Philanthropists pledge $ 7.5 million for Duquesne’s new medical school
Duquesne University is poised to receive more than $ 7.5 million from three Pittsburgh philanthropists toward the construction of the university’s new medical school, slated to open in 2024.
The Catholic university said Thursday that it has secured “seven- figure pledges” of funding from philanthropists John G. Rangos Sr., John R. “Jack” McGinley Jr. and Rhodora Donahue, widow of the late John F. “Jack” Donahue, to establish a new College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“The names Rangos, McGinley and Donahue each hold prominent places in Duquesne’s proud history,” Duquesne President Ken Gormley said. “Having all three families join forces in this initiative speaks volumes about their confidence in our future, as we seek to transform medical education in our region and address health care disparities in underserved communities.”
The gifts between the three total more than $ 7.5 million and will go toward $ 50 million Duquesne is looking to raise for the new college. University officials declined to say how much each individual donation amounted to or how close the school is to achieving its $ 50 million benchmark.
Though originally slated to accept its first class of students in 2023, the new school is now projected to open one year later due to disruptions and delays caused by COVID- 19.
Planners for the university estimate the building’s cost and related improvements will total approximately $ 60 million. The university disclosed plans for the new college last summer.
“Duquesne is in the very early stages of fundraising for this effort, with several people very interested in being a part of a project that is so important to our region,” Duquesne spokesman Gabriel Welsch said Thursday. “The leaders who have stepped forward are part of the momentum we have, and with conversations ongoing, it is premature to provide exact figures.”
Mr. Rangos’ relationship with Duquesne began nearly 30 years ago with his gift to establish the John G. Rangos Sr. School of Health Sciences. He has since helped fund an endowed chair in health services and ethics, endowed scholarships for Rangos School students and supported the creation of the Rangos Prizes at the university.
A 1968 Duquesne Law School graduate, Mr. McGinley has helped fund scholarships, fellowships, a symposium series and renovations across campus in addition to his work as the chairman of Duquesne’s board of directors, officials said.
Jack Donahue is the namesake of Duquesne’s Graduate School of Business Administration, and he, along with his wife, Rhodora, established a chair in investment management at the university. Mr. Donahue died in 2017, but Mrs. Donahue, their 13 children and their family foundation remain supporters of the school, according to university officials.
“The significance and timing of these gifts matters, and I am grateful to be able to provide this key early support. But there is still a long way to go in terms of fund raising,” Mr. McGinley said in a statement released by the school. “Duquesne’s potential impact with the medical school makes this a very worthy project.”
Earlier this year, the nonprofit Life’sWork sold its longtime home at Forbes Avenue and Magee Street to Duquesne, which plans to build the new college on the site.
The college will consist of an 80,000- square- foot building. Duquesne officials have said that along with administrative and faculty offices, the building will include about 12,000 square feet of classroom space and roughly 20,000 square feet “for such advanced learning technologies as virtual anatomy labs, simulation exam and clinical spaces and virtual reality studios.”