$14M Gift to Nursing School Increases Access, Addresses Nurse, Nurse Faculty Shortages

The first-ever cohort of 24 students in the accelerated BSN program, who began their studies in May and have begun their first clinical rotations this fall. (Photo by Christine Kueter, UVA School of Nursing)

With a wave of nurse faculty retirements expected over the next decade, and the average age of a nursing professor between about 51 and 63, nursing schools cannot address the nation’s nurse shortage without also fortifying the pipeline of doctorally prepared educators to teach them.

“Bill’s and Joanne’s extraordinary generosity comes at a critical moment, as our country faces an unprecedented nursing shortage,” UVA President Jim Ryan said. “Their latest gift will enable more students to pursue nursing degrees at UVA, removing barriers and offering important support for students. I’m incredibly grateful for the Conways’ ongoing commitment to the School of Nursing and the nursing profession as a whole.”

“Nurses are essential to our nation, as they are on the front lines of patient care,” said Dr. K. Craig Kent, chief executive officer of UVA Health and executive vice president for health affairs at the University. “They are pivotal to reducing health inequities and ensuring better health for our communities. We are grateful to the Conways for their vision and generosity in helping us educate the next generation of nurses.”

The Conways’ previous contributions have expanded the capacity to educate more nurses and enhanced access to the School of Nursing’s RN-to-B.S.N. program. This included establishing satellite sites in Richmond and Northern Virginia, fueling the growth of the school’s highly ranked Clinical Nurse Leader program, providing significant support for its Mary Morton Parsons Clinical Simulation Learning Center and contributing to a flexible pool of scholarships.

“Today, we nurses are more visible, listened to, and needed than ever before,” said Marianne Baernholdt, dean and Sadie Heath Cabaniss Professor of Nursing at the UVA School of Nursing. “I am grateful that Bill and Joanne Conway’s continued support will allow us to educate even more skilled, compassionate nurses while supporting the pipeline of future nursing faculty members. This work will enhance our ability to address the needs of our communities for years to come.”