Latest news with #KansasCityUniversity
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
KCU Joplin expands facilities with major donation
JOPLIN, Mo. — A major contribution to Kansas City University is set to make a big difference in the future of medical students. It's the largest donation in the history of KCU, more than 20-million dollars from the estate of Dr. Paul and Mary Dybedal. The donation will increase the Mary L. Dybedal Scholarship fund, establish a Chair of Psychiatry endowment, expand the Kansas City campus's research facilities, and build state-of-the-art labs in Joplin. KCU Joplin Vice President Dr. Rick Schooler says supporting research will make students more competitive when applying for residencies, and help them make better decisions as doctors. 'It's very important to us to be able to contribute to the science of health, to help continue to advance health care and health practice. At the same time, it's very important for our students to have the opportunity to get involved with research as they're going through our professional programs,' said Dr. Rick Schooler, KCU Joplin Vice President. A 2004 donation from the Dybedals allowed KCU to open the Dybedal Center for Research in 2006. Dr. Dybedal graduated from KCU in 1954, and served on the Board of Trustees for more than 36 years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Largest Gift in Kansas City University History Fuels Research and Medical Education
KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kansas City University (KCU) has received over $20 million from the estate of Paul W. Dybedal, DO, and his wife, Mary Louise Dybedal. This is the largest gift from an individual in the University's history and reflects the Dybedals' commitment to advancing osteopathic medical education, research, behavioral health and student scholarships. Dr. Dybedal, a 1954 graduate of KCU's College of Osteopathic Medicine, enjoyed a distinguished career in psychiatry. He served as a U.S. Army Reserves medical officer and practiced inpatient and forensic psychiatry at Napa State Hospital in California. A previous KCU Alumnus of the Year, he retired from the KCU Board of Trustees in 2007, following more than 36 years of service. "KCU gave my father the foundation to build a successful career, and he was dedicated to ensuring that future generations of students have the same opportunities he had," Paul Dybedal Jr. said. "This gift is his way of continuing to support KCU, a place that gave so much to our family." The donation will support three vital areas of growth at KCU: Expand the Dybedal Center for Research on the Kansas City campus and establish state-of-the-art laboratory facilities on the Joplin campus. This will enhance KCU's research capabilities and advance groundbreaking work in the medical and biosciences fields. Establish the Paul W. Dybedal, DO, Endowed Chair of Psychiatry, a pivotal role that will elevate KCU's psychiatric education, support innovative research in behavioral health and help recruit and retain leading faculty in the field. Increase the Mary L. Dybedal Scholarship Fund to ensure that future generations of medical students will have tuition support. The Dybedals have been generous and long-standing supporters of KCU. Their contributions also include establishing the Paul W. Dybedal, DO, and Mary L. Dybedal Scholarship to support future osteopathic medical students. In recognition of their pivotal 2004 gift that propelled advancements in medical education and biomedical research, the University opened the Dybedal Center for Research on its Kansas City campus in their honor in 2006. With this latest gift, they have contributed more than $22.7 million to KCU. "We are deeply grateful for the generosity of the Dybedal family," said Marc B. Hahn, DO, president and CEO at KCU. "Their contributions will continue to transform our University and strengthen our ability to expand our capacity to innovate—as we live our mission of improving the well-being of the communities we serve." The Dybedal family's legacy will continue to shape the University's future for years to come, driving innovation, fostering research and impacting students, faculty and the broader health care community. About Kansas City UniversityFounded in 1916, Kansas City University (KCU) is a fully accredited, private not-for-profit health sciences university with Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Biosciences and Dental Medicine, and campuses in Kansas City and Joplin, Mo. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is the fourth-largest medical school in the U.S. and the leading producer of physicians in Missouri. It ranks #1 for producing physicians who practice in primary care, rural areas and underserved regions in the state. KCU's Center for Population Health and Equity addresses the variables that affect a population's health and contribute to health disparities, while equipping students across all programs to address these challenges. KCU offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, dental medicine and clinical psychology and a master's degree in biomedical sciences. Dual degree offerings include master's degrees in business administration in health care leadership, public health, and bioethics. A new Master of Health Sciences – Anesthesiologist Assistant program is scheduled to launch in 2026. Contact: Jennifer Lindholm Digital and Media Relations Strategist 816.654.7037 (office) 913-314-0235 (cell) jlindholm@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Kansas City University Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ruth I. Kolpin Family Fund Awards Grants Totaling Over $110,000
