Investing in Faculty

The caliber of an academic institution rests upon the quality of its faculty, who are the lifeblood of the University of Michigan. Like students, faculty are attracted to those institutions best equipped to help them reach their professional goals and where they are most likely to be associated with the most exciting colleagues and peers. Endowed professorships, as well as gifts that provide support for faculty to conduct research or implement a program, honor our best minds and make the U-M Department of Family Medicine faculty even stronger.

Invest in Family Medicine faculty by giving to one of the following funds:


Dr. Max and Buena Lichter Research Professorship Fund

In 2011, Mack T. Ruffin IV, M.D., M.P.H. was appointed as the Dr. Max and Buena Lichter Research Professor of Family Medicine, effective November I, 2011.

Dr. Ruffin, professor, completed his M.D. in 1984 from the Medical College of Virginia. He completed his residency at Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1987, and his Masters in Public Health in epidemiology at the University of Minnesota in 1989, before joining the University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine in 1990. 

Dr. Ruffin's research involves cancer prevention via primary and secondary strategies, chemoprevention and cancer screening. He is unique in the fact that he is an academic family medicine physician who has held two consecutive five-year K24 mentor awards from NIH. Dr. Ruffin has numerous other projects funded through the CDC, NCI and the NIR His commitment to community is evidenced through the type of research he conducts, which aligns him well with Dr. Max Lichter's values as a family physician.

Dr. Ruffin is active in organizational and volunteer activities, institutionally, nationally and internationally. He is a member of the Michigan Cancer Consmiium, and serves on a study section for Cancer Control Career Development Awards for the American Cancer Society. He has published over 90 articles and has been an invited speaker at over 40 venues.   Give Now

Esperance Family Foundation Fund

The Department of Family Medicine received a generous gift from the Michigan-based Esperance Family Foundation to support the University of Michigan Integrative Medicine (UMIM) program.

The Esperance Family Foundation Integrative Health Fund will support two particular areas within UMIM. The first, the Faculty Scholars Program, is a year-long, multi-disciplinary program in integrative health care that provides academic faculty from various departments and disciplines with the opportunity to explore the theoretical principles, clinical practices and evidence related to complementary, alternative and integrative therapies. During the year, program participants take responsibility, with mentoring, for developing an

The fund also will support exploratory outcome-based research in alternative practices (mind-body practices such as meditation and energy healing) for children and adults who suffer from anxiety, traumatic stress, depression and other mental-health challenges.

"This gift is so vital to faculty for their professional development," said Rita K. Benn, Ph.D., director of education of UMIM. "As faculty explore complementary, alternative and integrative therapies and apply their knowledge to teaching, research and clinical care in their own field of expertise, students and patients will benefit and faculty will feel renewed. This gift enriches the academic environment in multiple ways."

University of Michigan Integrative Medicine is committed to the thoughtful and compassionate integration of complementary therapies and conventional medicine through the activities of research, education, clinical services and community partnerships.

The Esperance Family Foundation provides support, inspiration and progress in the areas of human potential, health and the environment. In the specific area of human health, one goal of the foundation is to provide awareness of different therapeutic approaches and to challenge conventional practitioners to work with complementary and alternative practitioners to facilitate integrative medical practice and ultimately help humankind.   Give Now

George A. Dean, M.D. Chair of Family Medicine Fund

On August 28, 2013, Philip Zazove, M.D. was officially installed as the second George A. Dean, M.D. Chair of Family Medicine in a special ceremony with Dean Woolliscroft, family and friends. It was particularly meaningful that Dr. Zazove’s father, Dr. Earl Zazove, a retired family physician from Chicago, was able join the celebration as well.

In 1981, Dr. Zazove became the third certified deaf physician in the history of the United States. A graduate of the Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, Mo. and the family practice residency at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Dr. Zazove also received his MBA from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He is passionate about health care issues of deaf and hard-of-hearing persons and is also interested in how physicians can incorporate the genetics revolution into day-to-day primary care.   Give Now

“Thank you to George and Vivian Dean for the privilege of being installed as the second recipient of the George A. Dean, M.D. Chair of Family Medicine. As a family physician, Dr. Dean understands the value that we bring to patients and the importance of our work. He is highly regarded in the field and has tremendous influence in promoting the specialty of family medicine nationally and here at the University of Michigan. It is an honor to hold this endowed Chairmanship,” shared Dr. Zazove.

George Dean, M.D. and his wife, Vivian, established the George A. Dean, M.D. Chair of Family Medicine in 2006 and Thomas L. Schwenk, M.D. was the first recipient.

Margaret Davies, M.D. Endowment Fund

A bequest gift will establish a permanent endowment called the Margaret Davies, M.D. Endowment Fund. This fund will support faculty members’ projects and work in the behavioral sciences arena.   Give Now