$2 Million Grant for Dermatology from Annenberg Foundation

The Annenberg Foundation is donating $2 million to the department of dermatology at the  School of Medicine to provide major support for educational programs—critical to the training of the next generation of leaders in academic and clinical dermatology. The endowment will create the Paul R. Gross, M.D., Professorship, and will support the director of educational programs.

“The Annenberg Foundation’s steadfast support has strengthened Penn in countless ways over many years,” said President Amy Gutmann. “The Foundation’s commitment to encouraging more effective ways to share knowledge benefits not only Penn, but all of humanity.”

Training dermatologists has been a priority of the department since its founding in 1874, giving Penn one of the most sought-after dermatology residency training programs.

The Paul R. Gross, M.D., Professorship will help Penn maintain its leadership in training dermatologists. This grant will ensure that the department  will have a world-class dermatologist—who has at least 50 percent of his/her time to devote to teaching—to help maintain its active and outstanding residency program.

“Leonore Annenberg’s generous gift of the Paul R. Gross, M.D., Professorship is a fitting tribute to Dr. Gross, an excellent and compassionate physician who has been associated with the department of dermatology for over 40 years,” said Dr. John R. Stanley, Milton B. Hartzell Professor and chair, department of dermatology. “Dr. Gross has always maintained his diagnostic and therapeutic skills to be at the forefront of dermatological knowledge, which is the exact goal that we want to instill in our residents for their future careers.”

“To have this new professorship named in my honor was completely unexpected and totally thrilling,” added Dr. Paul R. Gross,  emeritus head of the dermatology section at Pennsylvania Hospital. “I am particularly pleased that this new chair will support the director of residency education, since my efforts have been largely directed toward this goal. Undoubtedly, this magnificent gift will help to ensure the continued preeminence of Penn dermatology both nationally and internationally.”

Dr. Gross received his undergraduate (1958) and medical (1962) degrees at Penn. He did an internship at Philadelphia General Hospital and two years in the U.S. Public Health Service.