Donor Stories

From childhood through his professional career, osteopathic medicine and community service have played central roles in Trustee Jeff Heatherington’s life. In addition to his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the profession, Heatherington and his company have given millions of dollars in grants and scholarships to Western University of Health Sciences, as well as support for the COMP-Northwest Medical Anatomy Center, research projects, and other programs. “As a major donor, Jeff is always there to help our students and the school,” said Kim Ketcham, Assistant Director of Clinical Education at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific's Northwest campus. “His commitment to supporting the next generation of osteopathic providers will undoubtedly inspire patients, empower communities, and change lives.”

Throughout their lives Marion and Roy Kramer were active volunteers with several organizations in the Pomona Valley, including Western University of Health Sciences, where Roy served on the Board of Trustees and Marion on the Founders’ Committee. The University is proud to include Roy and Marion Kramer among its long-time friends and supporters, as this philanthropic-minded couple has supported WesternU with two planned gifts, a revolving student loan fund, and a scholarship fund. In 1989, the Kramer Research Lab was named in honor of this special couple.

Jennifer Linzmeyer, DO ’97, a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente in Orange County, honored her late father, Dr. Pete Frelinger, by establishing a scholarship endowment in his name. Dr. Linzmeyer is happy to have continued the family tradition of giving back by creating a legacy to make her father proud, and she continues to give back, having returned to campus as an alumna volunteer to facilitate exams for current COMP students. Since 2014, the Dr. Pete Frelinger Family Scholarship has been presented annually to a second- or third-year COMP student who demonstrates a commitment of service to underserved communities, a passion for volunteerism, and academic success.

Ginny and Les Mann, Jr. were introduced to Western University of Health Sciences through Les’s long-term relationship with Dr. Richard Eby, a founding board member of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. Because of this friendship and Les’s specialized knowledge of trust and estate planning, Ginny and he ultimately utilized a charitable remainder unitrust benefiting Western University of Health Sciences as part of their estate planning. The couple takes pleasure in knowing that they are supporting future generations of health care providers, and the University is fortunate and proud to claim them as part of the WesternU family.

When Pat and Phil Maurer decided to sell their Balboa Island property and to retire to Oceanside, they found that by transferring the Island property into a Charitable Remainder Unitrust they were able to avoid a sizable capital gain tax and give future monetary support to Western University of Health Sciences. The Maurer family has always believed in and maintained a healthy life style and was impressed with the school’s osteopathic philosophy. “We are firm believers that it is important to give back what you have earned,” said Pat and Phil. WesternU is lucky indeed to include them in the University family and are most appreciative of their legacy.

Through Judy McCulloch’s cousin, John Forbing, a trustee of Western University of Health Sciences, she became acquainted with the University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and its Center for Disability and the Health Policy. In keeping with her late husband’s and her philosophy of giving back, their love of animals, and her personal battle with MS, Judy decided to remember these two programs in her estate plan along with other charities near and dear to her heart. WesternU is most appreciative of her generosity and honored to welcome her into the University family. It is truly a legacy that will keep giving back and is a wonderful memorial to both Arthur and Judy.

Inspired by a deep appreciation and long family connection with osteopathic medicine, Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Norcross made annual gifts to the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) for more than three decades. More recently, the couple established a charitable remainder trust funded with rental real estate they owned. The CRT provided them with an income stream during their lifetimes and will provide a future generous contribution to WesternU. The couple feels good knowing that the gifts they have made over the years to COMP are helping others to pursue careers in osteopathic medicine. “We’ve seen COMP grow since its inception,” Robert said. “We are proud to be supporters of an osteopathic school that teaches excellent medical skills and instills the value of treating the whole patient.”

Since graduating, Haikui Parsamyan, PharmD ’10, has maintained a strong relationship with WesternU and the College of Pharmacy. In addition to regularly attending events, such as College-sponsored continuing education workshops and the College’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, she has made it a priority to support WesternU by making regular financial donations to the University, starting with her first gift of $25 less than a year after graduating. WesternU and the College of Pharmacy are grateful to Dr. Parsamyan for being the embodiment of the University’s mission and spirit. The example she sets is helping propel WesternU to new heights.

Bobbie Stahl remembers her husband, Bill, a DO, being the person who met President Pumerantz at the airport when he first arrived in California in the 1970s to begin his new post as head of what would become Western University of Health Sciences. This was the beginning of a long friendship the Stahls had with Dr. and Mrs. Pumerantz, and with WesternU. Bobbie and Bill believed strongly in osteopathic medicine and quality education for health care professionals, and they were early supporters of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. In 1995, Bobbie was presented with WesternU’s Humanitarian of the Year Award in honor of her service. Western University of Health Sciences is fortunate to count Bobbie Stahl among its friends. The University appreciates her generous support and continued dedication since its earliest days.

Stephanie Bowlin, EdD, PA-C, MSHPE ’92, gives from her own heart and understands the critical importance of giving back. Her first gift to WesternU was made in 1999 to establish the annual Bertha Oliver Memorial Scholarship in memory of her mother, who was mindful of helping people and instilled in her the value of giving back through charity and philanthropy.

After graduating from the College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Los Angeles (COP&S) in 1945, Dr. Seymour Ulansey, or Sey as he prefers to be called, spent much of his early career working to break down barriers and establish equality between DOs and MDs in California. He says the merger among the two groups in 1962, and the acceptance of DOs in the then dominant MD community benefited DOs, because it “led to an increase in the number of osteopathic graduate schools in the United States, and opened up clinical and medical educational opportunities to all practicing physicians.” Since the early years of COMP, Sey has been a supporter, both through philanthropic donations and helping establish residencies at the Hollywood Community Hospital, where he was Chairman of the Anesthesiology Department and President of the Board of Directors. WesternU is proud to include Sey in its family of friends and in that list of doctors who helped found this institution.