In December 2025, The Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation made a generous $3M gift to establish an endowed chair in the Division of Pain Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine at the University of Washington. The Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Transdisciplinary Pain Medicine lays the foundation for the division’s plan to bring together experts across disciplines to transform the paradigm of pain management and care delivery.
“We want to establish a national standard for integrated pain treatment, where science, compassion and innovation converge to restore function, dignity and hope. We are so grateful for this generous philanthropic investment by the Muglia family, as it gives us the ability to attract and retain strong leadership to accelerate this innovative model,” said Dr. G. Burkhard Mackensen, professor and chair of the department.
The endowed chair will help the Division of Pain Medicine recruit and retain an exceptional faculty leader committed to advancing knowledge and innovation through a transdisciplinary approach to pain management and care delivery. Endowed positions are a considerable honor and will provide the holder with stable funding to advance innovative initiatives in pain research, care and training. Led by Dr. Mackensen, the selection process for the first holder is underway, with a decision expected within the next academic year.
“The Muglia Family Foundation is thrilled to support the exemplary work of the University of Washington’s Division of Pain Medicine. We hope this endowment allows UW to grow its innovative transdisciplinary pain program, supporting people to live healthier and more full lives,” said Laura Ellen Muglia.
The Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation invests in programs that give individuals and communities the tools they need to thrive in the modern world. The foundation funds global efforts to advance health, entrepreneurship, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and technology access.