities for bringing to market new health-related products and services. And it further positions Mason as a leader and innovator delivering real-world impact on issues that cross a multitude of fields and matter to both individuals and society.
The Inova partnership is just one example of the way that, from the health sciences to the humanities and beyond, our leadership campaign is helping to strengthen every area of our work at Mason. It is amazing what great things we can accomplish with the help of our dedicated and generous donors.
Just think of where Mason can go next! I invite you to come along.
Janet E. Bingham, PhD
Vice President, Advancement and Alumni Relations
President, George Mason University Foundation
Spring 2016 / reprinted from Spirit, the magazine for the George Mason University community