UConn Holds 3rd Annual White Coat Gala

If you needed a doctor Saturday night, you would have probably had good luck at the Connecticut Convention Center.

More than 1,000 people, including doctors who traded white lab coats for black tuxes, packed the ballroom for UConn Health Center’s third annual “White Coat Gala.”

Besides honoring three of its own, Dr. John Rowe, Dr. Peter Deckers and Barbara Kream with the Carole and Ray Neag Medal of Honor, the party also celebrated the 40^th anniversary of the UConn medical and dental schools as well as the center’s continuing efforts to fight cancer.

Which is why Richard and Jane Lublin stepped up for the third year as the title sponsors of the event that was expected to raise more than $1 million.

“We are fighting the war on cancer,” said Richard Lublin. “But we are not winning it,” he continued. “We need to do more.”

For Dr. Deckers, the event was a family affair that included his brother-in-law Bill Whelan.

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” he smiled.

Deckers, former dean at the UConn School of Medicine, said it was the Neags who deserved the recognition, noting their generous philanthropy benefiting the center and the endowment for  the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“They have done more for health care and the center than anyone,” said Deckers. “I am honored to receive the award.”

Among those at the black tie event was a decked-out-to-the-nines UConn president, Susan Herbst.

“I was appointed as president this time last year but couldn’t come,” said the black cocktail-dress clad Herbst. “I made it this year and told our new vice president Frank Torti that even though he doesn’t official start until May 1, he should be here too.”

He was, along with his wife, Suzy.

Other guests included Keith and Cecile Tinker, who joked about  an ulterior motive for attending.

“We have a son who wants to go to medical school at UConn,” explained Keith Tinker. “We figured coming to this wouldn’t hurt.”

For more pictures go to

If you needed a doctor Saturday night, you would have probably had good luck at the Connecticut Convention Center.

More than 1,000 people, including doctors who traded white lab cots for black tuxes, packed the ballroom for UConn Health Center’s third annual “White Coat Gala.”

Besides honoring three of its own, Dr. John Rowe, Dr. Peter Deckers and Barbara Kream with the Carole and Ray Neag Medal of Honor, the party also celebrated the 40^th anniversary of the UConn medical and dental schools as well as the center’s continuing efforts to fight cancer.

Which is why Richard and Jane Lublin stepped up for the third year as the title sponsors of the event that was expected to raise more than $1 million.

“We are fighting the war on cancer,” said Richard Lublin. “But we are not winning it,” he continued. “We need to do more.”

For Dr. Deckers, the event was a family affair that included his brother-in-law Bill Whelan.

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” he smiled.

Deckers, former dean at the UConn School of Medicine, said it was the Neags who deserved the recognition, noting their generous philanthropy benefiting the center and the endowment for  the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“They have done more for health care and the center than anyone,” said Deckers. “I am honored to receive the award.”

Among those at the black tie event was a decked-out-to-the-nines UConn president, Susan Herbst.

“I was appointed as president this time last year but couldn’t come,” said the black cocktail-dress clad Herbst. “I made it this year and told our new vice president Frank Torti that even though he doesn’t official start until May 1, he should be here too.”

He was, along with his wife, Suzy.

Other guests included Keith and Cecile Tinker, who joked about  an ulterior motive for attending.

“We have a son who wants to go to medical school at UConn,” explained Keith Tinker. “We figured coming to this wouldn’t hurt.”

For more pictures go to http://cour.at/J5gfjc