DUBUQUE, Iowa -- Loras College has received a $2.5 million gift commitment from a graduate, officials announced Friday.

Loras President Jim Collins said the gift from Dr. Patrick J. Lillis, a 1971 graduate, will advance strength in the health sciences and medical school preparation. The gift helps ensure even more graduates can pursue medical fields, Collins said.

Lillis received his bachelor's degree in biology from Loras and then received his medical degree at the University of Iowa in 1975. Since then, he has lived and worked in Denver, where he is a partner with Lake Loveland Dermatology and a leader in the dermatology field, officials said.

Lillis played on the Loras basketball team during his four years at the school. He is the fifth-leading all-time scorer and the third-leading all-time rebounder at Loras. He was inducted into the Loras Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Lillis Court in the Athletic and Wellness Center was named in 2011 in recognition of his financial support of the building construction. Lillis also has received the Loras Alumni Excellence Award.

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Loras College Gets $2.5 Million Gift From a Graduate