CU OB-GYN Alumni and Friends

CU OB-GYN Alumni and Friends

CU OB-GYN Alumni and Friends

CU OB-GYN Alumni and Friends

CU OB-GYN Alumni and Friends

LeBert-Suess Family Endowed Professorship in Ovarian Cancer Research

LeBert-Suess Family Endowed Professorship was made possible by the LeBert-Suess Family.

The LeBert-Suess Family established this fund to advance the ground breaking research that impressed them at CU. Their extended family has been devastated by ovarian cancer. It is their hope that by funding this endowed professorship, fewer families will have to suffer.


Bradley Corr, MD, serves as the inaugural holder of the professorship.


Kay L. Dunton Memorial Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research

The Kay L. Dunton Memorial Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research was made possible by Tom Dunton who created these funds to celebrate the memory of his late wife, Kay Dunton.

Tom Dunton created these funds to celebrate the memory of his late wife, Kay Dunton. Kay was known for her strong personality, her talent for designing, remodeling, renovating, and building historic homes, her business acumen, and her prowess on the ski slopes. She passed away on April 9, 2021, after a valiant battle with ovarian cancer.

Kay earned a degree in art history from the University of Colorado, and with the help of some extra business classes, she became one of Denver’s top realtors and a founding partner of Distinctive Properties, Ltd. She specialized in selling Denver’s finest historical homes as well as taking a leading role in historic preservation. While living in Park City she returned to her love of real estate beginning with East West Partners’ Empire Pass development in Deer Valley. She also played a significant part in the renovation of Denver’s historic Queen Anne neighborhood.


Benjamin Bitler, PhD, will serve as the inaugural holder of the professorship, and his teaching and research will focus on early screening and detection of ovarian cancer. Dr. Bitler’s research centers on ovarian cancer, Wnt signaling and epigenetics. He is committed to the fight against cancer through his work to elucidate the impact of cancer-related signaling and epigenetic regulation.

This fund would not be possible without the generosity of Tom Dunton and the collaboration of Kian Behbakht, MD, Emily McClintock Addlesperger Endowed Chair in Ovarian Cancer; Saketh Guntupalli, MD, FACOG, FACS, Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology; Cheryl Kisling in the Office of the President and Hayley Nelson in the Office of Advancement.


Colibri Endowed Professorship in Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancer Education and the Colibri Endowed Fund for Ovarian Cancer Innovation

The Colibri Endowed Professorship in Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancer Education and the Colibri Endowed Fund for Ovarian Cancer Innovation was made possible by anonymous benefactors who generously established these funds chose the name colibri, the Italian word for hummingbird, as a symbol of hope and perseverance.

We are pleased to announce the establishment of both the Colibri Endowed Professorship in Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancer Education and the Colibri Endowed Fund for Ovarian Cancer Innovation as part of the University of Colorado School of Medicine Endowment Acceleration Program. The anonymous benefactors who generously established these funds chose the name colibri, the Italian word for hummingbird, as a symbol of hope and perseverance.


Carolyn Lefkowits, MD, will serve as the inaugural holder of the professorship, and her teaching and research will focus on ovarian cancer education for clinicians, patients and communities. The Innovation Fund will provide support for ovarian cancer research within the Division of Gynecologic Oncology.

Dr. Lefkowits is the director of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program. She was drawn to gynecologic oncology to help patients throughout the course of their illness, including surgical and non-surgical treatments, surveillance and follow-up care after treatment. She has an inherent love of the field and its collaborative nature, both among fellow clinicians and her patients. She also enjoys the intellectual challenge of caring for complex conditions her patients have and keeping up to date on the latest therapeutic options.

This professorship would not be possible without the generosity of the benefactors and the collaboration of Saketh Guntupalli, MD, FACOG, FACS, Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Carrie Radant and Hayley Nelson in the Office of Advancement.


Don and Arlene Mohler Johnson Family Endowed Chair in Ovarian Cancer

The Don and Arlene Mohler Johnson Family Endowed Chair in Ovarian Cancer was made possible with a $2.08 million gift from Arlene Mohler Johnson who is in gratitude for the patient-centered care she received at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

Please join us in celebrating the establishment of the Don and Arlene Mohler Johnson Family Endowed Chair in Ovarian Cancer. These flexible resources will advance the understanding and development of evidence-based treatment options for ovarian cancer. We are grateful to be able to celebrate the philanthropic partnerships that allow us to innovate and develop the healthcare of tomorrow.

