Mobile business leader Elliot Maisel has presented a $5 million gift to the University of South Alabama, to help fund construction of the new Whiddon College of Medicine building.
The gift is the largest from an individual towards this construction project at the university.
His gift toward the $200 million facility will be honored with the naming of a large gathering area as the Maisel Family Forum.
“We are truly grateful for the transformational gift from Elliot Maisel; its impact will be felt not only in our local community but also statewide,” said USA President Jo Bonner. “Medical students at the Whiddon College of Medicine perform at the highest levels, outscoring their contemporaries at many of the most prestigious medical schools in the United States, and this new building will enhance learning opportunities in so many ways.”
The university has indicated that the new facility — which replaces the original medical school building from the 1970s — will be able to educate more physicians and provide space for more research. The university plans to increase its medical school class size from 80 to 100, and eventually to 125.
“As a result of great civic and business leadership, led by Mayor Sandy Stimpson, and including President Jo Bonner, Chamber President Bradley Byrne, the leadership that exists at the Port of Mobile, the leadership that exists at the Mobile Airport Authority, as well as the leadership that exists in many organizations across our city, we are experiencing a wonderful of era of growth and cooperation by and among the citizens and leaders of our city, the golden age of Mobile,” said Maisel. “The University of South Alabama is the most important institution in the city of Mobile and one of the most important institutions in the state of Alabama.”
Maisel, who is chairman and CEO of Gulf Distributing and chairs the Mobile Airport Authority board, was honored by Business Alabama as the 2024 CEO of the Year.
