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Kesslers invest $1 million in future of healthcare


“Through our philanthropy, Howard and I want to invest in leaders who’ve been helping forge a path through this crisis and into the future.”
MICHELE KESSLER


“I want to thank everyone at the Brigham for all they’ve done during the pandemic,” says longtime hospital supporter Michele Kessler. “This has been new territory for us all. Through our philanthropy, Howard and I want to invest in leaders who’ve been helping forge a path through this crisis and into the future.”

Over the years, the Kesslers have proudly supported Ariadne Labs, a joint center of the Brigham and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Internal Medicine Residency at the Brigham. This past year, the couple stepped forward with a new gift of $1 million to fuel innovation in healthcare and medical training.

The Kesslers were drawn to Ariadne Labs by its founder, Atul Gawande, MD, who conceived the center in 2012 to develop far-reaching and straightforward health delivery solutions to improve care. They are pleased to continue investing in the center, now led by executive director Asaf Bitton, MD, MPH.

“Ariadne Labs is unique in the healthcare space,” Howard says. “They make it sound easy, but Asaf Bitton and his team are finding ways to simplify complicated healthcare systems to benefit patients and families around the world.”

“The Kesslers are amazing partners in our mission,” Bitton notes. “Thanks to generous support like theirs, we’re addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing to develop solutions in areas including surgery, childbirth, and improving care for people over 65.”

With their gift, the Kesslers are also supporting the work of Maria Yialamas, MD, associate director of the Brigham’s Internal Medicine Residency. “Maria is an extraordinary role model for residents,” Michele says. “Under her guidance, they will gain moral leadership and take it with them.”

Yialamas has been a steady force as residents trained and cared for patients during the pandemic of the past year. She is passionate about mentoring trainees, supporting their research projects, and strengthening leadership programs, especially for women trainees and trainees underrepresented in medicine.

“Our residents have pushed forward critical efforts, and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” says Yialamas. “I’m grateful to Michele and Howard for advancing their training and the future of healthcare.”