Schaeffer Center Receives $25M Gift

The Schaeffer Center is one of the nation's best policy institutions with more than $45 million in external research funding. This includes research grants for the National Institutes of Heath and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Past research from the center has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Politico and National Public Radio.

"Our nation faces grave health and fiscal challenges. I support this Center because its rigorous, independent and interdisciplinary research provides the foundation for designing effective policies," said Schaeffer. 

The USC Schaeffer Center has become a premiere policy institution over the last three years, having prompted more than $45 million in external research funding and grants. 

"We look forward to this exciting new chapter in the Center's legacy," said Jack H. Knott, dean of the USC Price School.The Center was established in 2009 by Leonard and Pamela Schaeffer, and is a part of both the USC Price School of Public Policy and USC School of Pharmacy.

"The Center is an integral part of the work at the USC School of Pharmacy with research to identify the best practices for medication therapy that efficiently produces optimal health outcomes," said R. Pete Vanderween, dean of the USC School of Pharmacy.

Schaeffer is the founding Chairman and CEO of WellPoint, the nation's largest health insurance company by membership.

The Schaeffer Center was established in 2009 and is jointly housed with the USC Price School of Public Policy and the USC School of Pharmacy. The center was a gift from Schaeffer, who is a Judge Robert Maclay Widney chair, and his wife, Pamela. It is led by health economist Dana Goldman and other distinguished faculty including economic Nobel laureate Daniel McFadden. 

"Leonard Schaeffer has demonstrated a life-long commitment to relevant, evidence-based health policy research," Goldman said. "With this additional gift, he ensures that our mission of providing independent, innovative solutions to today's health policy challenges will endure beyond the current era of health care reform."

This generous gift from Schaeffer represents support for the Campaign for the University of Southern California. This is a multi-year effort to secure $6 billion or more in private philanthropy to help further USC's academic priorities. The donations will also help increase the university's impact on the community and the world.