Why Give

Missouri Campus Initiatives : Arizona Initiatives : Donor Bill of Rights : Donor Stories

Investing in Healthcare Today & Tomorrow

A pioneer of whole person healthcare, ATSU integrates wellness and prevention as key components of our curriculum and campus life.  ATSU students become their own “first” patient through classroom instruction and the Still-Well program, our innovative hands-on health & wellness component.  Through this unique “body, mind, spirit” focused approach, students learn how to be role models for their patients – real life examples of the timeless adage of “practice what you preach!”

Although a “wellness first” and “disease prevention” orientation is our educational foundation, the reality of a complex system – the human body – has a way of challenging this.  People become sick or injured.  Disease and illness do not discriminate.  It touches every person’s life either directly or indirectly. 

At ATSU, we are committed to training highly skilled, compassionate physicians and healthcare providers to treat those who are suffering with the highest level of care. Your gift to ATSU is an investment in healthcare today & tomorrow. 

ATSU is a private, not for profit educational institution supported by individual gifts, fees, and tuition. Private support from ATSU alumni, friends, corporations and foundations is essential to ATSU’s success.  Tuition only supplies approximately 62% of the University’s income, a fact that underscores the importance of private gifts.

Your gifts compliment ATSU’s efforts in its numerous initiatives to:

• improve students’ access to quality education
• recruit and retain motivated and dedicated students
• recruit and retain accomplished and recognized faculty
• establish and advance comprehensive medical and health education programs
• promote and conduct research in all disciplines of healthcare
• construct  state-of-the-art facilities for education & support of students
• establish endowments in support of students, programs, and University operations
• provide financial awards to exemplary students

Regardless of whether you make an annual gift supporting the University’s immediate needs or a major gift supporting an endowment or capital project, your gift is an important investment in ATSU. 

Missouri Campus Initiatives

Unrestricted Gifts : Thompson Campus Center Renovations : Still National Osteopathic Museum : Still Partners : Endowments : Faculty/Staff Campaign : Annual Fund Campaign

Unrestricted Gifts

Contributions not designated by our donors for a specific college of ATSU, program, or department are known as unrestricted funds. This gift category is of significant importance in that it provides the Board of Trustees and administration the discretion to direct funding to current and priority needs, and, to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Unrestricted gifts may support a variety of needs across our University system while on the Kirksville campus such funds could ultimately benefit the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and School of Health Management.

Thompson Campus Center Renovations

The overall philosophy of the ATSU Thompson Campus Center (TCC) is to provide an atmosphere of health and programs which will enable each individual to reach his/her maximum potential in mind, body, and spirit. Since its construction in 1982, the TCC facility and its staff have implemented this philosophy through a wide variety of programs and events. An ever increasing demand by students and staff for these services plus normal facility obsolescence has created a high priority need for improvements and renovations to the TCC. While specific details about these planned improvements are still being considered, supporters of KCOM and the TCC are encouraged to visit with our Development staff about opportunities to fund these future renovations.

Still National Osteopathic Museum

The Still National Osteopathic Museum relies on the support of members to maintain its mission and serve the community. By paying annual dues, members have the satisfaction of helping the Museum continue to grow as a unique source of osteopathic history. Membership is open to anyone interested in supporting the Museum’s mission.

Still Partners

In the Donor Stories section of this website, we introduce you to a special Still Partner, Marjorie Taylor. As spouse of deceased KCOM alumni, William H. Taylor, '56, she has remained faithful in her support of the University, helping to perpetuate the same great osteopathic education her husband received. Still Partners is a nationwide linkage of spouses of deceased graduates and faculty with a common goal of advancing and promoting the mission of the University. Still Partners share a continuing interest in the future of osteopathic education. The organization is simply an informal network providing members with current information concerning A.T. Still University. 

If you would like to learn more about the Still Partners program, please contact Tammy Westbrook at 1.866.626.2878, ext. 2180.

Endowments

Imperative to the growth of A.T. Still University and its Colleges, endowed funds provide for the advancement and growth of our operations and educational programs in perpetuity.  Endowments designated for the advancement of research, development of academic programs, faculty support, facilities, student recruitment/support and general operations, are the University’s highest priority needs.

The prudent investment policy of the University provides that 20% of all annual endowment fund earnings be returned to the corpus; thereby providing income for continued growth.  The remaining 80% of the annual income from the investment is used for the purpose specified by the donor(s) who created the endowment.

Endowed chairs

Endowed chairs may be created to honor distinguished professors or to provide future financial resources directed toward total program support for education and research.

Presidential Chair	$3,000,000
Dean's Chair	$2,000,000
Chair	$1,000,000

Endowed Professorships

Endowed professorships may be created to provide financial support for faculty salaries, research, or other program support related to the professorship.

• $500,000 or more

General Endowment Funds – Restricted & Unrestricted

General endowments may be created to provide financial support for the University’s and/or specific school’s operational needs, specific programs, or to provide financial awards for ATSU students.

Presidential Scholarship	$1,000,000
Other Named Scholarship	$ 20,000
Endowed Scholarship	$1,000,000
Named Endowed Funds	$ 10,000

Creating an endowment is an outstanding way to support the University, and, to honor an individual or family member.

Faculty & Staff Campaign

Giving back to ATSU is an opportunity to invest in the University community and to underscore the significance of the important work we do. We educate and provide support for tomorrow’s physiciansand healthcare leaders who will impact the lives of patients worldwide. As faculty and staff, we are afforded the opportunity to make a difference not only for our local community, but also for all communities nationwide. 

Faculty and staff annual contributions help fund a variety of programs and initiatives, which benefit all of our constituents. We play an essential role in the University’s success stories and we shape the institution’s future through personal gifts. Faculty and staff gifts support ATSU’s growth to preeminence in education, research, and outreach in extraordinary ways.

Please help build a legacy of teaching and learning, and please join your colleagues by making your gift today. To participate in the campaign, you may choose to make a campaign donation online or contribute via payroll deduction .

Annual Fund Campaign

Whether you’re an alumnus of KCOM, SHM, ASHS, SOMA or ASDOH, it’s your ATSU! Giving back to ATSU is an opportunity to invest in your alma mater, your profession, your mentors, and your future colleagues. Your gift to the annual fund underscores the significance of the important work you do as a physician or healthcare professional. 

ATSU is a private, not-for-profit educational institution that is supported by individual gifts, fees, and tuition. Did you know student tuition only provides for 62 percent of the University’s income and that the remaining amount comes from much-needed annual fund gifts, endowment income, grants, and bequests?

How is my annual fund gift utilized?

The decision belongs to you, the donor. You may elect to provide an unrestricted gift for ATSU or any one of its four schools, or you may elect to make a restricted gift for a specific school or priority. 

Your gift to ATSU’s annual fund helps fund a variety of programs and initiatives, which benefit all of our constituents. You play an essential role in the University’s success stories and you shape the institution’s future through personal gifts. Annual fund gifts support ATSU’s growth to preeminence in education, research, and outreach in extraordinary ways.

Please help build a legacy of teaching and learning, and please join your osteopathic colleagues by making your annual fund gift today. For additional information pertaining to our annual fund program, please contact ATSU Development.

Arizona Campus Initiatives

Smile Forward : Women's Wellness : SOMA Founding Member Program

Smile Forward®

The Smile Forward® program with the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health provides dental and oral health care for children, families, and seniors with little or no dental insurance benefits who demonstrate financial need.  Since the program’s inception in 2004 it has been instrumental in providing emergency care for individual patients, community programs serving children, women at risk, the homeless, seniors, and medically compromised patients with special needs.   Smile Forward® is funded through the generosity of individuals, grateful patients, civic organizations, corporations and foundations.  Ongoing charitable gifts are needed to fulfill the overwhelming dental and oral health needs of our community’s vulnerable patients.  Gifts to support the Smile Forward®  program can be directed into the General Patient Fund or specifically support Special Needs Patients, Children, or Seniors.

Women’s Wellness

Today’s role for women in healthcare is increasingly significant and far reaching.  Women play a pivotal role as healthcare providers and advocates for healthcare and reform.  Recognizing the talent and continuing importance of women in healthcare, A.T. Still University (ATSU) created the Women’s Wellness program, which officially launched in November of 2008.  To become a Women’s Wellness member a minimum annual charitable contribution of $500 is required.  All membership contributions will be deposited into the Women’s Wellness Pooled Fund to support student scholarships, faculty expertise in women’s health, and dental care for at-risk children through the Smile Forward® program.  To learn more about the Women’s Wellness program and to become a member, please go to www.atsuwomenswellness.org.

SOMA Founding Member Program
Bringing the Future into the Present

The School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (SOMA) has just welcomed a third class of medical students to the Mesa, Arizona, campus of ATSU. The innovative model is learning centered, utilizing a contextual medical education curriculum. SOMA has established a successful partnership with Community Health Centers that enhances medical education and provides clinical experiences while SOMA’s full-time onsite faculty continues facilitating didactic learning.  The goal of SOMA is to produce competent, compassionate osteopathic physicians who transform how healthcare is provided to society.  The school strives to be world class in modeling inter-professional healthcare education and practice and becoming the world’s leading source for evidence based integrative medical education, research and delivery.  As a Founding Member, you will provide administration with the flexibility to respond to emerging initiatives and urgent needs that arise on an annual basis to advance the School’s goals. The program offers several different investment levels, each providing the opportunity to make a greater impact and demonstrate the depth of your financial commitment to the School.  Your opportunity to be part of this exclusive group will close December 2011, a few months after the first class graduates. Be a part of Bringing the Future into the Present - become a SOMA Founding Member today!

Donor Bill of Rights

A.T. Still University subscribes to the following Donor Bill of Rights endorsed by the American Association of Fundraising Counsel (AAFRC), the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, it is declared that all donors have these rights.

1. To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes
2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities
3. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements
4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given
5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition
6. To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law
7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers or employees of the organization or hired solicitors
9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share
10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers

Donor Stories

Simply...Not Enough

Jeff Summe

We often hear grateful people express the sentiment "Saying thank you just doesn't seem like enough". For Jeff Summe, KCOM, '87, of Sun Valley, Idaho, expressing his "thanks" for the benefits his osteopathic education afforded him is more aptly understood in terms of his actions and service on behalf of the School.

"I am thankful for the high quality education I received at KCOM. I want to give back to the School to ensure that future osteopathic students have access to the same opportunities that I have had. I believe that each of us has the ability to give back to KCOM, and I want to do my part in contributing to its future," says Dr. Jeff Summe.

His actions say much about his commitment. He has served on the KOAA board since 1989 and currently is its President. He has also assisted with Tel-Alumni phone campaigns. His generous annual gifts fund the Grace Starmer Endowment for Gerentology (in memory of his grandmother), and, a charitable life insurance policy is in place to eventually fund a Summe Family Endowment for the Family Medicine Department (in recognition of his father, Tommy Summe, KCOM, '64 and his own commitment to KCOM). About the cost associated with saying thanks to the University Dr. Summe says, "My lifelong friendships made at the School and my osteopathic education are priceless!"

Building a Strong Legacy

Tony Cruse, D.O.

"KCOM has obviously given to my family and me a very good profession and a job that I love; I wake up looking forward to work and have done that for the past 25 years." Dr. Anthony Cruse of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma believes so strongly in that statement he created The Cruse Lounge/Study Area at A.T. Still University's Connell Center with a $150,000 donation which is now open to students just as Dr. Cruse had intended.

And while students are concentrating in the new high-tech Lounge in Kirksville, you can find Tony Cruse, D.O. back in Oklahoma on a Saturday offering a free athletic clinic to High School students. He graciously provides sports medicine coverage for 70 Oklahoma high schools. A graduate from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1979, he is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with specialties in arthroscopic surgery, knee and shoulder surgery, and sports medicine. Cruse is also the senior founding partner of Southwest Orthopedic and Reconstructive Specialists.

"My next door neighbor in Lindsay, Oklahoma was a D.O. general practitioner. He was a big motivation," Cruse said. "While in college, I had the opportunity to work as an orderly in Physical Therapy at an Osteopathic Hospital," Cruse said. "After that experience, I knew for sure I wanted to practice medicine." The 10-bed facility which Dr. Cruse launched provides innovative, easy access to health care by creating a one-stop shop with on-site examinations, imaging, outpatient and inpatient surgery, and rehabilitation. Dr. Cruse's practice includes four other physicians, four physician assistants, and a support staff of over 100.

