© 2024 Cornell University, All Rights Reserved
Our friend, Dr. Lorna Breen
During the pandemic, the Executive MBA and Masters in Healthcare Leadership (EMBA/MS) Class of 2021 Cohort endured the tragic passing of our friend and classmate, Dr. Lorna Breen. A talented and radiant Emergency Medicine physician, Dr. Breen took her own life amidst dealing with the emotionally taxing duty of attempting to save patients in her New York City Emergency Department and enduring a COVID-19 diagnosis herself.
To honor Lorna, we created the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Legacy Fund to memorialize her life’s work and to make an impact on the complex issue of mental health.
Why Focus on Mental Health? 
Even before COVID-19, the prevalence of mental illness among adults was increasing. In 2018, 19% of adults experienced a mental illness, an increase of 1.5 million people over the prior year. Suicidal ideation among adults is increasing. The time is now to shift a focus to this growing problem, for both healthcare workers and the public.
How Your Gift Helps
Each year, the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Legacy Fund awards a monetary grant to a graduating student in the EMBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership program who exemplifies exceptional contributions to their class through camaraderie, collaboration, a caring spirit, and leadership. The awardee is granted an opportunity to collaborate with administration and staff to design initiatives within the EMBA/MS program that will expand mental health support for healthcare workers, students, and the community. Recently, the Legacy Fund has partnered with one of the most vocal advocates for prioritizing healthcare providers’ mental health, the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation. Together, the upcoming fellow can engage in invaluable work with the Foundation to investigate and implement various projects that buttress resources and infrastructure for supporting providers.
The Legacy Fund In Action
The Future
In honor of Lorna and the fund established in her memory in 2021, we aim to make a meaningful impact on the complex challenges surrounding mental health. Your support ensures that the Legacy Fund continues to champion EMBA/MS students who will dedicate their time to advancing awareness and innovation in mental health for years to come.
Your gift provides us with some essential support to maintain funding to support this year’s fellow.
Your gift provides us with essential support to maintain funding to ensure next year’s fellow
Your generous gift helps us meaningfully support a fellow past the Legacy Fund’s anticipated fifth Fellow.
These sizable gifts ensure our ability to keep the spirit of Lorna alive and well in future EMBA/MS cohort for another few years.
With your generous contribution, you are significantly empowering a future fellow to continue the work of destigmatizing, educating, and community-building.