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 Earlier this year, Merlin W. Kampfer, M.D., retired after 26 years on the Flinn Foundation Board of Directors, the last four as Chairman of the Board. I am honored and privileged to follow in his footsteps as the new chairman.
In Merlin's case, "retire" is a misnomer. Despite his term having reached a
stopping point, I am convinced he will never truly retire. On several occasions,
he has retired from various positions in the medical field, only to quickly
follow with another full-time venture to provide compassionate healthcare to
those in dire need. He will continue in a non-voting, ex-officio role on the Foundation's board.
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An internist of more than 40 years, Dr. Kampfer joined the
Foundation in 1976, when he served as Irene Flinn's
physician. In 1998, he assumed the role of chairman after the
retirement of Donald K. Buffmire, M.D. In that position, Dr.
Kampfer led the board through a comprehensive review of the
Foundation's grantmaking directions, culminating in a strategic plan for the next 10 years.
This included the landmark decision to devote all of the Foundation's healthcare funding
to strengthening Arizona's bioscience infrastructure.
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 Throughout his years of service to the Foundation, Dr. Kampfer demonstrated
a keen interest in the details of Flinn grant programs. He often participated
in site visits - not only to meet project directors, but especially to learn more
about those who benefited from them. Particularly close to his heart were
pregnant and parenting teens.
Dr. Kampfer is a decorated military man, having served in the Navy during World War II, and later as an Air Force military doctor. Since his retirement from St. Luke's Medical Center in 1992 as vice president of medical affairs, he has served as medical director of several hospices. For decades he has devoted his time, resources, and medical expertise to community service efforts, especially to benefit St. Vincent de Paul and Kiwanis.
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During 2001 and 2002, the board continued to define the Foundation's expanded path in the biosciences. Board meetings and special sessions were devoted to studying contemporary developments in the field and their potential for economic development. Substantial discussion focused on the board's authorization of a $15-million grant to the Translational Genomics Research Institute, the largest grant in the Foundation's history. Considerable attention was also devoted to the Foundation's support of a study of Arizona's biosciences sector by Battelle Memorial Institute's Technology Partnership Practice. The results will culminate in a long-term bioscience roadmap for the state and specific recommendations for the Foundation's future activities.
David J. Gullen, M.D.
Chairman of the Board
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