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Contact: Marilynn Fryer
(517) 796-8466
e-mail: FryerMarilynT@jccmi.edu
Dec. 10, 2007
For immediate release

Rawal family generosity provides $1 million gift for JCC's new Center for Health Professions

Demonstrating their commitment to the community and while emphasizing the importance of education, Dr. and Mrs. Harish Rawal and family today announce the donation of $1 million to Jackson Community College.

The contribution comes as the College prepares to open the renovated Justin Whiting Hall with its new nursing and allied health program instructional areas. JCC President Daniel J. Phelan and the Board of Trustees are happy to name the new area the Rawal Center for Health Professions, in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Rawal and family.

“We are all excited about beginning the fulfillment of our commitment to the community,” said Rawal, a neurosurgeon at Foote Hospital.    

State-of-the-art simulators have been installed that allow an instructor to be in an observation room and program a robot to simulate many medical conditions that would be seen in an emergency room, helping students better understand situations they may face on the job. 

“Dr. and Mrs. Rawal are outstanding citizens in the Jackson community who understand the importance of education and JCC’s efforts to elevate our technologies and curriculum to enhance student learning,” Phelan said. “We want to thank them for their generosity to the College.”

The $1 million gift will be used to assist JCC programs and to establish an endowed scholarship to help students overcome financial barriers today and in perpetuity.

Rawal has practiced medicine in Jackson for nearly 30 years now.  He graduated from B J Medical College in Ahmedabad, India, in 1972. He completed his residency in surgery at Metro 6 Group Hospitals, University of Illinois, Chicago, Ill. from 1974-‘76, and a sub-specialty residency in neurological surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, 1976-‘80.