Grateful Patient Creates Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery
When Amy Southard fell and broke both her left arm and right elbow in Florida three years ago, the surgery she had left her without full movement in her arms. She was put in touch with Kevin Malone, MD, Chief, Division of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, UH Department of Orthopedics, who immediately said she needed another surgery.
"I just felt like I was never going to be able to regain all my mobility," Amy said. "But Dr. Malone, he made me whole again."
In recognition of his outstanding care, Amy and her husband, Mike, established the Amy & Michael Southard Chair in Orthopeadic Surgery. Dr. Malone will serve as the inaugural chair holder.
"We've referred other people to Dr. Malone who have had a similar fall and have been rushed to the hospital and the care is superior every time," said Mike.
"We really hope he is able to use the funding from this chair to accomplish whatever he feels is most important," Amy added.
Advancing Care
"I am honored to be named as the inaugural holder of the Amy and Michael Southard Endowed Chair in Orthopedic Surgery," said Dr. Malone. "The Southards have been long standing supporters of my practice and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UH Cleveland Medical Center. This generous gift will enable our team to advance the care provided to our patients as well as strengthen our research efforts to impact patients here and elsewhere in the future."
This gift builds on the couple's legacy of giving to UH. Prior to this gift, Amy and Michael had already supported the department through the creation of the Amy and Michael Southard Endowed Lectureship in Orthopaedics. In 2019, Amy and Michael; Amy's father, Harold "Sam" Minoff; and her brothers, Barry and Roy, made a visionary gift to name the UH Minoff Health Center at Chagrin Highlands in honor of Sam's late wife and Amy, Barry and Roy's mother, Clare.
"With the UH Minoff Health Center, we were able to help the community, but with this chair, I really wanted to help someone who directly impacted me and my health and that just feels great," Amy said.
Endowed positions provide permanent, annual funds to support groundbreaking research and clinical trials, educational opportunities and cutting-edge treatments. Establishing an endowment supports UH during a donor’s lifetime and for generations to come, ensuring your generosity will forever be a guiding force in our success.
To establish an endowment fund, please contact the Director of Gift Planning, Patricia Fries, at patricia.fries@UHhospitals.org.