More than 900 people danced the night away to the music of 2011 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love at Drexel University College of Medicine's Black Tie White Coat Ball. The event, held Saturday, October 22 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, raised $717,250 for research into the prevention, treatment and cure of Alzheimer's disease and related memory disorders.
The event also honored two of Philadelphia's outstanding civic leaders: Nicholas DeBenedictis, chairman, president and CEO of Aqua America, Inc.; and Manuel Stamatakis, president and CEO of Capital Management Enterprises and immediate past chairman of Drexel University College of Medicine. Both men played a key role in the formation of the medical school 13 years ago.
An estimated 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, a number that is expected to double over the next several decades due to the aging baby boomer population. Drexel University College of Medicine is among an elite national group of medical sites participating in clinical trials for Alzheimer's vaccines.
The Drexel University College of Medicine Black Tie White Coat Ball is one of the biggest healthcare fundraisers in the Philadelphia region, and has twice been recognized as "Best Event" by the Philadelphia chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
The College of Medicine has established some of the most highly innovative and rigorous academic programs available today, incorporating the University's expertise in engineering and technology into traditional medical training. It is home to one of the nation's leading centers for spinal cord research; one of the foremost centers for malaria study; and a highly regarded HIV/AIDS program with extensive NIH-funded research in prevention and therapeutic interventions. The College has been designated a Vanguard National Center of Excellence in Women's Health by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and is highly respected in numerous other specialties including cardiology and pain management.