A $250,000 gift from alumnus Richard G. Orlando, M.D., F.A.C.S., ’76, and his wife,
Cynthia, will establish the Orlando Biomedical Ethics and Catholic Social Teaching Endowment.
The Orlandos established this endowment to provide funding for educational experiences that will enrich current and
future Gannon students’ understanding for ethical considerations related to the care for human life. It will also equip
them with the tools to navigate complicated issues that they will encounter in their professional careers.
“My hope is that Gannon students, as well as faculty, will be ethical leaders in all walks of life. That they will stand up
for those who are forgotten and will serve everyone in their life equally and with the same passion of giving that is
part of our Mission statement,” said Richard Orlando.
The endowment will support learning and awareness across disciplines and vocations that promotes ethical care and
respect for the dignity of the human person, including focus on their needs, wants and overall well-being that extends
beyond the symptom that is being treated. It will also support program development and immersion of concepts of
ethics, Catholic social teaching, and behaviors across the Gannon curriculum.
“Catholic social teaching calls us to a renewed solidarity with all of our sisters and brothers, especially between
caregivers and those needing care,” said Fr. Michael Kesicki, associate vice president of University Mission and
Ministry.
“Our educational mission is called to instill in our students a commitment to authentic human development that
situates the art and science of healing in the context of the Gospel commitment to love of God and love of neighbor.
This gift provides for a multi-faceted learning experience, especially for our students in the health professions, that
leads to wisdom in the practice of compassionate and highly competent care for others.”
Because it is focused on the preservation of the human condition in medical treatment, this endowment will be
facilitated through Gannon’s School of Public Health and Health Sciences and the Morosky College of Health
Professions and Sciences. It will create connections for cross-disciplinary research and studies in various areas such
as biomedical engineering, ethics, religious studies, political science and more.
The endowment will also establish an annual lecture series beginning in Fall 2021 in Erie and Winter 2022 in Ruskin.
The intent of the lecture series will be to provide Gannon students and faculty, the public and healthcare leaders with
opportunities for continuing their education.
“Gannon’s liberal core education introduces students to ethics in representative coursework. This endowment will
further develop these concepts in an applied way through a speaker series, research opportunities, and additional
curriculum development not only in the biomedical field, but across all disciplines,” said Steve Mauro, Ph.D., vice
president of Academic Administration.
Sarah Ewing, Ph.D., dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences, echoed Mauro’s comments.
“In many ways, this endowment combines together the liberal arts and professional specialization portions of our
curriculum. It creates the opportunity to discuss imperative lessons that enhance our curriculum for our students as
they are transformed into practitioners and develop the responsibility to seek social justice through health care and
provide compassionate care to all,” said Ewing.
By creating this endowment, the University builds on opportunities for growth in the areas of biomedical research,
biomedical ethics endowed professorships, or a Center based on the principles of biomedical ethics and Catholic
social teaching.
“Gannon is perfectly situated to put out papers, comments, press releases, do research and provide a public voice for
all people…” said Orlando. “I want Gannon to be that voice of reason in a world of chaos, one that is inclusive and not
divisive. One that is powerful, respected, challenges us to think and puts the welfare of all of us first in their thinking.”
Orlando went on to explain his purpose behind presenting the University with this endowment.
“Gannon faculty shaped me in so many ways to help me become the type of physician I was meant to be,” he said. “I
learned on that Erie campus many years ago that it was a great responsibility to care for another human being and
always remembered to respect that person that came to me sometimes in the lowest point in their life.
“I want to ensure that our health care students, as well as our entire student population, learn those same lessons in
their chosen career.”
About Richard and Cynthia Orlando:
Richard Orlando graduated summa cum laude from Gannon in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He
received his medical degree with honors from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1979. He founded
Columbus Ophthalmology Associates in 1983 and served as president for more than 30 years. Richard retired from
his surgical practice in January 2020 after 40 years as a practicing physician. He currently serves as director of the
COA Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation that he founded in 2000 to provide grants for clinical studies on
surgical devices and techniques.
Richard served as president of the International Academy of Sports Vision from 1993 through 1995 and has been the
consulting ophthalmologist for the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament, where he is also a member of the scoring
committee.
Richard was given the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. He also established the Orlando Family Endowed
“Power” Scholarship Honoring Tony and Rose Orlando, which is awarded annually to undergraduate students from
Ohio who are working on their degree in the health sciences. A member of the Universitas Society at Gannon, he
was appointed to the University’s Board of Trustees in 2012 and currently serves as a member of the Academic
Affairs Committee.
Cynthia (Hutta) Orlando graduated with her nursing degree from Youngstown State University in 1976 and began her
career at Northside Hospital in Youngstown where she worked on the post-surgical unit. She then moved to Columbus and worked at Ohio State University Hospitals on the Endocrinology Unit before transferring to hemodialysis where she became director of Home Dialysis. After putting her career on hold to be a stay-at-home mom of her daughters, Kristen and Katie, she returned to work as a post-operative recovery room nurse. Now retired, Cindy volunteers in the New Horizons after school program in Bonita Springs Florida to help grade school children achieve academic success.
About Gannon University:
Gannon University is a Catholic, diocesan university with campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Ruskin, Florida,
offering online and traditional associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs to more than 4,200 academically
talented and diverse students.
Gannon University is dedicated to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Inspired by the Catholic
Intellectual Tradition, the University offers a comprehensive, values-centered learning experience that emphasizes
faith, leadership, inclusiveness and social responsibility.
