Tim Walbert knows firsthand how chronic muscle and joint pain can put limits on lives — so much so that he dedicated his life’s work in the biotechnology industry to discovering medicines to revolutionize treatment for autoimmune-related arthritis and other conditions. With that same passion to remove boundaries for others with musculoskeletal ailments, Tim and his wife, Keli, also a longtime biotech executive, have made an $8.25 million endowed gift to Rush.
The donation — the Walberts’ first gift to Rush and the largest ever given to Rush’s Department of Orthopedics — honors three renowned orthopedic surgeons and researchers who have cared for the Walbert family over the past 14 years: Brian Forsythe, MD, Frank Phillips, MD, and Craig Della Valle, MD.
Walbert, the founder and former CEO of Horizon Therapeutics, was not only impressed by Rush’s legacy of innovative orthopedic research but also the surgeons’ extraordinary communication skills and bedside manners.
“How the three of them and their staff interact with people is what separates them from others, along with the great work they do for patients,” Tim said. “We wanted to give back and make a difference for their practices, research associates and trainees, and also advance science in the field of orthopedics.”
A history of recommending Rush
The Walberts’ connection to Rush began in 2011 when Tim was in his 40s and needed care for hip pain caused by an autoimmune disease. He chose Della Valle, who he knew through the Arthritis Foundation, to perform a hip replacement. Years later, Tim returned to Rush for knee surgery performed by Forsythe and a spinal fusion performed by Phillips.
Since Tim’s first surgery at Rush, he has recommended the medical center for bone and joint care to as many as 70 friends and colleagues.
“Every person I’ve sent there has had a great experience,” Tim said.
A transformative gift to advance research
The Walberts’ gift, which creates four new endowed positions and programs at Rush, will advance opportunities for the next generation of orthopedic researchers and fund discoveries to bring pain relief to millions of Americans.
“Tim has been in biotech for a long time, and he understands the critical role research plays in advancing clinical care and improving the outcomes of medical interventions,” said Joshua J. Jacobs, MD, Grainger Director, Rush Arthritis and Orthopaedic Institute. “Not only did he choose to have much of his musculoskeletal care here at Rush, but he also recognized that the faculty in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery are leaders in orthopedic research and that investing in our research through his philanthropy has the potential to further improve the field and provide better treatments for chronic musculoskeletal diseases.”
Philanthropic support like the Walberts’ gift is critical because funding for orthopedic research is less robust than in other areas like cancer and heart disease. While funding from the National Institutes of Health has led to tremendous strides in orthopedic care, only 2% to 3% of its budget is focused on musculoskeletal diseases, which are leading causes of disability, Jacobs explained.
The endowment will address this funding gap by providing ongoing support for the three surgeons’ research teams.
“The Walberts’ gift will help support our clinical and translational research personnel in sports medicine, joint replacement and spine surgery, which have been three of the most active areas of research in our department over the last five decades,” Jacobs said.
Research supported by the endowment will benefit local patients and those who come from around the world to receive orthopedic care at Rush. Because studies at Rush inform and influence orthopedic surgeons both nationally and internationally, the Walberts’ gift will also have a far-reaching impact on patients treated beyond Rush, Jacobs said.
Supporting established and emerging researchers
With support from the endowment, Forsythe will serve as the Tim and Keli Walbert Endowed Chair in Orthopedic Surgery at Rush. The honor recognizes Forsythe’s groundbreaking research to find better treatment options for bone and joint pain, including his pioneering work on a brain-computer interface to speed up recovery after orthopedic surgery.
“The gift will allow us to ask important questions on how we can improve patient outcomes, whether it’s preoperative care, surgical techniques or post-operative modalities that we’re developing,” Forsythe said. “Because the nature of the research is translational, it will have a direct impact on patient outcomes.”
Forsythe will also oversee the Walbert Sports Medicine Endowed Education Fund, which will support three exceptional medical students conducting research each year.
“The Walberts’ generosity will provide a springboard for tomorrow’s leaders in academic orthopedic surgery, which will benefit the future residents they train and the patients they treat,” he said.
A shared commitment
After years of collaborating on the family’s care and discussing the frontiers of medical research, the Walberts and Forsythe have developed a deep, mutual respect. While Tim commended Forsythe for his accessibility and authentic commitment to his patients, Forsythe described the Walberts as gracious and unassuming — “like the neighbors you’d love to have next door” — and praised Tim’s personal motivation to help others live fuller, more active lives.
“As founder and CEO of Horizon Therapeutics, Tim led an incredible effort to advance treatments for rare diseases,” Forsythe said. “It speaks to his nature and altruism that he devoted his career to developing medicines to make people’s lives better.”
For Tim, the gift is evidence of the confidence he has in his orthopedic care team.
“It’s like any business or enterprise — you bet on the character of the people and their past history,” Tim said. “It’s about trusting people based on the success that they’ve had.”
As an aging population creates even greater demand for discoveries to alleviate pain and restore mobility, leaders at Rush are committed to making the most of the Walberts’ visionary support.
“Our faculty is going to work tirelessly to ensure that this gift fulfills the Walberts’ vision,” Jacobs said.
