VCU news

By Tom Gresham

A panel discussion with a group of prominent Virginia Commonwealth University alumni highlights a series of events Sept. 23 marking the launch of the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history.

“In Real Life: A Conversation with Distinguished VCU Alumni” is at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 in the Event Hall of the James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Featured alumni speakers are David Baldacci, a best-selling novelist; Tara Donovan, a renowned sculptor; Thomas Scalea, M.D., an influential trauma surgeon; and Marilyn Tavenner, president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans and former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. VCU alumnus Aaron Gilchrist, anchor of News4 Today (NBC) in Washington, D.C., serves as moderator.

The Make It Real Campaign for VCU, which launches publicly Sept. 22, is the largest, most comprehensive fundraising campaign in the history of the university. The panel discussion is just one of the events featured in “The Make It Real Series: Highlighting the Finest of VCU’s People, Environments and Innovations.”

Other launch-related events on Sept. 23 are:

• “Changing the Game: A Tour of the Basketball Practice Facility,” 9:30-10:30 a.m., Basketball Practice Facility, 1300 W. Marshall St. An opportunity to tour the new 62,000-square-foot facility.
  
  
• “The Zeitgeist of Zeitguide: It’s What You Need to Know,” 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., University Student Commons Theater, 907 Floyd Ave. Features Brad Grossman, founder and CEO of Zeitguide, a cultural compendium for CMOs, CCOs, CEOs and their organizations.
  
  
• "Eat and Greet to the Beat: Jazz Brunch with Student Leaders,” 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., University Student Commons Commonwealth Ballroom, 907 Floyd Ave. Meet student leaders while enjoying a performance by musicians from the Jazz Studies Program.
  
  
• “Imitating Life: A Tour of the Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety,” 1-2:30 p.m., McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 1201 E. Marshall St., ninth and 10th floors. Take a tour to meet the actors who play the role of standardized patients and see the mannequins that simulate childbirth, trauma care and abnormal heart and lung sounds. Students and faculty show visitors how the latest technology enhances the educational experience.
  
  
• “The Big Draw: Q&A with Comic Artist Alumni Charles Vess and Reilly Brown,” 1-2:30 p.m., James Branch Cabell Library Event Hall, 901 Park Ave. VCU communication arts professor Christopher Irving welcomes alumni Charles Vess and Reilly Brown to talk about their careers and the comics industry.
  
  
• “Blood, Breath and Beyond: A Demonstration of How the School of Nursing is Advancing Clinical Research,” 1-2:30 p.m., Sadie Heath Cabaniss Hall, 1100 E. Leigh St. Two School of Nursing labs come under the spotlight in these demonstration/tour sessions.
  
  
• “Art and the Creative Economy: A Tour of the VCUarts’ Depot,” 2-3:30 p.m., The Depot, 814 W. Broad St. Join School of the Arts faculty for a tour of The Depot. Visitors learn about the building’s history, enjoy the latest student exhibition in the Depot gallery, tour the dance and kinetic imaging studios and experience a demonstration in the motion-capture studio.
  
  
• “Innovation at VCU: Medical Research, Education and Clinical Care,” 3-4:30 p.m., Molecular Medicine Research Building, 1220 E. Broad St. Marsha Rappley, M.D., VCU vice president for health sciences and CEO of VCU Health, leads a panel of faculty through a discussion about some of the latest advances in research, treatment and patient care at VCU Medical Center.
  
  

For more information about the events, visit www.support.vcu.edu/campaign/. Space is limited. To register, visit www.support.vcu.edu/mirevents. The series is generously sponsored by the MCV Foundation and the VCU Foundation.

Through three campaign priorities — people, innovations and environments — the Make It Real Campaign for VCU aims to touch every aspect of VCU: students, alumni, faculty and staff, patients, caregivers, researchers, schools, libraries, centers and institutes, athletics and the community. The campaign counts funds raised between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2020.