David Geffen Gift to School of Medicine

The School of Medicine has a new name and a bright future, thanks to a $200 million gift from entertainment executive and philanthropist David Geffen. The gift is the largest ever made to the University of California, and the largest single donation ever made to a school of medicine in this country.

Dr. Gerald S. Levey, Provost for Medical Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine, announced the gift on May 7, 2002. The gift will substantially enhance the research and teaching programs of the medical school, Levey said.

The School of Medicine is celebrating its 50th anniversary during the 2001-2002 academic year. That makes it comparatively young in institutional terms. But during that relatively short span, it has become renowned world-wide for its innovative research and teaching.