Ewww. Gross. Ick.
Must say, this is the first time I’ve used those words to describe a big-time gala, but then there’s never been a party quite like Fantasy M.D.
It was the celebration of the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s 125th birthday, and over the course of a two-hour social that preceded dinner at the Colorado Convention Center, grandma-to-be Gail Johnson “delivered” a baby; Steve Edmonds, executive director of the Institute for Children’s Mental Disorders, encouraged passers-by to dip their hands into a jar filled with the Gummi Brains he’d ordered online from a specialty candy company; and at the “Butts R Us” booth, the focus wasn’t colonoscopies (videos of that procedure were running elsewhere in the room) but on how important it is not to smoke. A healthy lung was suspended next to one that had been stained an icky shade of charcoal, damaged by cigarette use, and a jar beneath it contained a stomach-turning brown liquid that was in fact tar extracted from a smoker’s diseased lung.
As he watched the formally attired guests interact with faculty, researchers and medical students while trying their hand at tying sutures, taking a 3-D look at the human skeleton or, in Johnson’s case, delivering a virtual baby, the dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Richard Krugman said: “We’re pretty excited by all of this. It’s a great display of our talent.”
The exhibits were such a hit that Krugman said he’s ready to start looking for funds that will enable the School of Medicine to take them on the road or exhibit them on an annual basis.
The Anna and John J. Sie Foundation was the presenting sponsor for Fantasy M.D., and both the Sies and their daughter and son- in-law, Michelle and Tom Whitten, were at the celebration.
So, too, was former University of Colorado president Hank Brown; Dr. M. Roy Wilson, chancellor of CU-Denver; and Bruce Schroffel, University Hospital’s president and CEO.
Dr. David Slosky flew in from Tennessee, where’s he’s on the Vanderbilt faculty, to celebrate his alma mater’s important date with his cousin, Denverite Lee Mendel and his wife, Barbara Emery Mendel.
Barbara Mendel and Debra Duke chaired the gala’s 36-member steering committee, a group that included Daniel Yohannes, Larry Atler, Marvin Levy, Mary Lee Beauregard, Curt Fentress, Don Kortz, Landri Taylor, Harry Lewis, Joel Edelman, Meg and Ed Nichols, Dr. Michael Gerber, and Buddy Noel.
Dinner was served in the convention center’s main ballroom, which had been decorated by Bouquets.
Among those enjoying the meal, and the dancing that followed, were Maria and Dr. Bill Aragon; state legislators Mike May and Betty Boyd; Dr. J.J. Cohen; attorney Steve Farber, whose life-saving kidney transplant was performed at University Hospital; Cynthia and Dr. Larry Chan; staff liaison Regina Kilkenny, who is leaving the School of Medicine after 20 years for the Colorado Health Foundation; Pat and Dr. Bruce Paton; Gary and Sally Newcomb; Betty and Dr. Bill Buchanan; Dr. Curt Freed; Terry and Dr. John Biddinger; Linda and Dr. John Roberts; Lisa Stanford; Adrienne and Jack Fitzgibbons; and Bob Ladenburger, president/CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction.
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Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@ ; also,
