Second largest gift in the college’s history will support faculty and PhD student research, as well as renovations for the center.
The Pitzer Family Foundation has pledged a transformational $3 million gift to The Ohio State University College of Nursing in memory of former faculty member and alumna Martha S. Pitzer, who earned her bachelor of science in nursing in 1974 and her master of science in nursing in 1976. In recognition of Pitzer’s passion for women and children’s health and pending The Ohio State University Board of Trustee approval, the family’s gift will establish the Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children and Youth and fund cutting-edge research projects that target the improvement of health and well-being outcomes of vulnerable populations and its translation into real-world settings.
“This generous gift will provide support to our world-class nurse scientists and PhD students for their innovative research that seeks to develop real-world solutions for some of the most prevalent health and well-being problems affecting women, children and adolescents,” said Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, CPNP/PMHNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, vice president for health promotion, university chief wellness officer and dean of the College of Nursing. “We are incredibly grateful to Martha’s husband, Russ, and the entire Pitzer family for their generosity and support of this important work. Naming the center in memory of Martha honors her legacy as a passionate advocate and specialist in women and children’s health.”
The mission of the Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children and Youth is to build outstanding research teams of expert faculty and doctoral students that generate new knowledge and develop evidence-based interventions that can be translated into lifesaving action. This gift will help the center emerge as the world’s leader in generating innovative research and scaling it swiftly to enhance population health and well-being for women, children and youth.
The College of Nursing plans to celebrate the Pitzer family and their lifesaving investment with a special reception later this year.
