On Friday, October 23, 2020, during Marian University’s Gala, President Daniel J. Elsener announced Marian University is partnering with the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation to establish a health sciences pipeline program to support high school, undergraduate and medical students during their education and training to serve as healthcare professionals throughout Central Indiana. This $2 million gift will expand Marian University’s ability to recruit and support students pursing an education within the health sciences and other STEHM professions.
“On behalf of the Marian University community, I want to express my extreme gratitude to the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation for this magnanimous gift,” Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener said. “The Wood Family and Marian University share an aligned vision that it is imperative to recruit, retain and serve a diverse group of students who will become our future healthcare professionals throughout Central Indiana and beyond. As the demographics of central Indiana patients continue to become more diverse, we are called to respond with intentionality to ensure that our healthcare professionals reflect that diversity. With the help of the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation, we will establish a true talent pipeline program that serves students during their high school years, throughout their undergraduate education and eventually into medical school or other graduate healthcare programs.”
In honor of this gift from the Wood Family, Marian University will established the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation Health Sciences Pipeline Program. The Health Sciences Pipeline Program will offer experiences for high school students to gain exposure to healthcare and STEHM professions, provide summer enrichment experiences, mentoring for undergraduate and medical students as well as other programs to promote diversity and opportunities for underrepresented students.
“We are honored to support Marian University, its students, and we have special appreciation on the emphasis they place on serving the local Indianapolis community and the relationships they have with local healthcare facilities. Our family is excited to be a part of Marian University’s growth and we share similar values of faith, dignity of the individual and believe strongly that we are all called to raise the common good in our community” said Foundation President, Julie Wood.
About Marian University Indianapolis
Founded in 1937, Marian University is the only Catholic university in Indianapolis and central Indiana. In 2020, Marian is serving more than 2,550 undergraduate and 1,150 graduate students earning degrees in the arts, business, education, engineering, math, medicine, nursing, ministry, and the natural and physical sciences. The university’s high-impact, experiential curriculum is designed to provide hands-on, collaborative learning opportunities for students from 40 states and 23 nations. Marian climbed in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Midwestern rankings to be named #3 Most Innovative Regional University, #5 Best Value University, and #28 Best Regional University. Marian University opened its College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013, making it the first new school of medicine in the state of Indiana in 110 years. Marian’s national champion varsity athletic programs include the 2012 and 2015 NAIA Football Championship, the 2016 and 2017 NAIA Women’s Basketball Championship, the 2019 NAIA Women’s Volleyball Championship, and more than 40 USA Cycling national championships.