May 6, 2005

Adding to a legacy: Renamed research building honors Thiers

The long and storied bond between the MGH and Samuel O. Thier, MD — former president of the hospital and former president and CEO of Partners HealthCare — entered a memorable new era April 19. Members of the MGH community joined family and friends of Thier and his wife, Paula, under the Bulfinch Tent to commemorate the dedication of a research facility in the couple's honor.

The newly titled Samuel and Paula Thier Research Building — formerly the Wellman Building — is the result of a generous $5 million gift from Jack Connors, chair of the Partners Board of Trustees, and his wife, Eileen. Connors and Thier have been committed colleagues and close friends for years, working side by side to achieve their shared goal — all-around excellence and accomplishment for Partners and for health care providers throughout the region. Above, Sam and Paula Thier with Eileen and Jack Connors

The Thier dedication ceremony was highlighted by remarks and recollections from Edward Lawrence, chair of the MGH Board of Trustees; W. Gerald Austen, MD, honorary trustee of the MGH and the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, and co-chair of the MGH Philanthropy Program; Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH; and James J. Mongan, MD, former president of the MGH and current president and CEO of Partners.

All of the speakers saluted Thier's remarkable medical and administrative achievements, dating back to his days as an intern and resident at the MGH, and emphasized his unwavering devotion to creating an integrated hospital system that would thrive even in the face of formidable challenges. The speakers also credited Paula Thier as the foundation of support for her husband, the center of her family and the source of her own numerous contributions to health care and social justice. Connors and Thier concluded the speaking program, candidly recounting their initial adjustments to one another's different personal and business styles and the evolution of a working relationship into a shared vision for the future.

A portrait of the Thiers was unveiled at the ceremony. It will hang in the lobby of the newly renamed building, a reminder of the inspiring husband and wife who have done so much to transform the hospital and the health care industry.