Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Electronic Communications: Audio and Video
Silver
The Vagelos Effect is a 16-minute film produced by the Office of Development at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) to celebrate the extraordinary philanthropic legacy of Dr. Roy and Mrs. Diana Vagelos and to honor their most recent transformational gift. The primary goal was to craft a single, elegant narrative that conveys the couple’s lifelong commitment to science, global public health, medical education, and biomedical discovery, while also demonstrating how their support has catalyzed research, training, and community impact at VP&S.
What was the most impactful part of your entry?
The most impactful part of our entry is the film's success in synthesizing an expansive career and giving history into a focused story that highlights Roy and Diana Vagelos’ humble roots and serves to inspire generations of students, faculty, and community members alike that anything is possible through education and hard work. Based on constituent feedback, we were elated that the film delivered on that goal and at the same time served to make Roy and Diana and their family extremely happy.
What is one thing you learned from your entry/experience?
The greatest challenge we faced was the assignment itself to help capture this special couple's legacy. It is a tall order to develop a piece that pays tribute to a storied career such as Dr. Vagelos' and to a couple who have done so much for health and humanity. It was further challenging to have to craft a film that was speaking very directly to Dr. and Mrs. Vagelos on the special occasion of his 95th birthday, while at the same time making sure it was resonant to everyone in the audience.
Contact: Lauren Perlmutter
lauren.perlmutter@columbia.edu