Baltimore Lends Support to Nation’s #1 Respiratory Hospital at Bella Sera Event on June 23

Baltimore community leaders Alyson and John Friedman and Pat and Robert Parker hosted Bella Sera, a cocktail party on June 23 at The Suburban Club in Baltimore, to raise awareness and funds for the nation’s #1 respiratory hospital, National Jewish Health. Fran and Jon Matz, MD, were associate hosts for the event; Dr. Matz completed his allergy and clinical immunology fellowship at National Jewish Health.

The 65 guests at the intimate event had the opportunity to learn about National Jewish Health from world-renowned researcher and Baltimore native John Kappler, PhD. Dr. Kappler, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, spoke about his basic immunology research at National Jewish Health, for which he has received national and international recognition. The event raised $25,000 for the institution.

Bella Sera committee members included Mary Malas Aiello, Tom DeLiberto, Charles Franklin, Lois and Dick Hug, Karen and David Hutcheon, Azam Khan, and Annette and Matt Mardiney, MD, who was also a former fellow at National Jewish Health. Among the guests were Mary Jean, R.J. and Ollie Travers; Joan and Dr. Bob Ottenritter; Lynn and Bert Basignani; Joan Soloman; Barbara Lichtenberg and Sara and Mark Davison.

National Jewish Health is known worldwide for treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders, and for groundbreaking medical research. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health remains the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to these disorders. Since 1998, U.S. News & World Report has ranked National Jewish Health the #1 respiratory hospital in the nation.

Patients from around the world travel to National Jewish Health to receive medical care. Over the last three years, approximately 30 percent of the hospital’s patients came from outside Colorado, including more than 200 from Maryland. LungLine^®, a free information service staffed by National Jewish Health registered nurses, has fielded 1.3 million calls, including more than 15,000 from Maryland residents, since it began in 1983.

For more information about National Jewish Health, visit njhealth.org.