Medical foundation adopts new name

GREENVILLE, N.C.  —   The organization that raises money for the medical school, nursing school, allied health sciences school and health sciences library and the new dental school at ECU now has a new name: the East Carolina University Medical & Health Sciences Foundation.

Officials said the new name better reflects the goal of the foundation, formerly known as the Medical Foundation of ECU, to support the university’s entire Division of Health Sciences.

“We thought that name accurately described our responsibilities,” said David J. Whichard II, chairman of the foundation board. “It just was more inclusive.”

The board voted unanimously June 14 to adopt the new name. It became the legal name of the entity in mid-July, said Carole Novick, president of the foundation.

“This new name is appropriate for the important work the foundation does for our entire Division of Health Sciences,” said Dr. Phyllis Horns, interim vice chancellor for health sciences and interim dean of the Brody School of Medicine.

The ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation raised more than $5 million in gifts and pledges during the past year to support scholarships, research, faculty development and facilities at the Brody School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Allied Health Sciences, School of Dentistry and Laupus Library at ECU.