Home » UofL’s David Dunn feted at March of Dimes Signature Chef Auction

UofL’s David Dunn feted at March of Dimes Signature Chef Auction

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Dec. 2, 2013) — David L. Dunn, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Louisville, recently served as the honoree chef at the March of Dimes Signature Chef Auction, which raises funds to support efforts to defeat birth defects and premature births. This year more than 625 people attended the event, which raised $330,000.

327“It is a tremendous privilege to be chosen as the honoree for this event because of the ultimate purpose of the auction – creating resources to fight birth defects,” Dunn said. “Our community continually comes together to support efforts that eventually will make Louisville and beyond even better places to live.”

Dunn was chosen as the honoree for his leadership in helping transform the health care landscape in Louisville. He joined the University of Louisville in July 2011. He was instrumental in developing the joint operating agreement that has created the partnership between UofL, University Medical Center and KentuckyOne Health. In his role as the executive leader of the university’s health sciences center, Dunn oversees the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Public Health and Information Sciences, as well as 14 centers and institutes. He has principal responsibility for external affairs including hospital relations and other affiliated entities.

“Dr. Dunn was honored because of his distinguished career as a practicing physician, and his leadership and vision for U of L Health Sciences impacting our community today and through the health care providers of tomorrow,” said Judi Petty, chair of the Board of Directors of the Greater Kentucky Chapter of the March of Dimes Foundation.

A worldwide authority on surgical infectious diseases and transplantation, Dunn is a tenured professor in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in addition to holding his administrative leadership position at UofL. Prior to joining UofL, Dunn was the vice president for health sciences and professor of surgery, microbiology and immunology at the University at Buffalo/SUNY. He was also a professor and chairman of surgery at the University of Minnesota. Dunn has been recognized by numerous academic societies for his studies and commitment to improving patient care.

Guests attended an incredible gourmet food sampling feast prepared by Louisville’s most elite chefs. This culinary extravaganza was followed by a live auction of “priceless” dining packages and topped off by a silent auction of more than 150 spectacular items.

Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and one in seven babies is born prematurely. Many babies born prematurely face life-long medical problems such as blindness, cerebral palsy and learning disabilities. The average life-long medical cost of a premature baby is $500,000, while the emotional cost is inestimable.