The University of Iowa Foundation has announced a $10 million commitment from Jerre and Mary Joy Stead to advance children's medicine at the university.

The gift includes $8 million to create an endowed faculty chair in pulmonology, nephrology, neurology, and general pediatrics within the Department of Pediatrics in the Carver College of Medicine. The remainder of the funds will be used to support efforts to improve education and patient treatments and increase understanding and awareness of pediatric diseases. In recognition of the gift — which boosts the Steads' total contribution to the department since 2011 to $20 million — the department will be renamed the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics.

The Steads are co-chairs of Iowa First: Our Campaign for Breakthrough Medicine, a $500 million fundraising campaign for UI Health Care that is part of a $1.7 billion comprehensive capital campaign for the university launched in the spring of 2012. With the latest commitment from the Steads, the UI Health Care portion of the campaign has surpassed its goal.

"Mary Joy and Jerre's support through the years has benefited every aspect of the care our UI Children's Hospital staff has provided, and has bolstered the research and teaching being done within our Department of Pediatrics," says Jean Robillard, the university's vice president for medical affairs. "This newest commitment to UI Health Care will allow our children's medicine program to continue to provide the level of excellence that Iowans, and those beyond our borders, have come to expect."