MEMORANDUM
To: Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents
From: James E. Rogers, Chancellor Emeritus
Date: May 22, 2013
Subject: Recommendations for Coordinated Health Sciences Program Funding Solicitation
In 2006, the HEALTH SCIENCES SYSTEM of the Nevada System of Higher Education was created to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the over 200 health sciences degree and certificate programs and related research activities throughout the system’s eight higher education colleges and universities. These programs include the following disciplines:
1.
Medicine:
The University of Nevada Medical School (UNSOM) based at the University
of Nevada Reno, which educates and trains students, residents and
fellows
and provides patient care in Northern, Southern and rural Nevada.
2.
Dental:
The UNLV School of Dental Medicine, which operates dental clinics and
educates dentists who practice throughout the state of Nevada.
3.
Nursing:
The seven nursing programs throughout NSHE, which include the nursing
programs at the two universities, Nevada State College, and programs at
each
of the four NSHE community colleges. These programs provide a full
range of nursing certificate and degree programs, including a joint
doctor of nursing practice program run by the UNLV and UNR nursing
programs.
4.
Public Health:
The two Schools of Community Health housed at UNR and UNLV, which offer
a variety of degree programs, including a joint doctoral program
in public health.
5.
Mental Health:
A variety of mental-health related academic programs which can be found
throughout the NSHE institutions, including psychiatry at the UNSOM
and psychology programs at UNLV and UNR.
6.
Social Work:
Two social work programs housed at UNR and UNLV which have bachelors
and master’s degree programs in social work. UNLV even has a dual
degree
in which students can earn a Juris Doctor and master in social work.
7.
Allied Health: The seven degree-granting NSHE institutions offer allied health programs which provide education in areas such as:
a.
Physics and Diagnostic Sciences
b.
Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences
c.
Physical Therapy
d.
Speech Pathology
t.
Nutrition/Dietetic Technician
8.
Basic Sciences:
The basic sciences programs throughout NSHE offer both core
prerequisite education and provide a rich resource for health sciences
research
opportunities.
The HEALTH SCIENCES SYSTEM’S seven-year
existence means that it started late, but with support from the ENTIRE
STATE and individuals with great wealth, this system can grow to be
among the best.I have long thought that the structure of NSHE, with its combination of all eight public institutions in the state that is governed by one entity, that is the NEVADA BOARD OF REGENTS, had the ability as one unit to seek the support from Nevada’s richest people and assure those people that their investment would be wisely made and carefully guarded.
I have suggested in prior tweets that at least five individuals in Nevada alone have the financial capacity to build a statewide world-class medical education system. Whatever the North/South problems have been in the past, the healthcare challenges and opportunities in Nevada transcend these artificial boundaries, and the missions of the HEALTH SCIENCES SYSTEM and the diverse array of NSHE health sciences programs offered throughout Nevada, should likewise provide a platform on which to rise above those problems for the good of our students and our state.
I know that often in talking to potential donors their first reaction was that “I don’t want to put money into UNLV or UNR, because I don’t know where the money will eventually go and how it will be used.” Very few donors give unrestricted gifts. They want to donate to a specific program or initiative to which they have some personal connection. And who among us doesn’t have some connection to or interest in a healthcare-related issue or cause? But without a consolidated list of specific health sciences program funding needs, it’s no wonder donors are reluctant to contribute.
Because the healthcare education programs at the eight institutions are now coordinated, and rather than compete, they have joined together to form a health education system that should and could be superior to that of any other state. What is now needed, is a coordinated, system-wide effort to solicit financial support for the Health Sciences System and health sciences programs and initiatives throughout NSHE. I would encourage the Regents to embrace this concept, and work with the Chancellor and Presidents of the eight institutions in adopting the following recommendations:
I. Pursue Naming of the Nevada System of Higher Education Health Sciences System:
I would urge the Board of Regents to
consider calling on the presidents of the eight institutions to act
together with the 13 members of the Board of Regents to solicit
ONE-HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS from an individual in return for
which the Nevada HEALTH SCIENCES SYSTEM would be named for that
individual. It seems to me that if one individual could look from on
high at the eight institutions working together, that individual
would feel secure and confident of the future of Nevada’s Higher
Education medical/health programs.
