she went on to take a faculty position at the Yale School of Nursing. Once again, her UR education set her apart. During her eight years in New Haven, she completed her PhD at the University of Connecticut and then returned to Rochester, this time to take a faculty position in the family nurse practitioner program, which she later directed for more than 20 years. Jane shares, “What is unique about Rochester is the mentoring, the reputation, the way we work in an interdisciplinary way across the University and Medical Center. I enjoy the balance I’ve had with patient care, research, writing, and of course teaching.” Jane has directed her giving toward scholarships because she has a special place in her heart for students. “As a faculty member, students are what it’s all about,” she says. “That’s why we do what we do. They need the support. When I started out, I didn’t have a lot of resources.” Now, Jane and her husband value being members of the Wilson Society, staying connected with alumni, and contributing to the future of the school. Jane says, “I knew I wanted to recognize the University of Rochester in my will in memory of my dear friend Eleanor Hall who was instrumental in founding the School of Nursing here. When she died, I became a member of the bequest society in her honor.” The society, formerly named the Eleanor Hall Bequest Society, has been incorporated into the University’s Wilson Society; however, Hall, chair of the Department of Nursing of the School of Medicine and Dentistry from 1957 to 1971, is still remembered profoundly. Jane often walks by the portrait of Hall at the school and feels she can hear her mentor’s voice, guiding her in her practice. “I feel lucky that I found nursing and that the University of Rochester has been a real home to me over all these years,” she reflects. “ We all benefited from the resources, and now we can help others take advantage of that. The University of Rochester is always on the cutting edge. I am so proud of how highly regarded we are.”
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