Zeller to Head Fund Raising for Johns Hopkins Medicine

His appointment was announced by Robert R. Lindgren, vice president for development and alumni affairs for The Johns Hopkins Institutions. Zeller will assume the post on March 6.

"John Zeller played a pivotal role in the early success of the University of Rochester Medical Center campaign, and I am delighted to have a person of his experience and ability shepherding our medical institutions campaign," Lindgren said.

Zeller currently serves as associate vice president for medical center development at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is responsible for achieving the medical center's $103 million portion of Rochester's $376 million Campaign for the '90s, scheduled for completion in 1996. Under his leadership, the center achieved its initial goal 2 1/2 years early and has already raised $132 million for the School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Strong Memorial Hospital and the Strong Children's Medical Center.

At Johns Hopkins, Zeller will oversee the effort to reach the $455 million goal for Johns Hopkins Medicine within the five-year, $900 million Johns Hopkins Initiative launched in October. The institutions are seeking to raise $355 million for the university's School of Medicine and $100 million for The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. Priorities include endowment funds for the School of Medicine and construction of new facilities for cancer treatment and research.

"Half of the $900 million Johns Hopkins Initiative fund-raising drive is for endowment and capital expenses essential to the future of Johns Hopkins Medicine," said James A. Block, M.D., president and chief executive officer of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. "Cost-cutting in Washington, coupled with the harsh realities of the managed-care marketplace, means that now, more than ever, the director of the Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine is critical to the success of our missions."

"We are convinced that John Zeller is the right person at the right time," said Michael E. Johns, M.D., the university's vice president for medicine and dean of the medical faculty. "He has the creativity to try innovative approaches, the analytical skills necessary to map out a campaign, and the energy to drive it forward. Equally important, he has the personality to work with faculty and administration at Hopkins, as well as with our donors all over the world. The campaign will play a critical role in allowing us to maintain and strengthen our bioscience and educational missions, and John's role is critical to our success."

A New York native, Zeller graduated from Elmira College in Elmira, N.Y., in 1973. He began his career while earning his master's degree there, and in 1979 was named Elmira's director of admissions. He joined Guthrie Medical Center in Sayre, Pa., as director of development in 1983, and in 1987 became vice president for college relations and resource development at Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y.

He assumed his current position at the University of Rochester Medical Center in 1991.

"I am delighted at the prospect of joining a world-class institution such as Johns Hopkins," Zeller said. "The fund-raising challenge before us is significant, but we have a dynamic group of individuals working on our behalf. With support from these committed volunteers, trustees and professional staff, I am confident that the goals can be met. My family and I are looking forward to our move to Baltimore with great anticipation."

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions' news releases can be accessed on-line through CompuServe. Look in the SciNews-MedNews library of Jforum under file extension "JHM."

Go to Headlines@HopkinsHome Page