Jefferson Receives $1 Million from Businessman and Philanthropist Jamie Maguire and the Maguire Foundation to Endow Professorship in Spine Research

Jamie Maguire, chairman of Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY), and the Maguire Foundation, have generously funded a new orthopaedics professorship at Thomas Jefferson University.

The gift of $1 million will be matched dollar for dollar by the Sidney Kimmel Foundation Matching Program at Jefferson to establish the James J. Maguire, Jr. Endowed Professorship for Spine Research.

“We are incredibly grateful for this gift and for Jamie’s personal advocacy efforts related to health and wellness,” said Alexander R. Vaccaro, M.D., Ph.D, MBA, the Richard H. Rothman Professor and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at Sidney Kimmel Medical CollegeThomas Jefferson University and President of the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. “The Maguire family’s support will help us fulfill our mission to advance orthopaedic science and technology to benefit patients of all ages—in this case, specifically those with debilitating spinal conditions and injuries.”

Maguire’s passion for advancing orthopaedic research and clinical care stems from his personal experience recovering from a cycling accident. A longtime Ironman competitor, he was training for a race in 2014 when he crashed into a fallen tree and became paralyzed from the neck down. With four broken vertebrae in his neck, Maguire underwent emergency surgery with a team from the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Jefferson. Three days later, he had regained movement and was recovering at home. Today, he has full range of motion in his neck is back to participating in endurance sport events, including Ironman.  

“Giving back is a mantra that I’ve lived by all my life,” said Maguire. “Jefferson gave me a second chance at living and enjoying my life, and I wanted to do something to help them do the same for other patients in need.”

“The Spine program at Jefferson, under the leadership of Dr. Alex Vaccaro and the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, is internationally recognized for its excellence. But that pales in comparison to the level of impact that the clinical care and research can have on an individual’s life,” said Stephen K. Klasko, M.D., MBA, president and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. “Jamie Maguire and the Maguire Foundation’s generous investment will recognize the achievements of an exceptional faculty member while providing sustained resources for breakthrough treatments, diagnoses and new cures for years to come.”

In addition to his philanthropic support, Maguire serves as a Rothman Ambassador, sharing his story to help spread awareness about the research, care and compassion provided by the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Jefferson. Watch his story in the video below:

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