School of Medicine and Alumni Association to honor Jim Hiller, Dr. Silas Norman

DETROIT - The Wayne State University School of Medicine will honor Detroit area businessman Jim Hiller and Silas Norman Jr., M.D., assistant dean for Admissions, when the school’s alumni association launches the Ensure the Dream, Secure the Future scholarship campaign Dec. 10.

Hiller, president and CEO of Hiller’s Markets, will receive the school’s Ambassador Award. The award is presented annually to individuals who epitomize the spirit of Wayne State University and the School of Medicine. Those honored represent world-class vision, leadership and progress demonstrated through outstanding service, commitment to the school’s teaching and research missions, and dedication to the city and the community.

Born in Detroit in 1948, Hiller attended public schools in the city and is a 1973 graduate of the University of Detroit Law School. In addition to his chain of seven grocery stores, Hiller formed and endowed the Program for Understanding Neurological Diseases at the University of Michigan School of Medicine. He founded the Hiller Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Center at Wayne State University in 2007.

In 2004, he received the Jane L. Cobb Promise Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Friend of Israel Award from Yeshiva Akiva and the Tree of Life Award from the Jewish National Fund. This past year the Hiller Foundation donated a water reservoir at Kibbutz HaSolelim in Israel and funded the construction of the Visitor Center at the Hula Bird Sanctuary in the north of Israel.

He has received the Outstanding Young CEO Award from the National Retail Association, was named a special investigator for the Michigan Attorney Grievance commission, is a member of the Prismatic Club and the Scientific Review Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation, a member of the Board of Trustees of Beaumont Hospital and served on the University of Michigan Health System Advisory Board.

Dr. Norman, assistant dean for Admissions at the School of Medicine, will receive the Trailblazer Award, which honors outstanding alumni and faculty who have made substantial contributions and demonstrated courage, initiative, innovation, risk-taking and leadership.

An assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Norman also serves as director of Community Health Services. He has been involved in admissions for the School of Medicine for more than 25 years.

Dr. Norman received a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from Paine College, Augusta, Ga., and is a 1976 graduate of the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Detroit General Hospital. Dr. Norman is active in church and civic affairs and organizations. He is board chairman of the Community Health Awareness Group Inc., and a member of the advisory board of the HIV and Prisons Project of the National Minority AIDS Council.

He received the 2000 Alumni Achievement Awards of both the United Negro College Fund Inc. and the Organization of Black Alumni of Wayne State University.

Dr. Norman is a member of county, state and national medical societies. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and is certified as an Advanced Correctional Health professional. He was recently appointed president of the Paine College National Alumni Association.

The purpose of the event, which begins at 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Detroit Athletic Club, is to focus on scholarship initiatives, recognize scholarship donors to this campaign, showcase student organizations and their missions, and present the annual Trailblazer and Ambassador awards.

This celebration replaces the School of Medicine’s annual Black-Tie Gala for 2009. Interim Dean Valerie Parisi, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., and the school’s development department decided that due to the current economic situation it would be inappropriate to stage a full-scale black-tie gala and awards ceremony. The event is slightly toned-down this year and will allow all sponsorships and financial donations to go directly to student scholarships.

The evening includes a strolling cocktail reception, awards program and student organization displays. Live musical entertainment will be provided by Little Davy & The Diplomats and the School of Medicine’s own Ultrasounds. Attire for the evening is business.

To attend, RSVP online at special www.events.wayne.edu/scholarshipcelebration or call (313) 577- 0300.