The Thoracic Surgery Foundation is extremely pleased to announce that The Starr Foundation has made a $250,000 gift toward the $3.75 million matching committment TSF made to the NHLBI for the jointly-sponsored Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award Program. The ten-year program is designed to develop outstanding cardiothoracic surgeon-scientists. The NHLBI committed $5 million to the Program.

The Starr Foundaiton was established in 1955 by Cornelius Vander Starr, an insurance entrepreneur who founded the American International family of insurance and financial services companies, now known as American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG). Mr. Starr, a pioneer of globalization, set up his first insurance venture in Shanghai in 1919. He died in 1968 at the age of 76, leaving his estate to the Foundation.

The Starr Foundation currently has assets of approximately $5 billion, making it one of the largest private foundations in the United States. It makes grants in a number of areas, including education, medicine and healthcare, public policy, human needs, culture and the environment. Medicine and healthcare have been increasingly important areas to the Foundation in recent years. The Foundation's grants in these areas are far ranging, including capital grants to hospitals, significant research grants and grants to assist in the provision of healthcare to underserved communities.

The Cross-Jones Research and Educational Fund of St. Luke's Foundation of Cleveland, OH was established through the generosity of Frederick S. Cross, MD and Richard D. Jones, Ph.D.

Drs. Cross and Jones conducted outstanding cardiovascular research that led to the development of the Cross-Jones Heart Valve, Suction Tip, the Kay-Cross Oxygenator and other innovations. They served as consultants in the development and manufacture of these products made by Pemco, Inc., Brecksville, OH. Drs. Cross and Jones returned monies from the sales of thse products to the Cross-Jones Fund.

The Thoracic Sugery Foundation is pleased to announce that Drs. Cross and Jones made a gift of the entire Fund, nearly $400,000, for the jointly-sponosored Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award Program. This extremely generous gift provides needed support for The Foundation's portion of the match.

We are pleased to thank Dr. Conti for his generous commitment to TSFRE. In 2001, Dr. Conti made provisions for an estate gift to The Foundation. Having completed a surgical fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Conti served as a Major in the US Army Medical Corps and Chief of the Department of Surgery at Ft. McPherson in Atlanta, GA from 1974 to 1976. Since 1979, he has been on the faculty of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galvenston, TX. Currently, he serves as Professor and Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery there. In addition to his clinical work, he is a member of the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association, and serves as a Key Contact in Government Relations for both the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. We are grateful for Dr. Conti's generosity.

The Foundation is pleased to thank Dr. Feinberg for his generous commitment to the work of TSFRE. Having completed the MPA program at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government on an Alley-Sheridan Sabbatical Scholarship from The Foundation, Dr. Feinberg has taken a strong interest in healthcare policy. A steadfast supporter of TSFRE, practicing in Lafayette Louisiana, he is deeply interested in the evolution of the American healthcare system. His special interests include physician leadership in the changing environment of healthcare, the new role for physicians as executives in healthcare, financial analysis of the biomedical industry, understanding the complex relationship between Government and Industry as it impacts the adoption of new technology, and developing a technical model for the analysis of the market response to new technology in healthcare. In 2001, Dr. Feinberg made a commitment to Life Sponsorship by a significant multi-year pledge. We are deeply thankful for this support.

James M. Wilson, MD
Life Sponsor

The Foundation is deeply appreciative of the generous support of Dr. James Wilson. A former Navy Seal, Dr. Wilson served in the US Navy from 1968-1992. His submarine service began in 1973 with stints aboard the USS Narwhal and the USS Archerfish. Having completed his MD at Duke University, Dr. Wilson currently serves as the Director of Cardiac Surgery at Mercy Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. In 2001, Dr. Wilson made a generous commitment of an estate gift to The Foundation. We are thankful for Dr. Wilson's significant contribution to The Foundation and for his steadfast support.