WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center officials today said that BB&T Corporation has pledged $250,000 to the center’s new Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma.
The groundbreaking institute will focus on research, education, training, public policy, prevention and treatment of pediatric trauma. The new partnership between NASCAR owner and entrepreneur Richard Childress and Wake Forest Baptist was announced in late July.
“We applaud Richard and Judy Childress for establishing a nationally recognized institute to champion the critical issue of pediatric trauma,” said BB&T Chief Marketing Officer Steve Wiggs. “Given the fact that traumatic injury kills more of our children than all other causes combined, we certainly want to support this partnership between the Childress family and Wake Forest Baptist in any way we can.”
The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma is expected to become the most comprehensive center in the country as it advances the discovery of new technologies and treatments and shares them with health care providers nationwide.
“The BB&T leadership continues to demonstrate extraordinary commitment to this community’s progress and quality of life,” said William B. Applegate, interim president of Wake Forest University Health Sciences and dean of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “This gift will be significant to our research and clinical services and will help leverage our success nationally as the Childress Institute emerges as a leading model for addressing pediatric trauma.”
“I want to thank BB&T personally and professionally for its contribution to the Childress Institute,” said Childress. “BB&T has been a wonderful partner of Richard Childress Racing for a number of years and their participation in this national effort shows their dedication and commitment to saving children’s lives.”
With $136.5 billion in assets, Winston-Salem, N.C.-based BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) is the nation’s 14th largest financial holding company. It operates nearly 1,500 financial centers in 11 states and Washington, D.C. More information about the company is available at www.BBT.com.
For more information on the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, call 336-716-4811 or 1-866-635-8190; or visit www.childresspediatrictrauma.org.
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Media Contacts: Jonnie Rohrer, 336-716-6972; jrohrer@wfubmc.edu; Bonnie Davis, (336) 716-4977, bdavis@wfubmc.edu; or Jeff Nichols, BB&T Corporate Communications, (336) 733-1472, JJNichols@BBandT.com .
About Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Brenner Children’s Hospital and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the university’s School of Medicine and Piedmont Triad Research Park. The system comprises 1,154 acute care, rehabilitation and long-term care beds and has been ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report since 1993. Wake Forest Baptist is ranked 32nd in the nation by America’s Top Doctors for the number of its doctors considered best by their peers. The institution ranks in the top third in funding by the National Institutes of Health and 4th in the Southeastern United States in revenues from its licensed intellectual property.
Media Relations
Mark Wright: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587