The college’s interdisciplinary science center project received a tremendous boost in December when John W. Rowe ’66, HON ’02, MD, committed $2 million to A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius College. Rowe is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Aetna Inc. and also the co-author of a leading book on aging in America, entitled Successful Aging.
“Jack’s generous gift puts our Legacy of Leadership campaign even closer to its goal,” says Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J. “We are honored that Jack, who is recognized internationally for his distinguished careers in science, medicine and business, has endorsed this project.”
Science Hall will bring together, in one location, the college’s biology, chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics, environmental science, physics, psychology, computer science and mathematics programs. It will also provide space for new interdisciplinary curricular initiatives.
Rowe was chairman and CEO of Aetna Inc. from 2000-2006, and is widely credited with leading the health insurance company through a remarkable turnaround, which made the company a national leader in healthcare benefits and management.
Prior to Aetna, Rowe was president and CEO of Mount Sinai NYU Health, a position he assumed after he conceived and executed the merger of Mount Sinai and NYU Medical Center. Under his leadership, the Mount Sinai NYU Health System grew to become the largest integrated healthcare system in the region.
Rowe is currently a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, where he works on local and national issues that address the challenges and opportunities associated with the aging of the baby boom generation. He has received funding from the MacArthur Foundation to lead an international group of scholars, demographers and economists who are planning for a National Research Network on an Aging Society.
Rowe earned a BA in biology from Canisius and an MD from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. He is a member of the college’s DiGamma Honor Society and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1989. Rowe is a past speaker for the Dr. George E. Schreiner ’43 Pre-Medical Center Lecture Series and he addressed the Class of 2002 during undergraduate commencement exercises, at which he also received an honorary degree.
Rowe and his wife, Valerie, reside in New York City and have three children.