The Don and Arlene Mohler Johnson Family Endowed Chair in Ovarian Cancer was made possible with a $2.08 million gift from Arlene Mohler Johnson who is in gratitude for the patient-centered care she received at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Endowed chairs serve as valuable incentives and sources of sustainable support for distinguished faculty, providing annual funding to advance their strategic priorities. These flexible resources will advance initiatives focused on the prevention, early detection and treatment of ovarian cancer. Additionally, funds will support professional development, provide financial support for students and advance curriculum development.

The establishment of the Don and Arlene Mohler Johnson Family Endowed Chair in Ovarian Cancer would not have been possible without the vision and generosity of the benefactor, the leadership of Saketh Guntupalli, MD, director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Nanette Santoro, MD, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Richard Schulick, MD, director of the CU Cancer Center and Angela DellaSalle and Hayley Nelson in the CU Anschutz Office of Advancement.


This chair helped us recruit Christine Walsh, MD, MS to CU Anschutz from Cedars Sinai. Dr. Walsh will be joining the University in January of 2021 as a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and has been named as the inaugural chair holder. Dr. Walsh will lead our new clinical operation in the Northern Colorado, which is focused on increasing access to care and bringing gynecologic cancer care closer to patients’ homes. In addition, by partnering with the cancer researchers on campus and nationwide, Dr. Walsh will be leading the development of the Cancer Genetics Research Program in women's health with a mission to identify individuals with an inherited susceptibility to developing cancer in order to provide patient-centered care that optimizes screening, prevention and treatment strategies.


Karen M. Jennison Endowed Chair in Gynecologic Oncology

The Karen M. Jennison Endowed Chair in Gynecologic Oncology was made possible with a $2 million gift from Karen Jennison, PhD. Saketh Guntupalli, MD, director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, has been named the inaugural chair holder.

Please join us in celebrating the establishment of the Karen M. Jennison Endowed Chair in Gynecologic Oncology, made possible with a $2 million gift from Karen Jennison, PhD. With this thoughtful investment, Jennison hopes to accelerate the momentum of the CU Division of Gynecologic Oncology through critical resources that will attract and retain key talent and leadership, and research focused on the screening and treatment of gynecologic cancers. By establishing this chair, Jennison is helping to advance novel therapies that will offer invaluable discoveries for complex gynecologic diseases. Saketh Guntupalli, MD, director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, has been named the inaugural chair holder.

The establishment of the Karen M. Jennison Endowed Chair in Gynecologic Oncology would not have been possible without the vision and generosity of Karen Jennison, PhD working with Saketh Guntupalli, MD, and the collaboration of Katie Bullock, Hayley Nelson, and Colin Ware in the CU Anschutz Office of Advancement.


Saketh R. Guntupalli, MD is the inaugural Karen M. Jennison Endowed Chair in Gynecologic Oncology. He is Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. He formerly served as Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs/Quality in the Department of OB-GYN and director of the fellowship program in gynecologic oncology. He received his undergraduate degree from the Johns Hopkins University and his medical degree from the University of Texas at Houston. After a 4-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Guntupalli completed an additional 3-year surgical fellowship in gynecologic oncology and advanced pelvic surgery at Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Guntupalli is a leading national and international expert in women’s cancer and has lectured all over the world on surgical expertise and molecular mechanisms of cancer. He has authored over 60 clinical papers and has led multiple collaborative research studies focused on improving post-operative surgical outcomes as well as identifying novel therapies for the treatment of ovarian and uterine cancer. With over $3,000,000 in independent research funding, Dr. Guntupalli has led the NRG collaborative research consortium at the University of Colorado Cancer Center for nearly 4 years. Dr. Guntupalli has as an additional expertise in sexual dysfunction broadly in cancer patients, and has authored a New York Times reviewed book and multiple editorials in Forbes. He serves on multiple national committees including the Chair of Legislative Affairs for the Society of Gynecologic Oncology and as well as serving on the executive committee of the Western Association of Gynecologic Oncologists. He is a member of the editorial board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.


The Emily McClintock Addlesperger Endowed Chair in Ovarian Cancer

The Emily McClintock Addlesperger Endowed Chair in Ovarian Cancer was made possible with a $2 million commitment from Richard and Peggy McClintock, along with family, friends and the CU Gynecologic Oncology Council, chaired by Carol Goldstein, RN, PhD. Kian Behbakht, MD, has been named the inaugural chair holder.

This thoughtful investment was in made in memory of the McClintocks’ beloved daughter. Emily Celeste Addlesperger, a former television producer for Starz and a lifelong resident of Denver, passed away unexpectedly of complications from ovarian cancer while on vacation in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Her charm, her grace and her elegance will be remembered by all who knew her. She shared her love for life and true happiness with everyone she touched, and she will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Through their gift, the McClintocks hope to advance faculty research on screening and early detection of ovarian cancer, in collaboration with other research entities from around the world, and to bolster public awareness about the disease and its symptoms to help women identify and seek treatment for ovarian cancer as early as possible in the disease’s development.

