– A $2 million gift from a generous community member is helping to expand the Infectious Disease Research Program at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit. This expansion comes at a time when infectious disease efforts are at the forefront of healthcare because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Mackey, age 85, of Grosse Pointe Farms, is grateful for the care he has received at Ascension St. John over the years and most recently from Infectious Disease specialist Miriam Levine, MD. He wanted to give back to the hospital and support an area that had meaning to him and relevance to the community.
“It’s the right thing to do at the right time, and I’m fortunate to have the means to help,” said Mackey, who also recently gave $1 million for a new hybrid cardiac catheterization laboratory at the hospital. “Those who are blessed with great wealth have an obligation to give back and help others.”
Louis Saravolatz, MD, MACP, FIDSA, Chair of the Department of Medicine for Ascension St. John, and a Professor for Wayne State University School of Medicine, said the hospital already saw a need to enhance Infectious Disease research efforts but that COVID-19 prompted the program expansion now.
“Mr. Mackey’s extremely generous support comes at a time when our needs in infectious disease care and research are greater than ever,” Dr. Saravolatz said. “Mr. Mackey’s gift is greatly appreciated by the Department of Medicine and will have an impact in our community for many years to come.”
“Mr. Mackey is a great example of a patient who is very appreciative of what doctors have done for him,” said Kevin Grady, MD, President, Ascension St. John Hospital. “After learning about his interests and willingness to donate a substantial gift, we created a program he was looking to support for the greater good of the community. We couldn’t be more grateful to Mr. Mackey.”
The new research center will be named for the generous donor. The mission of The Thomas Mackey Center for Infectious Disease Research is to perform research to improve the clinical care of patients and serve the community by providing diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive strategies against serious infectious diseases.
The clinical research area will provide the home for performance of clinical studies involving new therapeutics and vaccines against infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The laboratory’s expanded capabilities will provide the necessary support for combating infectious diseases seen both in the hospital and the community. It will allow for the development of new testing methodologies for both the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.
The Infectious Diseases lab has worked on research in areas such as staphylococcal disease and other molecular testing for years. “But COVID has pushed us in a new direction,” said Dr. Saravolatz. “We’ll continue working in the other areas plus expand with COVID research in this new center.”
The new center will be located adjacent to the clinical research area in the Mack Office Building on the hospital campus and have capacity for more staff and the performance of additional studies. The close proximity of the lab to the clinical area will enhance collaboration and exchange of ideas between laboratory and clinical personnel. The center will provide enhanced opportunities to train young physicians and other scientists.
“There will be areas for research nurses, data managers, office data staff, clinical researchers, associates and physicians working together in a clinical research arena,” Dr. Saravolatz said. “The potential for expanded capabilities and enhanced collaboration among physicians in the Division of Infectious Diseases and other speciality areas should stimulate new ideas and growth in research activities.”
Leonard Johnson, MD, FACP, FIDSA, is Program Director and Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Vice Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, and a Professor for Wayne State University School of Medicine. Under his guidance, the Infectious Disease program has thrived and expanded. Six more staff have recently been added in the clinical arena; they will be involved in COVID-19 vaccine trials and other aspects of COVID research.
“Our hope is to move the Division of Infectious Diseases forward to coordinate our laboratory and clinical research in a way we haven’t been able to do in the past. This will hopefully help us participate in more clinical trials that will better serve the community,” said Dr. Johnson. “This expansion is taking us to the next level, and we are grateful to Mr. Mackey for his gift that will permit us to do more.”
Dr. Johnson continued, “We anticipate our increased clinical and laboratory research can lead to improved health of our community.” As for having a larger impact, he said, “We are doing our part in the vaccine trials, like hundreds of centers around the country. We are all contributing; we’re not doing it by ourselves. By sharing the results of our work, we are a part of the larger effort that could impact the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases for everyone.”
Design has started on The Thomas Mackey Center for Infectious Disease Research. Construction completion is anticipated for late March 2021.
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