Pamela and Daniel Williams have devoted their careers to the healthcare industry.  Their $400,000 estate gift to the UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies is a testament to their commitment to the future of nursing and a reflection of their respect for the educational preparation of nurses who are on the front lines of providing care.

The couple, who will soon celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary, began their life-long careers in the business side of health care at Liberty Hospital.   Dan, who earned his MBA in finance from UMKC in 1986, is currently Vice President of Finance and Support at Liberty Hospital.

Pamela, who earned an MBA in management from Rockhurst University, recently retired from Children’s Mercy Hospital as Director of Organizational Learning and Engagement.  While the Williamses believe that everyone who works in a hospital is an essential member of the health care team, they appreciate the importance of nurses.

Pamela observed the essential role that nurses played when her sister was critically ill.

“I realized, interacting with her care team over the course of a couple of weeks, what a difference the nurses make for the patient, the family, and the outcome,” she said.

The couple was attending a dinner honoring nursing students at the time they were talking about estate planning.  It was there that they realized that nursing education was a cause they felt strongly about and that they wanted their support for educating the next generation of nurses and faculty at UMKC  to be a part of their legacy.

Through their significant gift to the UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies, Pamela and Dan will leave a meaningful legacy to the field of nursing.

“The support generously created by the Williams in their estate enables the School to build and develop innovative programs that help students translate knowledge and skills to high-quality patient care outcomes, whether they pursue their degrees in our classrooms or online,” said Ann Cary, dean of the UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies. “These gifts allow us to create and plan our future in a way that helps our faculty and students achieve their goals.”

The School of Nursing and Health Studies is ranked #23 for online graduate nursing programs by U.S. News and World Report in 2016. If you are interested in learning more about how your gifts can support the education of the next generation of faculty and students at the UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies, please contact Jay Wilson at (816) 235-5565.