Upstate Medical creates Eastwood endowment to support bioethics education

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Upstate Foundation and Upstate Medical University have established the Dr. Gregory L. and Lynn M. Eastwood endowment for ethics.

The endowment will support bioethics education at Upstate Medical, such as a lectureship, special training, or visits by expert guest speakers, the medical school said in a news release. The release did not disclose the initial amount of the endowment.

“Along with the entire Upstate community, the Upstate Foundation is deeply grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Eastwood for their commitment and devotion to the Upstate mission,” Eileen Pezzi, Upstate’s VP for development, said. “As a member of the Foundation board of directors, Dr. Eastwood has been a trusted leader, valuable adviser and dedicated supporter. The Foundation is delighted he will remain in this role. He also continues on the faculty of Upstate’s Center for Bioethics and Humanities.”

Eastwood was Upstate’s fifth president, having served from 1993 to 2006, making him the university’s longest-serving chief executive, the school said.

He currently serves as a University Professor, one of the “highest honors” SUNY can bestow, according to Upstate Medical.

Eastwood and his wife, Lynn, have been “actively” involved in area causes and initiatives outside of the region’s health-care sector.

As president of Upstate Medical University, Eastwood secured resources to renovate and improve the university’s “declining” facilities and infrastructure and to expand with new construction.

During his tenure, Upstate Medical more than doubled its operating budget from $325 million to $725 million and employment had increased from 4,700 to 6,300, making Upstate the largest employer in the area.

More recently, Eastwood also served as the school’s interim president when the State University of New York appointed him to the role after the November 2013 resignation of former president Dr. David Smith.

Eastwood had been serving as officer-in-charge after SUNY placed Smith on leave Nov. 5, 2013 amid “an ongoing review of compensation issues,” according to a letter that SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher wrote to Smith.

Eastwood continued to serve in the interim role until SUNY appointed Upstate’s new president, Dr. Danielle Laraque-Arena, who began her duties in January of this year.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com