We find comfort in knowing that Emily’s spirit will always be with us, and we will feel her presence when we see acts of kindness and love shared by those around us.

Kian Behbakht, MD, is the inaugural Emily McClintock Addlesperger Endowed Chair in Ovarian Cancer. He is Professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs and Quality for the CU Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He also serves as Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Training Program, and Director of the Gynecologic Tumor and Fluid Bank. Throughout more than two decades in gynecologic oncology, Dr. Behbakht has been a leading investigator, a surgeon, clinician, and a member of national ovarian cancer treatment steering committees. He has contributed more than 80 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and his independent ovarian cancer research laboratory has held National Cancer Institute and U.S. Department of Defense ovarian cancer research awards. He collaborates extensively and exchanges knowledge with the leading researchers in ovarian cancer. He is recognized as a national and international authority on ovarian cancer etiology and treatment. Dr. Behbakht was trained in ovarian cancer research and clinical care by the pioneers of ovarian cancer genetics at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1990s. Guided by his mentors, he has carried on the passion for eliminating suffering from ovarian cancer through prevention and early detection, as well as designing more effective treatments.


The Edgar L., Patricia M. Makowski and Family Endowed Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology

The Edgar L., Patricia M. Makowski and Family Endowed Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology was made possible with gifts and commitments from former chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Edgar L. Makowski, MD, and family. T. Rajendra Kumar, PhD, has been named the inaugural chair holder.

The Edgar L., Patricia M. Makowski and Family Endowed Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology was made possible with gifts and commitments from former chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Edgar L. Makowski, MD, and family. With this endowed chair, the Makowskis are carrying forward Dr. Makowski’s legacy as a leader in the field, memorializing their mother, Patricia, and providing valuable support for top talent and innovation in the department for decades to come.

Dr. Makowski joined the CU faculty in 1966 and dedicated his career to delivering high-quality patient care for women and infants. In 1976, he became the second department chair, a position he held until 1988. An educator, clinician and researcher, Dr. Makowski held diverse roles throughout his career including American Gynecologic and Obstetric Society president, Perinatal Research Society president and NIH Human Embryology and Development study section chair.

Under his leadership, the residency program doubled in size and extramural research funding increased. He was also instrumental in organizing the faculty practice plan, CU Medicine. His love of medicine and history with CU inspired many in his family to follow suit; two of his six children earned degrees at CU, and two of his 12 grandchildren are currently pursuing medical degrees at CU Anschutz.


T. Rajendra Kumar, PhD, is the inaugural Edgar L., Patricia M. Makowski and Family Endowed Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is Professor and Associate Vice Chair of Research for the Division of Reproductive Sciences. Dr. Kumar received his PhD in 1989 from the University of Delhi, India and his postdoctoral training at the Vollum Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, OR. He then moved to Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, as a Research Associate and became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Molecular & Cellular Biology. In 2004, he moved to University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, where he became a Tenured Professor in the Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology and Director of the Center for Reproductive Sciences, Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenrative Medicine. He joined the Division of Reproductive Sciences in May 2016. His research was published in Nature, Nature Genetics, Cell, PNAS, J Clinical Investigation, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, and Endocrinology. He also co-edited textbooks entitled "Transgenics in Endocrinology," and "Gonadotropins: From Bench Side to Bedside."

By endowing a chair, the Makowski family will create a lasting legacy and this financial support will give Dr. Kumar the resources needed to accelerate his research focused on understanding the physiology and molecular biology of the reproductive axis in health and disease.

Donating to CU OB-GYN

The University of Colorado Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is committed to our mission of promoting and advancing the health of women through innovative discovery in research, education, patient care and national leadership.

To achieve a level of excellence, and attain the goals we have set, private funding is needed. Your continued support strengthens the future of the Department of OB-GYN and guarantees our ability to advance our mission.  Donations can be made in the form one-time or recurring gifts, pledges, and planned giving. For more information, and to discuss giving options please contact Hayley Nelson in the Office of Advancement. 

 

Department of OB-GYN Giving Options

 

Contact Info

Hayley Nelson
Philanthropic Liaison | Faculty Relations
Office of Advancement
13001 E. 17th Place
Suite WG112, MS A065
Aurora, CO 80045

Phone: (303) 724-4302

 

 

Contact Info

Hayley Nelson
Philanthropic Liaison | Faculty Relations
Office of Advancement
13001 E. 17th Place
Suite WG112, MS A065
Aurora, CO 80045

Phone: (303) 724-4302

 

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