Mary Birch elected chairman of Advancement Board

April 22, 2014

Mary Birch, of Overland Park, Kan., is the new chairman of the Advancement Board, an 85-member organization of business and community leaders formed in 2005 to advocate, raise awareness of and generate philanthropy for the University of Kansas Medical Center, The University of Kansas Hospital and the University of Kansas Physicians.

Birch was elected chairman at today’s board meeting. She follows former Kansas Senator David Wysong, who completed a two-year term as chairman. Mary Jane Barnes was elected as secretary.

Birch is employed by Lathrop & Gage as government relations coordinator and chair of the firm’s government relations practice area.

“This unique board transcends selective interests and encourages, supports and sustains the collaborative mission of the academic medical center,” said Birch. “The primary objectives of the Advancement Board are to continue building awareness of academic medicine, and developing civic, political and financial support for its mission across the region.”

The Advancement Board embraces the academic medical center’s quest to become a nationally recognized leader in neuroscience discovery, education and care, along with continued support for The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s mission to become a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. It also supports all of the research and clinical initiatives of the area’s premier academic medical center. It serves to organize the advocacy for the benefits of academic medicine among many fronts.

The campaign is managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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April 22, 2014