II. Pursue
Naming Opportunities and other Funding Support for Individual Health
Sciences Divisions, Schools and Departments within the
Eight NSHE Institutions:
I would suggest that the various colleges
throughout the system be open to investment by individuals. I would
therefore suggest that a donation of
FIFTY-MILLION DOLLARS be required for the naming of professional schools. A schedule defining the appropriate funding levels ranging from
TWO TO TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS for the naming of the
remaining departments, divisions, programs, etc., should be developed. I
also believe there is an opportunity for raising funds for endowed
chairs, and I believe each of these endowed chairs should
justify contributions of ONE-MILLION DOLLARS or more. Student scholarship opportunities should also be included for consideration.
The following is a partial list of potential health sciences division, school and department naming opportunities:
1.
University of Nevada, Reno:
a.
University of Nevada School of Medicine
i. Clinical Departments
1.
Emergency Medicine
2.
Family Medicine (LV and Reno)
3.
Geriatrics
4.
Internal Medicine (LV and Reno)
5.
ObGyn
6.
Pathology
7.
Pediatrics (LV and Reno)
8.
Psychiatry (LV and Reno)
9.
Speech Pathology
10.
Student Health
11.
Surgery
12.
Wellness and Weight Management Clinic
b.
Division of Health Sciences Degrees/Programs
i. Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology
ii. School of Community Health Sciences
iii. School of Nursing (already named Orvis School of Nursing)
iv. School of Social Work
c.
College of Science
d.
Other Health Sciences Departments/Programs
i. Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
ii. Counseling and Educational Psychology, College of Education
2.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas:
a.
School of Dental Medicine
b.
School of Nursing
c.
School of Community Health Sciences
i. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
ii. Department of Health Care Administration and Policy
d.
School of Allied Health Sciences
i. Department of Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences
ii. Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences
iii. Department of Physical Therapy
e.
Other Health Sciences Departments/Programs
i. Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
ii. Department of Educational Psychology & Higher Education, College of Education
iii. School of Social Work, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
iv. Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
f.
College of Science
3.
College of Southern Nevada
a.
Programs within the Ralph & Betty Engelstad School of Health Sciences
i. Nursing
vii. Phlebotomy Program
x. Cardiorespiratory Sciences / Respiratory Therapy Program
4.
Truckee Meadows Community College
a.
Dental Assisting
b.
Dental Hygiene
c.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)/Paramedics
d.
Massage Therapy Program
e.
Nutrition/Diegetic Technician
f.
Radiologic Technology
g.
Veterinary Technician
5.
Western Nevada College
a.
Nursing
b.
Deaf Studies
c.
American Sign Language
d.
Certified Nursing Assistant
e.
Emergency Medical Services
f.
Laboratory Technician/Phlebotomy
6.
Great Basin College:
a.
Nursing
b.
Radiology Technology
c.
Certified Nursing Assistant
d.
Emergency Medical Services
III.
Pursue Naming
Opportunities and General Funding Support for Specific Individual or
Collaborative Health Sciences Projects or Initiatives:
There are many worthy individual and
collaborative health sciences projects, clinics, centers and initiatives
throughout NSHE which merit naming consideration, or general support
funding. These projects could have an academic,
training, research, clinical or community-outreach focus, but each has a
specific scholarly or health care objective and each strives to
contribute to the quality of education, research and patient care
provide.
The following is a list representing a small sample of the types of programs that would fit into this category:
a.
Centers and Clinics:
i. UNLV School of Dental Medicine Patient Care Clinics
ii. UNSOM Patient Care Clinics
iii. The Center for Autism Disorders, UNLV
iv. The
Partnership for Research, Assessment, Counseling, Therapy and
Innovative Clinical Education “The Practice” Mental Health Clinic, UNLV
v. Sandford Center for Aging, UNR
vi. Dr. Joel and Carol Bower School-Based Health Center (School-Based Clinic at Basic High School)
vii. Joint UNLV/UMC Physical Therapy Patient Care & Research Clinic
b.
