OSU receives $250,000 donation to bolster healthcare industry in northwest Oklahoma
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation gift centers on new residency program initiative
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The Enid-based foundation believes the endowment and the creation of a new osteopathic
residency program will be beneficial to Enid and the northwest part of the state in
many ways. The program provides an opportunity for medical residents to serve and
learn in Enid as they acclimate to the community, build relationships and hopefully
consider locating their practice in the area.
“The response from our alumni and friends has exceeded our wildest expectations,”
said OSU President Burns Hargis. “Inspired by Boone Pickens’ astounding generosity,
donors answered the call to make a lasting difference and open a new and exciting
chapter at OSU. We sincerely appreciate what the Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation
is doing for OSU academics and research.”
In order to take full advantage of the state’s dollar-for-dollar match, and make the
most significant impact on OSU academics, the foundation made the gift prior to the
July 1 change in the state’s endowed chair matching program. This gift is part of
the $66.8 million in endowed faculty gifts OSU announced recently.
The gift will create the Northwest Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation Endowed Professorship
of Primary Care Programs located within the OSU-Center for Health sciences. Earnings
from the fund will support northwest Oklahoma primary care programs, including financial
support for faculty, residents and students
“Teaching programs in communities create an enhanced environment for learning which
is beneficial for all those involved, not just the residents,” said Steve Whitfill,
executive director. “It is truly a great opportunity to be able to take advantage
of the matching gift incentive made available by T. Boone Pickens and the Oklahoma
Regents for Higher Education. It’s not everyday that we can turn a $250,000 contribution
into a million dollar endowment benefiting our community!”
Jean Van Delinder, chair of the OSU Faculty Council, said, “OSU is poised for growth
and further prominence but to realize its full potential we must continue to attract
and retain top scholars and researchers. These chairs highlight the important role
that scholarship and teaching play at Oklahoma State University, and they are made
possible through the generous support of donors who value excellence in scholarship
and want to help OSU continue to nurture a strong faculty.”
Endowed professorships and chairs are academic designations which provide support
for faculty salary, graduate assistantships, equipment and research needs, as well
as other support. These endowed faculty positions allow a university to attract and
retain the best and the brightest academic minds in the world.