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School of Dentistry Benefits from
Father-Daughter Bond
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Frank Casella
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Frank Casella's generosity sometimes produced eggs. His daughter Shirley's generosity is creating scholars.
Casella practiced dentistry in San Francisco, his hometown, after graduating from the UCSF School of Dentistry in 1921. Occasionally he would treat patients for free—and later find eggs or chickens on his doorstep as payment.
He passed his giving spirit—and taste for science—on to his daughter. Shirley Casella Freund, who died in 2003, left a substantial bequest to the UCSF School of Dentistry in her late father's honor. Her gift is supporting students in the joint DDS/PhD program, something Freund would have loved.
"My mother enjoyed helping young, up-and-coming scientists," says her older daughter, Leslie Freund. "She found their work very exciting."
Following her graduation from Stanford and teaching elementary school in San Francisco, Freund became a superstar volunteer. She shared her bountiful energy, intelligence, and optimism with numerous organizations. But she felt most passionate about the ARCS Foundation (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists).
"We always thought if she had been born a decade or two later, she might have pursued a career in science," says Leslie.
"Mom was very supportive of me as a science geek," adds her younger daughter, Ellen Freund, PhD, now a marine biologist. "When I was little, she bought me a microscope and helped me with my crazy experiments."
Through her gift, Freund continues to support promising minds: students with DDS degrees pursuing PhDs in dentistry. By aiding these scholars, the Casella Fund is helping meet the huge need for professors in the field, according to John Greenspan, DDS, PhD, dean for research at the UCSF School of Dentistry.
One Casella Fund scholarship recipient is Aditi Bhattacharya. An assistant professor of dentistry in her native India, Bhattacharya came to UCSF to further her training in lab-based research. She specializes in oral cancer—the most common form of cancer in India-and is also interested in HIV/AIDS, a rampant disease in her country.
As a noncitizen, Bhattacharya is ineligible for any state or federal funding. "I could not have come to UCSF without this scholarship," she explains. "The program is fantastic, and I feel very lucky to be part of it."
"We are deeply grateful to Shirley Freund," says Greenspan. "Her generosity is helping enrich the pool of academic dentists, who will train the next generation."
To support the UCSF School of Dentistry, contact Richard McKenzie at 415/476-3645 or rmckenzie@support.ucsf.edu.
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