Top Philanthropic Donors: Roy and Diana Vagelos

Pindaros Roy Vagelos, was born 1929 in Westfield, New Jersey, was president and chief executive officer and chairman of the multinational pharmaceutical company Merck. He attracted research scientists who developed many major new drugs. In addition to his business accomplishments, Vagelos is the author of more than 100 scientific papers.

Dr. Vagelos, 81, and his wife, Diana, 76, gave $50-million to Columbia University Medical Center, in New York, for a new building. He earned his medical degree from Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1954. Dr. Vagelos serves as chairman of Columbia University Medical Center’s Board of Visitors.

Mrs. Vagelos serves on Barnard College’s Board of Trustees, in New York, and on the board of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, in Newark.

The couple said the techniques taught in graduate and medical schools have changed greatly over the past decade, and they hope their gift helps provide students with the most advanced technology available.

Dr. and Mrs. Vagelos, who met while he was a medical student at the university and she was a student at Barnard (which was then part of Columbia’s system), also said they hope the new building provides “some social space for students to interact, study, and just enjoy their experience.”

In 1995 Dr. Vagelos was the recipient of the NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society, and inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame. He received the Bower Award for Business Leadership in 1999.

In 2010, Vagelos, who received his M.D. at Columbia University, and his wife Diana, an alumna of Barnard College, an affiliate of Columbia University, donated 50 million dollars to the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, towards the construction of a new building, which will be named in their honor.

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