At Macquarie we have invested significantly in building relationships with valued partners that share our vision to provide an integrated approach to holistic patient treatment, discovery and continuous learning. The University’s MQ Health initiative is the first of its kind in Australia, and built around clinical programs committed to all three aspects of Heal, Learn, Discover.

A recent gift to the University shows that sometimes we don’t have to look very far for support of this vision.

A group of seven doctors in our own Macquarie Neurosurgery team recently donated $133,000 to the University to enable new research and global collaboration in the study and treatment of the human brain.

Professor Marcus Stoodley, Program Head for Neurosciences, says the donation illustrates how passionate Macquarie Neurosurgery is about improving health outcomes.

“There is a real commitment among our surgeons to develop and promote improvements in clinical care,” he says.

Professor Patrick McNeil, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, notes that the donation – which has already funded the hire of a postdoctoral clinical research fellow – will help the University build on our achievements in neurosurgery research.

“It will allow us to accelerate our progress in this area and affirm our reputation for excellence in neurosurgery both clinically and academically,” he says.

The surgeons’ donation – though notably significant – is not the only example of Macquarie staff personally supporting the University’s activities, notes Paul Dennett, Executive Director in the Office of Advancement.

“Each year we see Macquarie staff generously supporting initiatives such as student scholarships through our workplace giving scheme, as well as initiating their own informal fundraising activities to support our research in areas like motor neurone disease,” he says.

 “It’s wonderful that so many Macquarie staff feel so passionately about making a positive difference.”