Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) Senior Vice Chancellor Bishr Omary, an international leader in gastrointestinal biology and medicine, is the first faculty member to endow a legacy professorship.
The Rutgers University Board of Governors has unanimously approved The Bishr and Souha Omary Family Endowed Legacy Professorship, the university’s inaugural legacy professorship.
Omary, who serves as Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and research and the Henry Rutgers Professor of Biomedical Sciences, and his wife, Souha, are endowing the legacy professorship supporting gastroenterology. “It’s a small way to give back for the opportunities Rutgers has given me, and by extension my family, and to support faculty contributions to discovery and research training in an area I had the privilege to work in for many years,” Omary says.
Legacy professorships, approved by the Board of Governors in 2020, enable current, emeritus, and retired faculty and their families to create an endowed professorship in their name.
Omary joined Rutgers in 2019 from the University of Michigan. Originally a chemistry major, he shifted focus to biochemistry and disease pathophysiology during his graduate studies. Inspired by this work, he then became a physician and specialized in gastroenterology. An international leader in gastrointestinal biology and medicine, he served as editor-in-chief of the journal Gastroenterology and more recently as president of the American Gastroenterological Association. He has received numerous honors related to his accomplishments in research, mentorship, and diversity/equity/inclusion efforts.
RBHS Chancellor Brian Strom is grateful for Omary’s gift. “I deeply appreciate the generous gift by Dr. Omary and his commitment and service to Rutgers University that will last in perpetuity,” Strom says.
To encourage RBHS faculty to endow legacy professorships, Strom has dedicated $4 million ($1 million a year through 2026) to encourage participation in securing legacy professorships through a matching campaign. The program allows each gift of $250,000 from RBHS faculty members to be matched while funds are available. “Endowing professorships allows us to attract and retain the finest research and clinical leaders who will advance our health care and research initiatives,” Strom says.
If you are interested in learning more about RBHS legacy professorships, contact Will Green, vice president of development, at william.green@ruf.rutgers.edu.
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