Cleveland Clinic receives $2M for research in colorectal surgery

Kenneth M. Garschina and his wife, Sara Story, have pledged $2 million to Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease Institute to create an endowed chair for research in colorectal surgery. The donation coincides with the re-dedication of two previously funded endowed chairs.

Luca Stocchi, M.D., head of research of the Department of Colorectal Surgery, will be the first recipient of the Story Garschina Endowed Chair that will help fund research projects on colorectal, anal cancer, and outcome research studies.

"We are proud to support Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease Institute," Garschina said. "Over the years, the Institute's multidisciplinary approach to patient care has touched both the Story and Garschina families."

This is the second gift to Cleveland Clinic from a member of the Story family. In 2007, Ed Story, Sara Story's father, donated $1.5 million to Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease Institute to create an endowed chair for inflammatory bowel disease research and education. The Ed & Joey Story Endowed Chair was named in honor of Mr. Story and his wife, Joey Story. Feza Remzi, M.D., chairman of the Department of Colorectal Surgery, was the first recipient of the Ed & Joey Story Endowed Chair.

To reflect the team approach to patient care, the Ed & Joey Story Endowed Chair will now be held by Bo Shen, M.D., section head for Pouch Disorders in the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. This chair will continue to provide ongoing support to inflammatory bowel disease research, including surgical procedures to treat the disease.

"The Digestive Disease Institute is grateful for the generous gifts from the Story and Garschina families," said John Fung, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease Institute. "Dr. Shen and Dr. Remzi, who both have a special interest in inflammatory bowel diseases, act as a unit when treating patients. Dr. Remzi's decision to offer to redirect the Ed & Joey Story Endowed Chair to Dr. Shen embodies the team spirit that makes our Institute a world leader in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases."

Dr. Remzi will now hold the Rupert B. Turnbull Jr., M.D., Endowed Chair in Colorectal Surgery that was established in 1994. The chair is named after Dr. Turnbull, an authority on inflammatory bowel disease and a pioneer in colorectal surgery. Dr. Turnbull was a former chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Department of Colorectal Surgery.

"Such philanthropic efforts provide the resources needed to research diseases and advance the treatment of our patients through innovations. Many patients and research fellows will continue to benefit from the Rupert B. Turnbull Jr., M.D., Endowed Chair," said Dr. Remzi.