Founders Society Reception Celebrates Giving and the Future of Medicine
May 11, 2025
More than 230 members of The Founders Society at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine gathered May 2 at the Arts Club of Chicago for a special evening reception celebrating their generous contributions.
The Founders Society recognizes individuals whose philanthropic support and volunteerism help drive Feinberg’s continued growth, excellence, and leadership in medical education and research. With over 3,000 members, including alumni, faculty, staff, and friends, the society represents a cornerstone of the school’s advancement.
“We really cherish you and what you've done for us. The Founders Society is really a premier group of donors, alums, faculty, and students,” said Alan Krensky, MD, executive for Development at Northwestern Medicine and vice dean for Development and Alumni Relations at Feinberg.
Among the evening’s attendees were Lynn Azuma, ’01 MD, (’26, '30 P), and Brian Hall, ’01 MD, (’26, '30 P), who met while in medical school and wed just before graduating in 2001.
“Giving back through The Founders Society feels like a natural extension of what Feinberg started years ago, building a foundation of excellence, service, and lifelong connection,” Dr. Hall said.
Dr. Azuma said their membership in The Founders Society is especially meaningful, noting that they first met while in medical school and that their class reunion brought a renewed sense of connection.
“Celebrating our 25th reunion at Alumni Weekend was a special reminder of the community and impact that continue to inspire our giving,” she said.
Aligning Priorities for the Road Ahead
This year’s reception honoring some of the medical school’s most dedicated donors and friends comes as Feinberg and Northwestern Memorial HealthCare plan a joint fundraising campaign, Dr. Krensky said, uniting over shared priority areas including heart care, cancer, and neuroscience. Newer initiatives that will usher in a new era of health care excellence at Northwestern include precision medicine, artificial intelligence, and human immunology.
Dr. Krensky said the joint campaign has been years in the making, guided by his and Dean Eric G. Neilson’s long held goal of deeper collaboration with the healthcare system that underpins Feinberg’s work.
Many medical school alumni attended the Founders Society event as part of Alumni Weekend celebrations, which included the Commitment to Scholarships luncheon celebrating scholars and their benefactors.
Supporting scholars remains one of the medical school’s core values, Dr. Krensky assured attendees, as the new campaign takes shape.
“Thank you all for being here,” Dr. Krensky said. “We really appreciate everything you've done for the school and for the university.”