Winter 2012-13 - College of Dental Medicine - Columbia University

Victoria Constantinescu ’82
Pays Tribute to Columbia’s ‘Flexibility’
Dr. Victoria Constantinescu '82 and her husband, Dr. Serban Constantinescu.
The College of Dental Medicine has received a generous $250,000
bequest intention from Victoria Constantinescu ‘82, made in "deep
gratitude" for Columbia's "flexibility and open-mindedness."
When Dr. Constantinescu and her husband, Serban, emigrated to this
country from Romania in the late 70’s she learned that although she
was already a doctor, she could not practice dentistry in the United
States. To get the necessary dental degree she applied to several
American universities, where she was told she must undertake the
expensive four-year process in its entirety again.
Because her husband, a PhD in physics from the University of Bucharest,
had been able to earn an advanced degree in metals
processing from Columbia's School of Engineering by completing
an abbreviated program designed especially for him, she decided to
approach the University's dental school. Taking her previously earned
credentials into account, SDOS (now CDM) offered her a curriculum
composed of the specific studies she needed to qualify for an American
doctoral degree. Dr. Constantinescu earned her degree and
has enjoyed running a successful general practice in Cleveland, Ohio,
for the past 25 years.
Both Dr. Constantinescu and her husband, who has made a similar
bequest intention to the engineering school, feel that Columbia
helped them to realize professional success and "cracked the door"
to a happy life in their adopted country. Dr. Constantinescu hopes her
ability "to contribute a little to Columbia's good deeds" will remind
fellow alumni how much they all owe to the education and training
received at CDM.
USING YOUR IRA TO
MAKE A GIFT TO CDM
In January 2013, Congress and the President
will enact the American Taxpayer Relief Act of
2012 and included the IRA Charitable Rollover
provision that allows individuals to distribute
up to $100,000 directly from their IRA to
charities, without including that amount in
their gross income for tax purposes. This gift
opportunity is available to individuals who are
age 70-1/2 at the time of the distribution, and
it is available through the end of 2013. The
distribution must be received directly from the
administrator of your IRA.
The process is simple and direct:
• When you are ready to take a distribution, you
should contact your plan administrator to ask
if it has a specific form for you to use.
• To make a gift to CDM, you will need
to tell the plan administrator the
following information:
• the official name of the University: The
Trustees of Columbia University in the
City of New York,
• the Federal Tax Identification Number of
the University: 13-5598093 and
• the address to mail the check. Please
direct the plan administrator to mail the
check to:
Columbia University
College of Dental Medicine
630 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
Attn: Geri Connors
For questions, please contact the
Development Office at 212-342-5612.
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