CLEVELAND – One man’s service to University Hospitals for nearly three decades could translate into a lifetime of advances in cardiovascular research.

Ellery Sedgwick, Jr., served on the board of trustees at University Hospitals from 1947 to 1975, and was president of the board from 1965 to 1975 and to honor her late husband, Irene Elizabeth Wade Sedgwick–a descendant of Cleveland’s historic Wade family of entrepreneurs and philanthropists–has established the Ellery Sedgwick, Jr., Chair in Cardiovascular Research at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Mukesh K. Jain, MD is the first incumbent.

Mukesh Jain, MD

Dr. Jain joined University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) in July 2006. After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine in 1991, he served as both an intern and resident at the Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He completed research training with the renowned cardiovascular scientist Dr. Edgar Haber followed by fellowship training in Cardiovascular Medicine at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Jain rose through the faculty ranks at Harvard Medical School and was appointed Director of the Cardiovascular Transcriptional Biology Program in 2003.

He has had continuous research support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for over a decade. He brought with him four NIH grants and substantial foundation funding to University Hospitals Case Medical Center. In addition, a team of nine physician-scientists and scientists who have garnered an additional five grants from the NIH, American Heart Association and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation moved with Dr. Jain from Harvard. In addition to excellence in research, Dr. Jain is an accomplished clinical cardiologist and mentor having received the 2005 Harvard Mentor Award. He was elected to the prestigious American Society for Clinical Investigation in 2005 and is on the Editorial Board of Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology.

“Dr. Jain is a highly accomplished basic scientist and outstanding mentor,” said Daniel Simon, MD, University Hospitals Case Medical Center Division Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine. “He has successfully recruited three extraordinary clinician-scientists and six PhD scientists to our faculty in the Case Cardiovascular Research Institute. As Director of the Institute, Dr. Jain’s expertise and vision will guide our outstanding program into the future.”

The chair dedication is planned for November 2 at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Iris S. & Bert L. Wolstein Research Building from 4-6 p.m.

“It is a great honor to hold this chair,” Dr. Jain said. “This generous donation will greatly facilitate our goal of building a premier academic heart and vascular institute at University Hospitals. It is our aim to be at the cutting edge of bench research with the hope of translating these observations towards the development of novel approaches in the treatment cardiovascular disease.”

Ellery Sedgwick, Jr., was a former president and chairman of Medusa Corporation and a trustee of many businesses and civic organizations. A 1943 Harvard graduate, Mr. Sedgwick worked for the Federal Research Bank and later became a securities analyst for National City Bank.

He served in the Navy’s amphibious forces, having enlisted prior to Pearl Harbor and later participating in the invasions of Normandy and the Pacific ascending to the rank of Commander. Upon his return from the war, he was appointed vice president in the commercial department of National City Bank.

In 1952, he left the bank to become president of Medusa Portland Cement Co. and by 1976 was elected chairman. Mr. Sedgwick was affiliated with several industry associations and was director of Eaton Corporation , Ameritrust, Oglebay Norton Co., White Motor Co., and First Union Realty. In addition to his service at University Hospitals, he was a trustee of Western Reserve University, University Circle Development Foundation, Hawken School, Lake View Cemetery Association, Beech Brook and Archbold Foundation in Thomasville, GA.

Mr. Sedgwick also founded Red Hills Lumber Company, still a family-owned business that specializes in the production of heart pine wood flooring, as well as the Sedgwick Land Company, both headquartered in Thomasville, GA.

“Ellery dedicated many years to University Hospitals as a leader, and I wanted him to be remembered for all of his contributions,” said Mrs. Sedgwick. “He had heart issues later in life, so this endowed chair in cardiovascular research is a perfect fit for our family.”