In 1954, George Battit was finishing up his Boston University Medical School degree and recovering from tuberculosis.
He worried his illness would derail the anesthesia residency he’d been offered at Massachusetts General Hospital. Fortunately, legendary anesthetist-in-chief, Henry Knowles Beecher, MD, allowed him to enter the program on a part-time basis while he recuperated.
Giving Back Through Service
Dr. Beecher’s support and mentorship defines Mass General’s culture, which is what separates us from other great academic medical centers, Dr. Battit says.
For 61 years, Dr. Battit served Mass General from within the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Management. His pride is evident when he mentions the hospital and the people who make it exceptional.
Investing in the Future
In 2013, George and his wife, Judy, established the George E. Battit, MD Prize in Clinical Anesthesia Endowed Fund. Every year, the prize provides funds to a young anesthesiologist to pursue a special project without restrictions.
Mass General welcomes everyone, it’s magnanimous and generous in nature.
The Battits also make annual gifts to other Mass General programs including the MGH Fund, which helps the hospital respond to new opportunities and urgent needs. And most Wednesdays, Judy has volunteered at the Mass General Gift Shop operated by the Ladies Visiting Committee, where she has been a member for more than 40 years.
Investing in the future is another goal. The Battits have included Mass General in their estate plans through a charitable bequest that will benefit the MGH Fund. It’s another way they are giving back.
In Their Own Words
- Why do you and Judy donate to Mass General? Because we know that the hospital offers important programs that don’t generate revenue. Yet these programs are essential to the greatness of Mass General. Giving back is one way that we can preserve those programs.
- Why did you and Judy decide to arrange a future gift to Mass General in your will? Simply put, it’s our last chance to say ‘thank you’ to Mass General.
- What do you hope will be the impact of your contributions to Mass General? Our contributions, for instance, to the MGH Fund are intended for the general funding of the hospital. Without concern for payment, Mass General helps all neighbors in need both here and around the world. And we try to support that in any way possible.
- How do you describe Mass General to others? Anybody who has trained at Mass General, even for a three-month rotation from another residency, always recalls having ‘been at Mass General.’ So being associated with Mass General is a source of pride and loyalty. And despite the enormity of the institution, it continues to have a community orientation. Mass General welcomes everyone, it’s magnanimous and generous in nature.
Would you like to say thank you with a future gift? Call the Office of Planned Giving at (617) 643-2220 or email us at mghdevpg@partners.org and discover all your giving options.
