OU Receives $5 Million Transformative Gift to Enhance Allied Health, Neurology and Pharmacy Programs

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NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma announced today a $5 million gift from Inasmuch Foundation to support vital initiatives within OU’s College of Allied Health, College of Medicine’s Department of Neurology and the College of Pharmacy. The announcement came this morning during Inasmuch Foundation’s summer board meeting.

Inasmuch Foundation’s investment will significantly enhance education, research and workforce development across these critical fields at OU Health Sciences, profoundly benefitting Oklahoma and the region with expanded clinical services and translational research.

“The University of Oklahoma is not only a flagship academic and research institution, but a community partner that works to improve our region’s wellbeing and access to care,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “Inasmuch Foundation’s generosity and foresight will offer a truly transformational hand in growing our clinical, research and educational abilities at OU’s Health Sciences campus, whose students and faculty will help create a healthier state and region for all of us.”

A longtime supporter of OU initiatives, Inasmuch Foundation is an Oklahoma City-based philanthropic grantmaking organization founded by Edith Kinney Gaylord. Inasmuch Foundation supports organizations serving the Oklahoma City core through initiatives in community and civic engagement, education, and human services, and supports nationwide organizations in journalism.

“Edith Kinney Gaylord loved the University of Oklahoma and would be overjoyed by this transformative grant that will fund a broad range of the Foundation’s priorities,” said Robert J. Ross, Inasmuch Foundation Chairman and CEO, and University of Oklahoma Regent. “As a workforce development grant, it will help the University of Oklahoma address critical shortages in hard to fill health professions, leading to better health outcomes across the state.  The grant will also further leverage the expertise at OU Health Sciences by collaborating with Oklahoma City’s high schools to prepare students for college and careers in the medical field.”

Inasmuch Foundation’s generosity will provide significant support for the OU College of Allied Health’s Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology program and Doctor of Audiology program, both of which will be able to expand student enrollment and faculty hires. This increased number of graduates is expected to enhance early childhood education, K-12 education and medical services across Oklahoma. Careers in speech language pathology and audiology are projected to grow by a respective 19% locally and 11% nationally. Graduates will be well-prepared to serve in various settings, including schools, hospitals, VA centers, private practices and non-profits.

Part of the commitment from Inasmuch will be used to recruit a neurology department chair, who will be a nationally recognized clinician-scientist focused on translating research into practice for improving health outcomes and quality care across the state. Currently, Oklahoma ranks 42nd in health outcomes for adults with multiple chronic conditions, a statistic that the Department of Neurology plans to improve by increasing clinical trials and improving access to innovative therapies.

Approximately $1.5 million of the Inasmuch gift will help the OU College of Pharmacy nurture high school students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), expand knowledge of the pharmacy profession, enhance academic success and contribute to workforce development in Oklahoma. Programs that will benefit include the college’s High School Tutoring Program, the PharmD Early Assurance Program and a pharmacy technician training program.

The college anticipates that with support from Inasmuch, the High School Tutoring Program, which pairs high school students with pharmacy students to set them up for academic success in high school and beyond, will eventually expand to encompass additional high schools. Inasmuch Foundation’s funding will also allow multiple Oklahoma City high schools to participate in the PharmD Early Assurance Program.

“We are deeply grateful for Inasmuch Foundation’s remarkable dedication to advancing health care workforce development and research,” said Gary E. Raskob, Ph.D., senior vice president and provost of OU Health Sciences. “By expanding access to our programs, we can further our mission of educating the next generation of health care professionals and increase our output of professionals in critical shortage areas. This investment provides essential support of our strategic focus to be a top-tier academic health center.”