Susan Holt has been named to the newly created position of chief development officer at Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC). She is responsible for creating a new Office of Institutional Advancement to better meet Weill Cornell's development priorities as it enters the third phase of its strategic plan and beyond. Holt reports to Dr. Antonio M. Gotto Jr., dean of the Medical College and provost of medical affairs for Cornell, and to Larry Schafer, vice provost for development at WCMC.

Holt has nearly 25 years of fund-raising experience, the majority of that time spent in major academic medical centers. At Vanderbilt University Medical Center, she developed the philanthropic underpinning for the institution's comprehensive cancer center, managed the center's $625 million campaign in the university's $1.25 billion campaign and led principal giving. More recently, she served as associate dean for development and alumni relations at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

"Development is a critical and valued function at Weill Cornell," said Gotto. "The current and previous campaign drives have demonstrated how successful fund raising energizes our alumni and friends and supports our tripartite mission of research, education and patient care."

"I am excited by the expertise and creativity that Susan brings to our development program," said Sanford I. Weill, chairman of Weill Cornell's Board of Overseers. "Her track record in leveraging private support for complex basic and translational biomedical research programs will be an important asset to the success of this campaign and to Weill Cornell's future."