Andrew Wallach, co-chair of the Yale College Class of 1980’s 45th reunion gift campaign and chair of the Dean’s Leadership Council at Yale School of Nursing (YSN), has been a passionate advocate of YSN. When we asked him why, his answers point to the heart of Yale’s mission: education and service.
What inspires you about Yale Nursing, and why have you chosen to devote your volunteer time to YSN?
Donating time and money to Yale Nursing is one of the most effective ways I can think of to improve the world. For me, it exactly matches Yale’s Campaign tag line of “For Humanity.”
Especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, our country has a crying need for the education of the next generation of nurses. Yale is providing an incredible service to the world by graduating advanced practice nurses in primary care, midwifery, pediatrics, and psychiatry who are helping both to treat patients and to educate our next generation of nurses. Yale nurses serve as leaders and advocates for their patients and communities with a reach that also extends beyond the clinic into research, public service, and healthcare leadership.
Why have you selected YSN for your reunion gift? What would you like others to know about how their support could make a difference for nursing?
Every time I visit the school, I get a fresh
dose of energy and enthusiasm for Yale Nursing. The students I meet are unbelievably energetic and altruistic, and willing to work for relatively modest financial rewards. Yet they graduate with among the highest debt loads at Yale.
At Yale Nursing, a relatively small gift goes a very long way. This is particularly true because any gifts for YSN’s endowment will be matched by the University (up to $50 million). We are well on the way, having raised half the goal, but we have a number of important needs that include a goal of debt-free education for our nurses, our Aging Well initiative, nurse-led innovation in healthcare, and healthcare equal access.
The U.S. needs millions more qualified nurses and midwives. By supporting YSN, you are empowering passionate, skilled individuals who will go on to save lives and improve healthcare around the world.
Gifts of all sizes make a difference at YSN, supporting the mission of better health for all.
What advice do you have for someone who may be interested in learning more about YSN?
Reach out to me (awallach14@gmail.com), reach out to the Development team (ysn.advancement@yale.edu), follow YSN on social media (Instagram, X, Facebook), or set up a tour of their state-of-the-art Simulation Lab next time you are on campus.
You can also consider making a gift to support the Next Century Fund, YSN’s scholarship fund. Gifts to this fund support nurses’ education and unlock a matching gift of equal size as part of the $50 million match. What a great way to double your impact at Yale in celebration of reunion! Click here to help reduce student debt for nursing students.