Collaborative Initiatives:
i. Academic Health Center Development with University Medical Center of Southern Nevada
ii. Interprofessional Education and Training Pilot Program, UNLV, UNR
iii. Future of Nursing Campaign Robert Wood Johnson Grant
iv. Hearing Voices Mental Health Sensitivity Training Program, NSC
v. Researcher and Scholarly Activities Searchable Database and Related Collaborative Research Incentive Programs
c.
Research Projects:
i. There
are many active and planned research projects under way or envisioned
throughout the NSHE health sciences programs. A recent survey of
health-related
sponsored research projects identified 241 research projects supported
by over $90 million in extramural funding. Many opportunities exist for
support of startup and/or expansion of research projects, and with many
funding options, including matching funding.
IV.
Pursue Naming and General Funding Opportunities for Health Sciences Facilities, Infrastructure and other Support Services
Throughout the NSHE institutions there is a
need for enhanced and expanded facilities and other infrastructure to
support health sciences programs. There are many naming opportunities
for existing and new health-sciences related
facilities throughout NSHE. There is also an ongoing need to purchase
new or replace existing research equipment, and a need for other general
support services.The following is a partial list of facilities, infrastructure and general support services funding opportunities.
a.
Health Sciences Campuses/Facilities
i. Existing Facilities
1.
Existing health sciences facilities throughout the eight NSHE campus
2.
Shadow Lane Campus
3.
Defined Health Sciences Precincts on Institution Campuses
ii. New Facilities
1.
UNLV Nursing and Physical Therapy Building on the Shadow Lane Campus
2.
UNSOM Southern Nevada Facility on the UMC Campus
b.
Research/Academic Equipment
i. New Equipment
ii. Updated or Replacement Equipment
c.
General Support Infrastructure
i. Grant Writing Support
ii. Intellectual Property Support
As the Regents consider these fundraising
recommendations, it is important to note that I do not believe in
fundraising being left to any higher education employee other than the
president. I do not talk to development officers
because I’ve never found one that I thought understood philanthropy.
I’ve also never thought that any development officer has any
understanding of the thought process of someone who could afford to
invest one hundred million dollars in a higher education
institution. Presidents talk to presidents and for any university
president to believe that anyone other than he or she can solicit a
donation of one-hundred million dollars indicates to me that the
president has little or no understanding of the thought
process of such donor.The product that the Nevada System of Higher Education has to sell is worthy of its chief salespersons, being the presidents, the Board of Regents and the Chancellor.
Over the past several weeks and months I have begun what I believe to be a long-term discussion about the future funding and future success of medical education provided by the Nevada System of Higher Education. If my thinking is not at least partially sound, I would hope it would lead to discussions among the eight presidents, the Board of Regents, the Governor, and the legislative leaders.
I believe that one central donor at the top of the medical education pyramid would go far in bringing the institution together and in eliciting major donations. The development of a coordinated list of the many specific academic units and individual programs in need of support, would help donors understand why their support is needed and how their funds will be deployed to improve health education in Nevada.
I am here listing the beginnings of a list of Nevadans who I believe could obligate themselves to fund the “System” with a hundred million dollar donation. I make no distinction between those wealthy persons in the North and the South because wherever they reside their name and their money will cover all of medical education in Nevada, regardless of its location.
I have listed the following names in alphabetical order. I do not pretend to know the relative net worth of any one or more of these people. I only know they have a lot of money.
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Adelson, Sheldon and Miriam
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Agassi, Andre
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Bennett, Dianna
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Boyd, Bill
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Day, T. J.
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Duffield, David
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Engelstad Family Foundation
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Fertitta, Frank III
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Fertitta, Lorenzo
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Gates, Bill
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Herbst, Jerry
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Hsieh, Tony
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Icahn, Carl
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Keck Foundation
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Mack, Joyce
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Mann, Alfred
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Murren, Heather and Jim
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Omidyar, Pierre
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Paulson, John
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Ruffin, Phillip
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Satre, Phil
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Smith, Frederick Wallace
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Thomas Sons
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Thomas, Parry
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Trump, Donald
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Walton, Nancy Laurie
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Wynn, Elaine
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Wynn, Steve
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Very truly yours,
James E. Rogers, Chancellor Emeritus
Were any of your suggestions or ideas followed Jim?
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