Endowment of the Penn HealthX Innovation Program
November 26, 2019
To:Students, Faculty and Staff
From:J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD
Suzi Rose, MD, MSEd
We are delighted to announce that through the generous philanthropy of Rod Wong, M’03 the Penn HealthX innovation program has been endowed for the future.
Established in 2013, Penn HealthX is one of the preeminent student-led organizations within the Perelman School of Medicine and supports medical students interested in health care management, entrepreneurship, technology and business. Over the past six years, it has grown into a nationally recognized program that provides medical students with real-world opportunities to explore, experience, and contribute to innovation.
In addition to operating a Venture Fund that offers grants to teams of students who are developing innovative ideas in health care, the program supports internships and provides students with an opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary lectures, workshops, and competitions across campus.
The program is integrated into the medical school curriculum and awards a Certificate in Healthcare Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology to graduating medical students who demonstrate a sustained interest in health care innovation and meet the program requirements.
This new endowed fund will support the program and create a scholarship to provide financial support to medical students who are pursuing an MBA at Wharton. In recognition of his gift and his long-term involvement with PSOM, the program will now be named the Roderick T. Wong Penn HealthX Program.
Dr. Wong received his BS in Economics from Duke University, his MBA from Harvard Business School and his MD from PSOM. He is the managing partner of RTW Investments LLC, a health care investment firm in New York.
We hope you will join with us in offering thanks to Dr. Wong for his generosity and his visionary support of new possibilities for engaging students at the Perelman School of Medicine with health care innovation.