St. Luke’s University Health Network is pleased to announce that Tony and Adrienne DaRe have established the DaRe Family Chair for Medical Education, the Network’s first endowed chair specifically for medical education.
The chair will support the Temple/St. Luke’s School of Medicine, helping to create opportunities for future physicians and develop the health care workforce that will serve local families and communities for generations to come.
Income generated by the fund supporting the endowed chair will advance the medical school’s academic priorities, including student financial aid, faculty development and educational innovation.
“Adrienne and I have always believed that education is one of the most meaningful investments we can make in people and in the future of our communities,” said Tony DaRe, who leads BSI Corporate Benefits in Bethlehem. “That starts long before medical school. It means creating opportunities for students at every level, removing barriers where we can, and making sure talent and potential are not limited by circumstance. This endowed chair is another way we can invest in people who will ultimately come back and serve our communities for generations.”
“Education can change the trajectory of a person, a family, and ultimately an entire community,” added Adrienne DaRe. “We have been fortunate to support students and educational institutions in many of the communities we care deeply about, and this is a continuation of that commitment. For students who dream of becoming physicians, financial barriers should not determine whether that dream is possible. We hope this investment helps create opportunity, strengthens medical education, and allows more exceptional students to pursue a calling to care for others.”
For Tony and Adrienne, the endowment is the latest expression of their longstanding belief in investing in people. Their support extends to nearly 30 colleges, universities, public schools and early-education organizations, reflecting a commitment to education at every stage of life.
“The DaRe family’s generosity represents a significant investment in the future of medical education in the Lehigh Valley,” said Robert Wax, St. Luke’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “By establishing this endowed chair, they are creating a lasting legacy that will expand opportunities for students, strengthen our academic programs, and help ensure that exceptional physician talent continues to be trained here in our region.”
Shaden Eldakar-Hein, MD, has been appointed the inaugural DaRe Family Chair for Medical Education. She became Chief Academic Officer on December 1, 2025, and she continues to serve as Senior Associate Dean of the Temple/St. Luke’s School of Medicine, a position she has held since 2020.
Dr. Eldakar-Hein successfully guided the medical school’s expansion into a full four-year campus, increased enrollment by 33%, helped grow its endowment to more than $30 million and strengthened the local physician workforce pipeline. Approximately 30% of graduates remain at St. Luke’s for residency training each year. Under her leadership, the school has achieved top-percentile student satisfaction rankings and continues to place graduates in some of the nation’s most prestigious residency programs.
“I am deeply grateful for the DaRe family support and honored to serve as the inaugural DaRe Family Chair for Medical Education,” said Dr. Eldakar-Hein. “The DaRe’s remarkable commitment will help us promote innovation in medical education so that we can continue building an exceptional environment for educating future physicians.
“The DaRe’s personify the concept of ‘giving back to the community.’ Their example is a gift and inspiration to our medical students, who will pay it forward, putting their skills into practice by providing a range of volunteer support services throughout our community.”
