Gifts establish medical oncology professorship at KU Med

Jennings said he was overwhelmed by the donors’ generosity and honored to be the namesake for the professorship.

“Many lives have been improved by the team at our Cancer Center, thanks to the vital generosity of the Hall Family Foundation and the Sunderland Family Fund, and the outstanding leadership of Roy Jensen and Bob Page,” Jennings said. “We are a better community because of them, and I am personally grateful.”

Jennings was one of the founding members of the Advancement Board and served as chair from 2005 to 2008. This advisory group comprises more than 85 appointed members who represent the objectives of the University of Kansas Medical Center, The University of Kansas Hospital and The University of Kansas Physicians. The board works to develop community and public support for the academic medical center and to bolster philanthropic efforts for medical education, research and patient care.

Jennings also was instrumental in the creation of the Cancer Funding Partners, a subcommittee of the Advancement Board that focuses on fundraising and advocacy for The University of Kansas Cancer Center. He served as chair from 2009 to 2012 and continues to serve on this subcommittee to date.

Charlie Sunderland, of Overland Park, who represents the Sunderland Family Fund, led efforts with Jennings to raise the funds needed for National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. The designation was achieved in 2012, and the KU Cancer Center is currently working toward the next level — NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center designation — thanks in part to the efforts of Sunderland, Jennings and the Hall Family Foundation.

Sunderland, a cancer survivor himself, is the former chair of the Cancer Funding Partners. He is the chairman and CEO of Ash Grove Cement Company in Overland Park.

The Hall Family Foundation has supported several disciplines at KU, including life sciences, business, biology and humanities. The foundation’s support was instrumental in KU’s achievement of NCI designation. The foundation’s challenge grant sought to establish the professorship as a step toward KU Cancer Center’s quest for NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center designation.

Sunderland said his family was pleased to join the Hall Family Foundation in making the professorship a reality.

“We saw this as an opportunity to invest along with the Hall family in a critical mission of the University of Kansas Medical School and simultaneously honor the outstanding contributions Drue has made to the university,” Sunderland said.

Roy Jensen, MD, director of the KU Cancer Center, shared his gratitude for the gifts, which help the Cancer Center take one more step toward comprehensive status.

“Drue has worked tirelessly toward the advancement of the Cancer Center and NCI designation, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor,” Jensen said. “Thanks to the Sunderlands and the Hall Family Foundation, this professorship takes the Cancer Center a step closer to NCI Comprehensive designation and furthers the Cancer Center’s mission to provide excellent patient care.”