Saunders Foundation makes $30 million commitment to the University of Rochester Medical Center

In recognition, the University will rename the UR Medicine Orthopaedics & Physical Performance Center at 10 Miracle Mile Drive.

The University of Rochester announced today that the Saunders Foundation, led by University Trustee Emeritus E. Philip (Phil) Saunders, has made a $30 million commitment to the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) to support novel research and clinical programs in orthopaedics, faculty in the School of Medicine and Dentistry, and nursing students.

The gift includes $25 million to support the groundbreaking work of the UR Medicine Orthopaedics & Physical Performance Center, the most comprehensive orthopaedic facility in the northeastern United States. An additional $5 million will establish a named professorship in orthopaedics at the School of Medicine and Dentistry and create new scholarships in the School of Nursing.

In recognition of the long-standing philanthropic support from Saunders, the University will name its facility at 10 Miracle Mile Drive the Saunders Center for Orthopaedics & Physical Performance.

"We are proud to count Phil Saunders as one of the University of Rochester's great champions. His latest example of generous support for our Medical Center, our pioneering research and clinical care, and our incredible nurses is a testament to his commitment to the University and to the community of greater Rochester," says University President Sarah Mangelsdorf. "We share his vision for advancing the health and well-being of everyone in our region by providing world-class medical care close to home."

The Saunders Foundation will establish an endowed research fund and an endowed professorship in the Department of Orthopaedics that will be named for Dean's Professor Michael Maloney, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. Maloney is also the founder and director of the Center for Human Athleticism Musculoskeletal Performance and Prevention (CHAMPP), which offers a multidisciplinary and integrated approach to athletic performance, injury prevention, and wellness.

Saunders' gift will also create an endowed scholarship fund at the University of Rochester School of Nursing to support the nursing career goals of staff members at UR Medicine Noyes Health. Based in Dansville, Livingston County, Noyes Health offers community-focused health care backed by Rochester's world-class medical research initiatives.

The newly named Saunders Center for Orthopaedics & Physical Performance is the most comprehensive orthopaedic facility in the northeastern United States. (University of Rochester photo / Halkin Mason Photography)

"It's no secret that the University of Rochester is one of the premier medical facilities in the country. People come from all over to seek medical treatment from the gifted physicians on staff. Adding the Saunders Center for Orthopaedics & Physical Performance elevates the University and allows patients to receive the very best from this state-of-the-art facility," says Phil Saunders. "I am thrilled to give to this center, the endowed professorship for Dr. Michael Maloney, a gifted physician and personal friend, and to be giving the School of Nursing a new scholarship. Our community needs to invest in professionals such as nurses and I'm happy to do this for Noyes and Livingston County."

David Linehan, the CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center and dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry, adds, "Phil has invested generously in the research, education, and patient care missions of our Medical Center for many years. I am very grateful for the gift we are announcing today, which will advance URMC's position as a leader in the science and practice of orthopaedic medicine, with ripple effects that benefit the patients and families we serve for decades to come."

Paul Rubery, department chair and the Marjorie Strong Wehle Professor in Orthopaedics, says the innovative care and specialized treatment provided in the Orthopaedics & Physical Performance Center will continue to expand thanks to the Saunders Foundation investment. "Those of us who work here every day see firsthand the positive impact this incredible facility is having on our patients," Rubery says. "Providing world-class orthopaedic care in a patient-friendly facility, while also pursuing ground-breaking research and training the next generation of surgeons is a truly wonderful gift. Phil's generosity allows us to expand our ability to help patients live better, healthier lives."

The Saunders Foundation will establish an endowed professorship in the Department of Orthopaedics that will be named for Dean's Professor Michael Maloney (right), pictured with Phil Saunders. (University of Rochester photo / Matt Wittmeyer)

Maloney says having an endowed professorship established in his name is an honor he could never have expected. "I've known Phil a very long time, and while I am not at all surprised by his generosity, I am humbled to know that a future faculty member in the School of Medicine and Dentistry will carry a title with my name. Endowed professorships allow us to recruit top talent to Rochester and help raise the reputation of the school among our peers," he says.

"Phil sees the big picture," adds Lisa Kitko, the dean of the University of Rochester School of Nursing and vice president of URMC. "He knows how important nursing is to health care, and how an investment in nursing education benefits his community and our health system as a whole. By creating scholarships at the nursing school, he is making it possible for deserving Noyes staff members to advance their professional skills and achieve their career goals."

Saunders has long supported the University of Rochester and the Medical Center. Between 2012 and 2016, he established the Saunders Family Distinguished Professorship in Neuromuscular Research, the E. Philip and Carole Saunders Professorship in Neuromuscular Research, and the Saunders Endowed Fellowship in Neuromuscular Research.

In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2020, Saunders is a member of the URMC Board and the honorary chair of the Rochester Philanthropy Council at the University. In 2011, the University named its newly constructed home of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute the Saunders Research Building. In 2015, the University awarded Saunders its Eastman Medal, which recognizes individuals whose achievements and service embody the institution's highest ideals.

About Phil Saunders

Phil Saunders is an entrepreneur and philanthropist known for his significant influence on the travel center industry and diverse business interests. He founded several companies, including Genesee Regional Bank, Truck Stops of America, and Travel Centers of America. His business portfolio spans auto rental, recreation, tourism, packaged foods, property management, and banking. Additionally, he has ownership interest in Sugar Creek Farms, Western New York Energy, and American Rock Salt, among other companies.

Saunders serves as the current chair of Genesee Regional Bank Holding Company and has a rich history of board service, including at the University of Rochester, Cobblestone Capital, Lewis Tree, Royal Oak Realty Trust, New York State Trooper Foundation, Western New York Energy, and Rochester Institute of Technology, where the business school is named in his honor.

Among his many achievements, Saunders is a member of the Rochester Business Hall of Fame and the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Paul Smith's College. His other accolades include receiving RIT's Herbert W. Vanden Brul Entrepreneurial Award and the Rochester Business Journal Icon Honors award. Saunders was also inducted into the National Association of Travel Centers Hall of Fame and is a member of the Livonia Central School District's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Health Care of the Highest Order

The University of Rochester's 2030 strategic plan, Boundless Possibility, articulates bold goals that will guide the institution toward framing and solving the greatest challenges of the future. One of the plan's key goals is health care of the highest order and a commitment to continue to expand and transform health care delivery, promote an inclusive culture, and build programs of excellence.

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