Lifelong Donors Establish Fischer Faculty Opportunity Fund with $1 Million Gift

Media Contact: Lindsay Groth, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, [email protected]

[Ann Arbor, Michigan] –  Gayle Crick Fischer, (Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, ’74, Master of Management, ’84) and her husband, Thomas P. Fischer, have made a $1 million gift to the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy to establish the Fischer Faculty Opportunity Fund, designated specifically to support clinical faculty and lecturers. 

Proceeds from the endowed fund will support professional development activities such as continuing education, workshops, travel for national and international conferences, speaker training, leadership coaching, or mentorship programs. The Fischers aim to support faculty whose work focuses on improving patient care and outcomes who might not otherwise have access to funding.

“The role of the clinical pharmacist continues to evolve and grow in importance as a critical member of the care team,” said Vicki Ellingrod, Dean of the College and John Gideon Searle Professor of Pharmacy. “We are delighted and grateful that the Fischers want to support the work of our talented clinical faculty, whether it be teaching and mentoring students or developing models for better patient care.”

The Fischers, longtime donors to the College, enjoyed long and successful careers in the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare finance and management. “We know that those on the clinical team may have fewer funding opportunities available; therefore, support for professional development may be harder to come by. We want them to be able to travel, showcase their work, collaborate, and develop their skills so they can continue to advance the standard of patient care,” states Gayle Crick Fischer.  

Gayle Crick Fischer began her career working in a retail pharmacy while attending college and held many roles in sales and marketing during her 28-year career at Eli Lilly and Company. She marketed drugs for infectious diseases, osteoporosis, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, among others. Several achieved blockbuster status with annual sales of $1 billion or more. She went on to serve as Vice President of Marketing for a start-up called Targanta Therapeutics until 2010. She continues to share her expertise in pharmaceutical marketing as a consultant.

Tom Fischer holds bachelor’s and MBA degrees from Indiana University. He spent his entire career in healthcare as a consultant, investment banker and Chief Financial Officer.

This endowed fund is the latest example of the Fischers’ generosity and steadfast support for the College, which has spanned over 50 years. Together, they have established the Dana J. Marra Research Fund in memory of Gayle’s sister to support squamous cell esophageal cancer research. Before meeting Tom, Gayle funded the Gayle C. Crick Scholarship Fund for PharmD students and the William T. and Norma J. Crick Scholarship Fund in honor of her parents. Gayle and Tom have also made a substantial gift to support the new Pharmacy building, opening in 2026.

About the College

The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy has been leading at pharmacy’s edge for 150 years. The first and oldest pharmacy school at a state university, the College — currently ranked #2 in the nation — has and continues to shape education in the field. Its faculty are internationally recognized and are innovators in drug discovery, development and delivery, precision pharmacotherapy, outcomes research and clinical practice. More than 5,000 alumni are enhancing patient care and outcomes at the bench to the bedside, in boardrooms and communities, government agencies, and within healthcare companies.