Attorney and activist 道恩·布克哈特，J.D., is dedicated to helping Metropolitan State University of 丹佛 educate a diverse health care workforce in the fields of speech, 语言与听力.
The chair of the 密歇根州立大学丹佛 Foundation board of directors recently made a transformational $1 million gift toward the construction of a new 70,000-square-foot health education building that will allow the University to bring its health-related academic programs under one roof.
In 2018, the University created its 卫生研究所, a collaboration among 10 academic departments focused on health and wellness. While the academic institute has been in place for five years, centralized physical space to make cross-department collaboration possible has been harder to come by. So 密歇根州立大学丹佛 is pursuing state funding and 融资机会 to support the University’s integrative approach and to increase its capacity to serve students.
That includes students in 密歇根州立大学丹佛’s Speech, 语言 and Hearing Sciences program, an area of health care near and dear to Bookhardt. Her gift will also help support the Bookhardt Family Speech and 语言 Clinic within the 卫生研究所 Facility. The clinic was recently renamed in Bookhardt’s honor.
“I want to change the dynamics of speech, hearing and language education and careers — for people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds to know they can be part of it,布克哈特说。, a longtime 密歇根州立大学丹佛 supporter. “I’m putting my money where my mouth is.”
What does that mean for patient health?
Mounting evidence suggests that patients prefer health care providers who can understand their background and cultural norms. Yet a 2019 American Speech-语言-Hearing Association report revealed that 92% of its members who were speech-language pathologists identified as white. In contrast, racially minoritized groups comprise about 40% of the U.S. population, according to U.S. 人口普查局估计.
这次演讲, 语言, Hearing Sciences program and newly built clinic at 密歇根州立大学丹佛 will aid in closing that gap by attracting and educating students who diversify the field and provide patients with an 经验 that improves overall health outcomes.
“在密歇根州立大学丹佛分校, we can be part of the solution by getting students in the door,布克哈特说, “then getting them trained and out the door with their feet on the ground.”
Bookhardt encourages others to step up and make a gift to the University, which she considers a worthy organization with students who deserve the support.
“Whatever you give, you’ll get back multifold — that’s just the way the universe works,” she said. “I’ve been given so much from 密歇根州立大学丹佛 in terms of knowledge, 经验, love and student engagement.
“It’s a gift of the heart — the best gift I’ve ever made.”