Kansas City University receives $1.25M in generous gifts to support key initiatives

Kansas City University (KCU) is pleased to announce a combined total of $1.25 million in philanthropic gifts, underscoring the university’s commitment to advancing health care education and fostering equity. This support includes $750,000 designated for the Center for Population Health and Equity (CPHE) and $500,000 to the newly established J. Mike Stanton, DO, FAOCA and Gladys B. Stanton Excellence in Osteopathic Medicine Scholarship. These contributions will improve facilities and attract top-tier students to the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

$750,000 to strengthen the CPHE and advance health equity

A substantial $750,000 gift will advance the mission of the CPHE, enhancing its ability to address health disparities and promote population health. The donation includes $500,000 from the William T. Kemper Foundation – Commerce Bank, Trustee, for renovations to the Dybedal Center for Research, located at the heart of KCU’s campus, and $250,000 in capital from the Victor E. Speas Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.

The CPHE is committed to integrating population health principles into medical education and creating opportunities for student involvement in real-world health care solutions.

“We are grateful to these foundations for their generous support,” said Catherine Satterwhite, PhD, executive director of the CPHE at KCU. “These contributions further our mission to create a more equitable and effective health care system by equipping our students with the resources they need to lead change and improve the communities we serve.”

$500,000 Stanton scholarship to recruit high-achieving osteopathic medical students

A $500,000 contribution from a distinguished 1977 graduate of KCU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and his wife will establish the J. Mike Stanton, DO, FAOCA and Gladys B. Stanton Excellence in Osteopathic Medicine Scholarship. This scholarship will provide essential financial assistance to high-achieving students, ensuring that future leaders in health care have the resources they need to succeed.

Stanton’s deep commitment to advancing the field of osteopathic medicine and his personal experience at KCU inspired this generous gift, ensuring that future students have the same opportunities he did. “By investing in the education of future doctors, we can change lives and strengthen communities,” Stanton said. “This scholarship is designed to open doors for students who will lead the field with compassion, innovation and excellence.”

This scholarship supports KCU’s commitment to enhancing representation in health care, expanding access to medical education and cultivating future leaders. “We are deeply grateful to the Stanton’s for their generous support,” said Josh Cox, DO, FACOFP, executive dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and vice provost for Medical Affairs at KCU. “The scholarship is an exciting step toward continuing to attract exceptional students who will go on to be transformative leaders in medicine.”

About Kansas City University

Kansas City University (KCU), founded in 1916, is a fully accredited, private not-for-profit health sciences university with Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Biosciences and Dental Medicine. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is the fourth largest medical school in the U.S., the ninth most impactful for primary care for the nation, the eighth most affordable of private medical colleges and the leading producer of physicians for the State of Missouri. The College of Osteopathic Medicine has two sites strategically located on the University’s campuses in Kansas City and Joplin, Missouri, to address the growing needs of both urban and rural populations. In partnership with local organizations, KCU’s Center for Population Health and Equity builds momentum around understanding and addressing the social factors that impact health, within and outside of the traditional health care setting, to better prepare students to practice osteopathic medicine, clinical psychology and dentistry. The University offers multiple graduate degrees; a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine; a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology; a Master of Arts in Bioethics; a Master of Science in the Biomedical Sciences; a Master of Business Administration in partnership with Rockhurst University; and a Master of Public Health in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center.