Dr. Serafina “Penny” Petrone Health Information Resource Centre Announced

On April 26, during Premier Dalton McGuinty's visit to Lakehead University and the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), a major individual donation was announced. Dr. Serafina (Penny) Petrone donated over $1 million to the NOSM Bursary Fund. To honour Penny and her generous contribution, the NOSM Health Information Resource Centre will be named the Dr. Serafina "Penny" Petrone Health Information Resource Centre.

"NOSM is successful in large part because of the numerous supporters who have contributed expertise, time, energy, and resources to the School, and Penny's gift is a wonderful example of this," says Dr. Fred Gilbert, President, Lakehead University. "This is the largest single donation to NOSM by any one person to date."

Dr. Petrone had already donated a large portion of her research work to Lakehead University's Chancellor Paterson Library.

"We are extremely grateful for Penny's donation, and feel it's fitting to name our Health Information Resource Centre in her honour," says NOSM Founding Dean Dr. Roger Strasser. "Dr. Petrone was an inspiring individual, dedicated to her community and passionate about both education and health."

Celina Reitberger and Brittany Shanks, members of Dr. Petrone's family, were in attendance for this announcement. An official launch and reception will be taking place in the near future to celebrate the naming of the Centre.