CLEVELAND - University Hospitals (UH) is awarding the Samuel Mather Visionary Award to Cleveland philanthropist and civic leader Barbara S. Robinson. A UH board member since 1984, Mrs. Robinson is one the longest standing members of the University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) Board of Directors in the history of the hospital.  She is honored for her exceptional generosity, vision and commitment as a benefactor who has had a long-lasting and profound impact on University Hospitals.

University Hospitals also is honoring Roland W. Moskowitz, MD, with the inaugural University Hospitals Distinguished Physician Award, for his significant achievements in medicine and medical research nationally.

“Barbara Robinson and Rollie Moskowitz have each given so much to University Hospitals through their commitment to excellence in health care for our community. They have been shining examples for decades of true leadership and dedication to our mission here at UH,” says Thomas F. Zenty III, CEO of University Hospitals. “These awards are the highest that University Hospitals bestows and we are pleased to honor Barbara and Rollie today.”

Mrs. Robinson has been involved in numerous University Hospitals and other committees including Cultural Diversity Committee, Professional Affairs Committee, Public and Government Relations Committee, Development Committee, the new National Arts Leadership Council, the National Committee on Planned Giving, which she co-chairs and a charter member of the National Cancer Leadership Council.

“University Hospitals is exceptionally grateful for Barbara Robinson’s countless contributions,” said Fred C. Rothstein, MD, President, University Hospitals Case Medical Center. “It is through the dedication, support and generosity of caring individuals such as Barbara that we are able to maintain our exceptional care for the patients and communities of Northeast Ohio.”

Honored for her years of philanthropic generosity towards UH and Greater Cleveland in general, Mrs. Robinson has made significant gifts to the UH Ireland Cancer Center as well as many arts institutions in Cleveland. She has extensive governance experience in numerous not-for-profit organizations, including Chair Emeritus, Ohio Arts Council.

“I am deeply touched to have UH bestow this high honor on me,” said Mrs. Robinson. “I truly believe in University Hospitals, one of the nation’s jewels in healthcare, and it is an honor for me to be able to give back to such a fine medical institution.”

Mrs. Robinson graduated with the highest honors from Wellesley College (Phi Beta Kappa and Durant Scholar) and from the Harvard-Radcliff Program in Business Administration.

“Dr. Moskowitz is a model academic physician whose career embodies our mission, To Heal. To Teach. To Discover,” said Dr. Rothstein. “It is highly appropriate that he is the first recipient of this distinguished award.”

Dr. Moskowitz, a renowned arthritis researcher, is a member of the Division of Rheumatic Diseases, where he directs the Rheumatology Clinical Research Unit at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, and is Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.  He has been a member of the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Chairman of the Subspecialty Board of Rheumatology, and a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He has served as President of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International.  He recently was awarded a Mayo Clinic Distinguished Physician Award.

“I am so pleased to receive this recognition from University Hospitals’ Board of Directors,” said Dr. Moskowitz. “The University Hospitals Distinguished Physician Award is a great honor and I am grateful for this recognition. University Hospitals Case Medical Center has given me the opportunity for achieving my clinical and research goals.”

Dr. Moskowitz joined the faculty at Case Western Reserve University and staff of UH in 1962 after training in rheumatology and internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic.  His primary research interest relates to the pathophysiology and genetics of osteoarthritis.  In 1990, he received international recognition for research linking osteoarthritis to a defective collagen gene, for which he received the European League Against Rheumatism Prize for osteoarthritis research.

About The Samuel Mather Award

The Samuel Mather Award recognizes the exceptional generosity and civic vision of benefactors who have had a lasting and profound impact on University Hospitals. The prestigious award is named in honor of Samuel Mather (1851-1931), one of University Hospitals’ earliest benefactors and one of Cleveland’s greatest philanthropists. The award is given annually, and past winners include Monte and Usha Ahuja and family, The Rainbow Babies & Children’s Foundation, Carole and David Carr, Dr. Donald J. and Mrs. Ruth W. Goodman, Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein, Barbara Lazaroff and Wolfgang Puck, Richard and Marcy Horvitz, The Kresge Foundation, George M. Humphrey II, Vincent K. and Edith H. Smith Memorial Trust, Britton Fund, The Reinberger Foundation, Leonard and Joan Horvitz, Alfred and Norma Lerner, Fred and Alice Lennon, Hanna-Humphrey Family, and the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation.