Scott Schoen (left) and Nancy Adams have awarded a $10 million gift to Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. Here they are in the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston Therapy Gym.

Scott Schoen (left) and Nancy Adams have awarded a $10 million gift to Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. Here they are in the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston Therapy Gym.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Institute celebrates the receipt of a $10 million gift from Scott A. Schoen and Nancy W. Adams, which it will use to establish a new research institute.

A portion of the gift—reportedly the largest in Spaulding’s 46-year history—will provide seed capital and multi-year funding to establish The Scott Schoen and Nancy Adams Discovery Center for Recovery from Chronic Pain.

The rest of the monetary gift will be awarded to help expand other research initiatives at Spaulding, such as its work with concussion. It will also be used to help recruit and support key leadership across the institute, according to a media release from Spaulding.

“Nancy and I believe deeply in Spaulding’s mission and vision to transform the future of rehabilitation medicine through world-class research and scientific breakthroughs,” says Schoen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Partners Continuing Care, in the release.

“There is a tremendous need to raise and leverage more private resources to advance discovery in the post-acute treatment of children and adults recovering from concussion and traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, burn, musculoskeletal injury, and stroke, and from the associated pain that accompanies these conditions,” he adds.

David E. Storto, president of Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, states in the release that Spaulding is grateful and honored by the duo’s visionary philanthropic support and leadership.

“This gift will have a tremendous positive impact, not only on the lives of our patients, but also on the future of the rehabilitation medicine field. At a time of great scientific potential, this exemplary investment will spur the kind of innovation and collaboration that can revolutionize recovery and truly transform lives,” he continues.

The Scott Schoen and Nancy Adams Discovery Center for Recovery from Chronic Pain will be established under the leadership of Dr Ross Zafonte, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, Research, and Education for Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, and Earle P. and Ida S. Charlton Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Harvard Medical School.

“Scott and Nancy’s important gift will enable Spaulding to generate new knowledge and have a significant impact on those suffering from chronic pain,” Zafonte says. “The investment will catapult our research to the next level of discovery, allowing us to understand and strengthen brain connections to improve responses to pain, as well as reduce chronic opiod use.  Such methods will allow us to identify new treatments to eliminate chronic pain.”

East Coast-based Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, a member of Partners HealthCare, has been named one of the top five rehabilitation hospitals in the United States and is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

[Source: Spaulding Rehabilitation Network]