1921 Society Dinner Celebrates New Members, Special Honors

The annual 1921 Society Dinner, which took place Sept. 14 at Severance Hall, honored friends who have given $1 million or more to support Cleveland Clinic’s mission. More than 300 people attended, including many of the 59 new 1921 Society members and previously inducted members.

In his address to the 1921 Society, Joseph Hahn, M.D., Chief of Staff, said, "One way to measure our lives is to ask: How many people have we touched? How have we helped them? Well, you touch a lot of people. You may do it through us, but the reality is what you do for us touches an enormous number of patients and their families."

Distinguished Philanthropists
At the event, Delos M. "Toby" Cosgrove, President and CEO, and A. Malachi Mixon, III, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, conferred Cleveland Clinic’s highest philanthropic honor, the Distinguished Fellow, upon three couples who have made extraordinary contributions of service and resources to support the mission of Cleveland Clinic. This year’s recipients were John and Mary Payiavlas, Eleanore and Bob Risman and Jane and Lee Seidman. Click here to view more photos.

Physician Honor
Dr. Cosgrove and Norma Lerner presented Patrick J. Sweeney, M.D., with the Alfred and Norma Lerner Humanitarian Award, Cleveland Clinic’s most prestigious physician honor. “The award goes to a physician whose selfless dedication, boundless compassion and tireless work have made a profound and singular contribution to the good of humankind,” said 1921 Society Chair Norma Lerner, who also serves as Distinguished Chair of Today’s Innovations, Tomorrow’s Healthcare: Campaign for Cleveland Clinic.

International Expansion
Dr. Cosgrove announced that Cleveland Clinic will open a new, world-class medical center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This facility, which will be known as Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, is Cleveland Clinic’s first medical center located outside of the United States. It also is the first full-service international expansion by a major American academic medical center.

 

1921 Society Chair Norma Lerner and Delos M. Cosgrove, M.D.

(L to R): 1921 Society Chair Norma Lerner and Delos M. Cosgrove, M.D.

 

Front (L to R): Distinguished Fellows John and Mary Payiavlas, Eleanore and Bob Risman, Lee and Jane Seidman. Back: Delos M. Cosgrove, M.D.

Front (L to R): Distinguished Fellows John and Mary Payiavlas, Eleanore and Bob Risman, Lee and Jane Seidman. Back: Delos M. Cosgrove, M.D.

"This is a celebration of your dedication to putting patients first and helping to drive the innovative work that our physicians and scientists perform."

- Delos M. "Toby" Cosgrove, M.D.,
Cleveland Clinic CEO and President.