Roy and Gretchen Jackson, owners of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, have given a gift of $3 million to endow a chair in the name of Dean W. Richardson, DVM, at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Richardson, chief of surgery at Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital, led the team that treated Barbaro, the Dynaformer colt euthanized in January after a complications from the leg injury he sustained at the Preakness Stakes in May. “We are very pleased to make this commitment in support of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s research of equine diseases,” Gretchen Jackson said. “Our close relationship with Dr. Richardson over the last eight months persuaded us to name the chair in his honor. We are indeed grateful to him, and we especially look forward to a future without laminitis.” “This endowed chair is a strong recognition of the power of translating fundamental scientific advances into new real-world treatments,” said Joan Hendricks, VMD, the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine for the university. “With a new faculty position dedicated to the study of equine disease, we will be better positioned to fight deadly conditions like laminitis.” The endowed chair is the cornerstone of a new Penn Vet initiative to fight laminitis, which afflicted Barbaro. <HOME>
