The Emory University School of Medicine has received a commitment for a $5 million gift for its pediatrics department.

The money from the Marcus Foundation, Inc., will be used to create the Marcus Society in Pediatrics. The society will be the "intellectual home" for 15 Marcus Professors in Pediatrics: six existing Marcus Professors and nine who are newly funded. The society will also host an annual visiting scholar.

The nine new Marcus Professors will specialize in rheumatology, general pediatrics/adolescent medicine, emergency medicine/faculty development, cystic fibrosis, neurology, immunology, cardiology, general academic pediatrics/hospital medicine and hospital epidemiology/infection control. The six existing Marcus Professors specialize in pulmonology, infectious diseases, nephrology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and neonatology.

The foundation and the department of pediatrics have a longstanding philanthropic relationship.

Tags: pediatrics, Emory University, Marcus Foundation