Dr. Joel Ressner has been giving to Chester County Hospital for over 20 years, epitomizing what it means to be a loyal donor and the impact of annual giving. Dr. Ressner's background as a chemistry professor and a long-term insulin-dependent diabetic gives him a unique perspective when it comes to staying up to date on current healthcare advances, informing his approach to philanthropy and guiding decisions to give back to the causes that are most meaningful to him.
Born in Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Ressner first became interested in science from a TV show he started watching at the age of six and received his first chemistry set at age 10. After earning a BS in Chemistry, MSc in Organometallic Chemistry, and Ph.D. in Chemistry, Dr. Ressner worked in research, but found his true calling was teaching. He spent most of his career teaching freshman chemistry and organic chemistry at West Chester University. He retired in 2016 after 37 years with the University.
Dr. Ressner speaks fondly about teaching and his many students over the years. He feels good about his impact on his students and influencing their future careers in the chemistry and medical fields. From a young age, his father taught him the importance of "paying it forward", which inspired Dr. Ressner to establish two endowed scholarships in chemistry at West Chester University.
Dr. Ressner's experience at Chester County Hospital and decision to give back is personal. "Chester County Hospital saved my life when I came to the hospital with sepsis. I give because I am grateful for the great care I received during that long hospital stay, as well as several other encounters including my bypass surgery."
Noting how kind everyone at Chester County Hospital is, he recalled a time when he had trouble walking to the front of the hospital from the parking lot. An OR nurse stopped to ask if he was okay and called for a car to come pick him up. He was surprised that someone would stop to help and was grateful for her concern.
When asked, why is it important to keep giving year after year? Dr. Ressner said, "It is important to give what I can each year because I want my donations to be used right away for the hospital's immediate needs and toward the most up to date diabetes treatments. I want to help others living with type 1 diabetes so they can benefit from the continuous improvements in diabetes treatment and care."
With his passion for education, Dr. Ressner also helps support the hospital's Diabetes Education Program. "I do not want others to face the same struggles and complications that I have had with diabetes. I am grateful to be alive and thankful for the improvements in diabetes technology and I want to support continuous advancements."
We are grateful to Dr. Ressner for his generous and longtime annual support and for understanding the importance of how annual gifts make a difference. Loyal donors like Dr. Ressner are the heart of philanthropy at Chester County Hospital.