McCown elected as chair of KU academic medical center advisory board


Mon, 04/30/2018

author

Michelle Strickland

LAWRENCE — Pat McCown of Leawood is the new chair of the Advancement Board, an advisory group of more than 90 business and community leaders that represents the objectives of the University of Kansas Medical Center and The University of Kansas Health System.

The board, which was formed in 2005, works to develop community support for the academic medical center and to bolster philanthropy efforts for education, research and patient care. New officers and members were elected and announced at the Spring Advancement Board meeting in Kansas City, Kansas.

McCown follows Joyce Hayhow, who completed a two-year term as chair.

McCown retired in 2017 as the CEO of McCownGordon Construction, which has headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. He and Brett Gordon founded the company as the only two employees in 1999; the firm now has 350 employee-owners. McCown serves the community on several boards and committees, including the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and the Kansas City Art Institute.

“Every great city needs a great academic medical center, and the Advancement Board is wholeheartedly continuing to be part of promoting and supporting The University of Kansas academic medical center,” McCown said. “We are proud that for 13 years the Advancement Board has diligently worked to further the mission to enhance awareness, governmental support and strategic initiatives to ensure the highest level of academics and research, and to deliver the best health care to our patients.”  

Also at the meeting, Art Chaudry was elected as secretary of the board. He is president of Swope Community Enterprises and president and CEO of Swope Community Builders.

Most recently, the Advancement Board has championed several initiatives to assist the University of Kansas Cancer Center. These include supporting the Cancer Funding Partners’ effort to meet a 3-to-1 matching opportunity provided by the V Foundation, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Hunt Family Foundation, qualifying the cancer center for a $200,000 grant in valuable support of immunotherapy research. It has also provided ongoing support of the regional effort to expand the center’s National Cancer Institute designation as a comprehensive cancer center.

The board also supports all 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. 

Mon, 04/30/2018

author

Michelle Strickland

Media Contacts

Michelle Strickland

KU Endowment

785-832-7363