The R&E Silver Anniversary Campaign: It's Time for a Final Burst
Like many of you, I spent some time last month watching the 2008 Beijing Olympics and marveling at how the athletes, now matter how grueling the race, always seemed to find a final burst of energy to propel them over the finish line.
 Bruce L. McClennan, M.D. |
Such a metaphor seems fitting as I write about the RSNA Research & Education (R&E) Foundation Silver Anniversary Campaign, with a goal to raise $15 million by 2009. As chair of the R&E Public Relations Committee, I am excited to report that we have raised $12 million—an impressive achievement since the campaign was launched just four years ago.
I'm also here to ask that we do more. While individual member contributions are up this year—well over $1 million—sadly only about 10 percent of those reading this column have participated in such giving. It' time for one last burst to get us over the finish line.
Just as athletes propel themselves with medal dreams, we have our own motivation to contribute to the R&E goal. First, there is the vision of the RSNA leadership who first created the Foundation some 25 years ago, recognizing the need for more radiology research and acting to ensure that our specialty could compete with others that had more established funding sources.
Then there is the proven impact of donations already made. Over the years, more than 600 recipients at nearly 100 institutions have received R&E support that has jump started the careers of academic radiologists and led to myriad innovations that affect our practice and our patients every day.
Proud as we are of our progress so far, let' give our efforts another boost. Together we can celebrate a quarter century of successful funding of research and education in our specialty.
