Digest -- U.Va. Top News Daily

Photo by Bill Sublette

Alumni dig deep during Reunions Weekend
Some 3,000 U.Va. alumni and their guests visited Charlottesville June 3-5 to attend their class reunion. The weekend’s agenda included the presentation of reunion gifts from alumni of the Classes of 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000. Their gifts totaled more than $25.1 million. Three weeks earlier, the Thomas Jefferson Society of Alumni hosted the 50th reunion for the Class of 1955, whose gift of $2 million brings the total 2005 reunion gift to over $27 million — more than doubling last year’s reunion gifts. (June 8)

Children’s Hospital telethon rakes it in
For the fifth consecutive year, U.Va.’s Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, sponsored by the U.Va. Children’s Hospital and WVIR-NBC-29, netted over $1 million for pediatric research. The Charlottesville community once again showed its support over the June 4-5 weekend, giving $1,757,630 , which will provide research grants and support the pediatric endowment program. The money also will help cover the costs of books, videos and toys for children. (June 9)

U.Va.’s Dr. Peura elected president of the AGA
Dr. David A. Peura, internal medicine professor at the Health System and associate chief of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology, has become president of the American Gastroenterological Association, the oldest medical specialty association in the United States. Peura assumed the office during the Digestive Disease Week conference in Chicago, the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology (liver diseases), endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Peura is a clinical scholar, clinical investigator and gastroenterologist. His research interests include acid peptic disorders, ulcers and Helicobacter Pylori infections. During his tenure at the head of the 14,000-member medical society, Peura will work to enhance the organization’s federal advocacy efforts and double the endowment for the AGA’s Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition. (June 3)