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage Community Foundation says they are proud to announce eight local organizations have been awarded a total of $110,926 through the Ruth I. Kolpin Family Fund. Torch run unites local law enforcement for Special Olympics Convenience store worker caught on surveillance stealing lottery tickets, police say Local ministry plans new thrift store and pantry expansion Carthage seniors return to elementary schools in cap and gown Carthage settles lawsuit with former city administrator Officials say the Ruth I. Kolpin Family Fund is a charitable fund established to support meaningful projects benefit Carthage and surrounding communities. The Carthage Community Foundation, along with representatives from the Ruth I. Kolpin Family Fund—Ron Peterson Sr. and Ron Peterson Jr.—say they celebrated these impactful investments with a Grants Luncheon held on May 16, where the 2025 grant recipients were formally honored and recognized. Kansas City University – KCU Community Smiles: $25,000 to support access to oral healthcare for underserved populations in the Joplin area. Mercy Health Foundation Southwest Missouri/Kansas – Pediatric Physical Therapy Refresh (PPTR): Keeping PT Access for Kids in Carthage: $25,000 to update pediatric physical therapy spaces and equipment, ensuring continued access for local Historic Preservation – Phelps House Restoration: $7,060 to repair and restorethe porch, Porte cochere ceiling, fascia, and first-floor window trim of the historicPhelps House. Boots Court Foundation – Motel Preservation Project: $20,000 to support continuedpreservation work at the iconic Boots Court Motel, a landmark of Carthage Area Catholic Schools – Technology Infrastructure Update: $17,216 to modernizeinfrastructure and upgrade servers, improving educational technology and learningenvironments. Vision Carthage – 2025 Athena Leadership Award: $1,650 to support the annual awardrecognizing exceptional women leaders in the Carthage community. American Red Cross – Disaster Financial Assistance: $7,000 to provide direct financialrelief to families impacted by local disasters. Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Area – Community Action Ride System(CARS): $7,000 to improve access to transportation for low-income individuals and familiesthrough the expansion of community ride services. 'The generosity of the Kolpin family continues to create meaningful change throughout ourcommunity,' said John Nicholas, President of the Carthage Community Foundation. 'Thesegrants reflect a commitment to honoring the past while building for the future.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Family who fled Saigon went from being on welfare to three generations of medical professionals
Fifty years ago, at the age of 12, Huy Nguyen fled Saigon with his family as a refugee. Today, after a long road, the Nguyens boast three generations of medical professionals who say they are grateful for the chance to achieve their dream. When they first arrived in the U.S., they settled in Iowa and became the first Vietnamese American family in the Quad Cities, according to the Davenport Public Library. Nguyen's mother worked as a house cleaner. His father worked as a security guard and eventually got his high school diploma at age 45. He went on to pursue a bachelor's degree and became a chiropractor in 1981. By then, Huy Nguyen was already set on becoming a surgeon. Now, Nguyen's three children are working to become doctors as well. Two of Nguyen's children graduated from the same medical school as their father — Kansas City University. As refugees in the 70s, the family went through a difficult time and started out on welfare. Once a chiropractor, the older Nguyen decided he wanted to pay back all the help they got from the welfare system. 'What my dad did was, when he became a chiropractor, he and my mom, they went to the social security service. And my dad asked that — since when he was in school, we were on welfare … if he can put in payment and they could pay off the help,' Nguyen said. 'He was very proud that he received the help, but at the same time, he would pay that help back and contribute more to that.' Nguyen's family first stop as immigrants was California, where a church sponsored them to move to Davenport, Iowa. While there, Nguyen and his father established themselves in health care. Nguyen eventually had three children of his own — two resident physicians and a current medical school student, now ages 27, 26 and 18. Five decades after the fall of Saigon, which effectively ended the Vietnam War on April 30, 1975, the day is known as 'Reunification Day' in Vietnam. 'If you see the Afghanistan evacuations, it's very similar to Vietnam on that at the end of a war,' Nguyen told NBC News. 'There was a bombing on the airport, and we were lucky enough to get in the military airplane, and we were airlifted out of Saigon,' Nguyen said. 