JHF Board Welcomes Grant Recipients and Enjoys Tour of New Vision Institute

The Jewish Healthcare Foundation Board of Trustees met on September 11 at the new UPMC Mercy Pavilion, home of the UPMC Vision Institute, recipient of grant funding for the Digital Twin Eye project in 2021. The meeting provided an opportunity for the Foundation Trustees to hear from JHF grantees, including a tour and update from the Vision Institute, and pause in memory of September 11.

The tour of the UPMC Mercy Pavilion, led by Lawton Snyder, Chief Executive Officer of the Eye & Ear Foundation, highlighted the unique features of the new facility to support patient-centered care and groundbreaking research to better understand, treat, and prevent vision loss and restore sight, including the Digital Twin Eye project. The facility elevates the use of pioneering technology to inform safe and effective care for their patients.

The JHF Trustees also had an opportunity to hear directly from two additional grantees, Jason Kunzman, MBA, the newly appointed President and CEO of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh (JCC) and former JHF chief financial officer and chief operating officer, who spoke about the future and impact to date of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, which is housed at the JCC and will be expanded in scope thanks in-part to the new funding from JHF; and Maureen Lichtveld, MD, MPH, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, who spoke about the innovative new Precision Public Health Collaboratory established in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, originally conceived and driven into formation by Karen Feinstein.

The Board also took the opportunity to honor the late Justin Ehrenwerth, recognizing the importance of the newly established Justin Reid Ehrenwerth Award created to continue the legacy of his work.

Read more about all the approved grants by the JHF Board, including three renewals for continued annual support of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, funding in perpetuity for JHF Feinstein Fellowships and Internship Program, and a continuation of the Patient Safety Technology Challenge.