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Dr. Mark Edward and Theresa
Thompson Thoman hope their gift will improve health care
for children.
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$2
Million Gift Set to Improve Pediatric Care
By Katherine Kostiuk
A $2 million gift from Dr. Mark Edward and
Theresa Thompson Thoman will establish an endowed chair in pediatrics
at the University of Missouri-Columbia's School
of Medicine. A primary purpose of the gift is to raise public
awareness about the unique health care needs of children and stress
the importance of patient-centered care, which involves parents
in the decision-making process.
"Dr. and Mrs. Thoman sincerely care about
improving health care for children, and are strong supporters
of patient-centered care," said MU Chancellor Brady Deaton.
"We're enthusiastic about the opportunities their generous
gift to the School of Medicine will provide for our students and
faculty to learn about and research preventive and patient-centered
pediatrics."
Patient-centered care was an important part
of Dr. Thoman's distinguished career as a pediatrician and expert
on toxicology. "Anticipatory guidance," the discussion
and prediction of what parents might expect at their child's various
growth stages, will be at the heart of the MU chair funded by
the Thomans' gift. Duties of the chair will include teaching and
research of preventive care and anticipatory guidance.
"Pediatricians should always include
parents as partners in the decision-making process and spend as
much time as necessary to provide individualized patient care,"
Dr. Thoman said. "Our gift to MU will support a pediatrician
who embodies these values and will teach others to do the same."
The gift was instigated by Mrs. Thoman to
recognize her husband's career and improve the future of pediatrics.
She said she wants their gift to ensure that other physicians
have the support they need to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Thoman,
who always placed the highest priority on serving children, infants,
mothers and fathers.
"Although I do not have children of my
body, I have children of my heart, and I have always cared deeply
for them, especially the thousands who were treated by my husband,"
Mrs. Thoman said. "With this gift to MU, we will continue
to help many other children by ensuring they also have access
to excellent pediatric care."
Dr. Thoman graduated from MU with a bachelor's
degree in 1958 and a medical degree in 1962; he then completed
an internship in pediatrics at MU in 1963. He went on to a 35-year
career treating children and serving families as a practicing
pediatrician in Des Moines, Iowa. He held numerous leadership
roles with the American Academy
of Clinical Toxicology, serving as its president for two years
and as editor-in-chief of its official publication for 15 years.
He also held numerous staff and faculty appointments at Des Moines
area hospitals, including serving as an attending physician and
faculty member at Iowa Methodist Medical Center and Blank Children's
Hospital. He served as chief of pediatrics for Iowa Lutheran Hospital,
Mercy Franklin Community Hospital and Broadlawns Medical Center,
where he was also president of the medical executive committee
and interim chief medical officer. In 2005, he received the American
Academy of Clinical Toxicology's Career Recognition Award. Dr.
Thoman also has been one of the MU School of Medicine's most supportive
graduates. He served as president of the School's alumni organization
and has been a coordinator of the Class of 1962 for nearly 45
years.
"As a pediatrician, I especially appreciate
the Thomans' commitment to our most precious resource, our children,"
said William M. Crist, who is Hugh E. and Sarah D. Stephenson
Dean for the MU School of Medicine. "Their endowed chair
will support a champion for excellence in pediatrics and help
MU serve as a national role model for improving child health."
MU is home to mid-Missouri's only children's
hospital and the region's most experienced team for treating
patients from infancy to adolescence. MU pediatricians provide
care in more than 30 pediatric subspecialties.
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Last Update:
March 12, 2007
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