'My dad in Vietnam — he was lieutenant colonel in the South Vietnamese army, which fought along with the Americans, and so, last minute, he jumped on the plane and he left with us.' Nguyen said he assimilated to the American culture while living in Iowa — especially as there were no Vietnamese people, foods or languages around him. He fell in love with American football in fifth-grade and learned English by watching TV. Once the family settled in Iowa, Nguyen's father pursued his studies and later went to chiropractic school. While in school, he worked as a museum security guard to make ends meet. Nguyen's mother brought the kids back to California, where she worked cleaning houses. Nguyen would help her clean after school, he said. Once Nguyen's father graduated, he returned to the family in California and opened his own private practice. Nguyen eventually got his bachelor's degree at the same university as his father, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Nguyen's older sister became a chiropractor and then a lawyer; Nguyen became a surgeon; two of Nguyen's brothers became surgeons and another became a lawyer. Nguyen opened up his own private practice in San Jose, California in 1997 — one of the largest Vietnamese American communities in the U.S. In 2008, Nguyen became the first surgeon in the U.S. to perform a single-incision laparoscopic colon resection. Four years later, Nguyen became the first in the California Bay Area to remove a gallbladder using single-site robotic surgery, with his brother Nang assisting the surgery. 'If you think about the American dream, we are it,' Nguyen said. 'If it wasn't for the people that helped us, and also the American government helping us through the welfare system, we would not be where we're at right now. Of course, working hard and everything else comes with it, too.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
12-05-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Family who fled Saigon went from being on welfare to three generations of medical professionals
Fifty years ago, at the age of 12, Huy Nguyen fled Saigon with his family as a refugee. Today, after a long road, the Nguyens boast three generations of medical professionals who say they are grateful for the chance to achieve their dream. When they first arrived in the U.S., they settled in Iowa and became the first Vietnamese American family in the Quad Cities, according to the Davenport Public Library. Nguyen's mother worked as a house cleaner. His father worked as a security guard and eventually got his high school diploma at age 45. He went on to pursue a bachelor's degree and became a chiropractor in 1981. By then, Huy Nguyen was already set on becoming a surgeon. Now, Nguyen's three children are working to become doctors as well. Two of Nguyen's children graduated from the same medical school as their father — Kansas City University. As refugees in the 70s, the family went through a difficult time and started out on welfare. Once a chiropractor, the older Nguyen decided he wanted to pay back all the help they got from the welfare system. 'What my dad did was, when he became a chiropractor, he and my mom, they went to the social security service. And my dad asked that — since when he was in school, we were on welfare … if he can put in payment and they could pay off the help,' Nguyen said. 'He was very proud that he received the help, but at the same time, he would pay that help back and contribute more to that.' Nguyen's family first stop as immigrants was California, where a church sponsored them to move to Davenport, Iowa. While there, Nguyen and his father established themselves in health care. Nguyen eventually had three children of his own — two resident physicians and a current medical school student, now ages 27, 26 and 18. Five decades after the fall of Saigon, which effectively ended the Vietnam War on April 30, 1975, the day is known as 'Reunification Day' in Vietnam. 'If you see the Afghanistan evacuations, it's very similar to Vietnam on that at the end of a war,' Nguyen told NBC News. 'There was a bombing on the airport, and we were lucky enough to get in the military airplane, and we were airlifted out of Saigon,' Nguyen said. 'My dad in Vietnam — he was lieutenant colonel in the South Vietnamese army, which fought along with the Americans, and so, last minute, he jumped on the plane and he left with us.' Nguyen said he assimilated to the American culture while living in Iowa — especially as there were no Vietnamese people, foods or languages around him. He fell in love with American football in fifth-grade and learned English by watching TV. Once the family settled in Iowa, Nguyen's father pursued his studies and later went to chiropractic school. While in school, he worked as a museum security guard to make ends meet. Nguyen's mother brought the kids back to California, where she worked cleaning houses. Nguyen would help her clean after school, he said. Once Nguyen's father graduated, he returned to the family in California and opened his own private practice. Nguyen eventually got his bachelor's degree at the same university as his father, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Nguyen's older sister became a chiropractor and then a lawyer; Nguyen became a surgeon; two of Nguyen's brothers became surgeons and another became a lawyer. Nguyen opened up his own private practice in San Jose, California in 1997 — one of the largest Vietnamese American communities in the U.S. In 2008, Nguyen became the first surgeon in the U.S. to perform a single-incision laparoscopic colon resection. Four years later, Nguyen became the first in the California Bay Area to remove a gallbladder using single-site robotic surgery, with his brother Nang assisting the surgery. 'If you think about the American dream, we are it,' Nguyen said. 'If it wasn't for the people that helped us, and also the American government helping us through the welfare system, we would not be where we're at right now. Of course, working hard and everything else comes with it, too.'
