Oregon tech executive Renee James has made a generous philanthropic gift of $3 million to the OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute, bolstering the institute’s reputation as a world-class center for patient care and scientific excellence and innovation.
Of the total gift, $2.5 million will establish the “Joaquin E. Cigarroa, M.D., Endowed Chair,” named for Joaquin Cigarroa, M.D., director of the KCVI. The gift will also be used to establish the “Renee James Endowed Fund for the KCVI,” providing $500,000 in funding for continued innovation in cardiovascular research and clinical care.
“Endowed gifts are an investment in OHSU’s future and grow stronger over time, while leaving an impactful legacy,” said Kate Azizi, president of the OHSU Foundation. “We are so grateful for Renee James’ belief in the KCVI. OHSU’s missions of healing, teaching and discovery are continually advanced by this kind of visionary philanthropic giving.”
A combination of family history of heart disease and a high-stress career led James to Cigarroa, who also holds the endowed Melvin Judkins Professor of Cardiology at the institute. Over the past decade, James saw firsthand the impact of the KCVI on patient health and well-being, and was impressed with Cigarroa’s compassion, thorough approach to medicine, and his dedication to the wellness of his patients.
“I can think of no doctor more deserving than Dr. Cigarroa to receive the honor of having a chair of his department endowed in his name such that we never forget his contribution and approach to medicine and the craft of keeping and helping patients be well,” said James, former president of Intel and founder of Rule42 and Ampere Computing.
OHSU President Shereef Elnahal, M.D., M.B.A., praised the Cigarroa and the department for delivering the quality, complex care that sets OHSU apart from other hospitals in the state and region.
“We know our clinicians deliver the best care, and the fact that Dr. Cigarroa and the KCVI team did so to a degree that it inspired a patient to make this generous gift demonstrates the power of quality, compassionate care,” Elnahal said. “We thank Renee for her generosity and her investment in the research and clinical care that will benefit other patients into the future.”
Cigarroa notes the KCVI’s holistic approach, integrating research, education and patient care related to cardiovascular disease throughout a person’s lifetime.
“It is a remarkable honor for me and my family that Renee made such a substantial donation to benefit the KCVI, including her generous naming of the Joaquin E. Cigarroa Chair,” Cigarroa said. “Renee wanted to honor the principles of humanism, compassion and the holistic approach to caring for patients that we truly care about at the KCVI. I look forward to accelerating the impact of her generous donation and continuing to focus on innovation to transform how we care for our patients.”