But it's not all work and no play for Tony Cruse, D.O.; he loves football and is currently the treating physician for the National Football League's Retired Players Association. In addition to supporting a future $1 million endowment for A.T.Still University, Dr. Cruse has established The Tony Cruse Sports Medicine Foundation, a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable and educational foundation, whose purpose is to provide financial support to public education programs. Sports medicine is Tony Cruse's life.a life he believes would not be possible without KCOM, "I owe a lot of my success to the school, and I will continue to give to KCOM, especially where it will be used in a lasting format."

A Gift that Gives

Dr. and Mrs. Anthony P. Bartholomew

Dr. and Mrs. Anthony P. Bartholomew of Ravenna, OH created a charitable gift annuity with ATSU that will provide them a lifetime income. Upon the termination of the gift annuity, the principal of the fund will be used to establish the Dr. Anthony P. and Patricia Bartholomew Endowment for the Physiology Department at KCOM. In addition to the creation of a future gift, the Bartholomews have been annual supporters of the University and made a significant contribution for the purchase of the human patient simulators in the new Connell Information Technologies Center. Dr. Bartholomew, who graduated from KCOM in 1962, completed an internship at Doctors Hospital in Columbus OH and then a residency in pediatrics. Dr. Bartholomew practiced pediatrics in Ravenna, OH prior to his retirement. He holds life membership in the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA), and the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP). The Bartholomews have five children and they enjoy spending time with their family.

An Expression of Gratefulness

Royce W. Maxfield, D.O.

To express his gratefulness for the rewarding career his osteopathic training afforded him, Royce W. Maxfield, D.O., has gone beyond his faithful annual financial support to create a very special endowment fund. His generous gift has created a general operations endowment from which the earnings will be dedicated to fund the needs of his alma mater, KCOM and the new school of osteopathic medicine on the ATSU campus in Mesa.

Given the resources for a special gift and his desire to support the training of future osteopathic physicians in the two locations close to his heart, Dr. Maxfield is convinced the combination of timing and motivation for this special support made it "the right thing to do."

Dr. Maxfield, who was raised in Illinois and earned his undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois University, followed his older brother, Sterling A. Maxfield, '43, to Missouri and the institution then known as the Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery.

Following graduation in 1960, he began a family medicine practice in Tucson, Arizona. In 1987 he relocated to the Phoenix area and continued his practice until retirement in Scottsdale in 1998.

For his lifetime support of ATSU in excess of $25,000, he has been recognized with the University's Distinguished Patron award.

Still Partners Still Giving Back

Dr. and Mrs. Taylor

Marjorie "Midge" A. Taylor of Jackson, Michigan and Glendale, Arizona has always held a special place in her heart for A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. After all, her late husband William H. Taylor, D.O., was a 1956 KCOM graduate and her daughter and son-in-law Susan Luberto, D.O. and Robert P. Luberto, D.O. are both 1990 KCOM graduates respectively. Giving to KCOM isn't out of the ordinary for Mrs. Taylor. Dr. and Mrs. Taylor celebrated 50 years of marriage in February of 2000, and many of those years were spent giving back to KCOM. Each and every year the Taylor's were faithful in their gifts to the KCOM Annual Fund. Following Dr. Taylor's passing in September of 2000, Mrs. Taylor setup a Memorial gift in honor of her late husband which to this day, Mrs. Taylor faithfully supports

"I know my donation didn't replace many books, but if all alumni give a little bit, it makes a difference." Mrs. Taylor and twenty-two other Still Partners made additional gifts to KCOM in 2008 after receiving news of the torrential rains and flooding in Kirksville this past summer. The storm drains on campus were unable to keep up with the rains, and flooding occurred in several of the buildings on campus. The worst hit was the new Connell Information Technologies Center. A flood of water rushed over close to12,000 books, new furniture, and the mechanical and electrical areas destroying many more expensive computers and equipment.

Still Partners is an informal network of spouses of deceased graduates and faculty who support and promote the mission of the University. They have faithfully supported KCOM's Library, even creating an endowment in 1986. This tragedy brought the same strong support from the Still Partners as in prior years with their total gifts to the library flood relief project of $6,635. The total amount of gifts from alumni, friends, faculty and staff to the library flood relief as of December 2008 was $82,394.

Mrs. Taylor is happy to be a supporter of all things KCOM, "They made everything possible for us in our later years. I think all of our alumni should give even a little."

*To view video footage of the flood taking place in the Connell Center recorded from campus security cameras, go here. You can contribute online here.