Robert R. Koefoot, M.D., a former member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, has made a $100,000 gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to commemorate the life and work of his father, Theodore H. Koefoot, Sr., M.D. The gift has established the “Theodore H. Koefoot, Sr., M.D. Family Medicine Fund” at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to support the department of family medicine.
In making this gift, Dr. Koefoot said he is honoring an individual who provided great inspiration to him in his pursuit and practice of medicine and service to his community.
“I have always felt a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude to my father for inspiring me to seek a higher education. Education enabled me to become a physician and to dedicate myself to the profession of medicine,” said Dr. Koefoot, a 1947 UNMC College of Medicine graduate. “My own experience in achieving a higher education prompted me to become interested in assisting young people in their quest for this goal in life. It is deeply gratifying to me to know that my father would be honored by this gift.”
This new endowed fund will support the areas of highest priority in the UNMC department of family medicine, said Charles E. Andrews, M.D., former UNMC chancellor and longtime friend of Dr. Koefoot. “One of the primary missions of the University of Nebraska Medical Center is to train family practice physicians,” Dr. Andrews said. “Dr. Koefoot’s gift will certainly benefit the Medical Center in its efforts to successfully educate tomorrow’s family practitioners.”
“Dr. Koefoot has made many contributions to the University of Nebraska, in addition to being a strong supporter of UNMC. It is wonderful that he has established this endowment fund honoring his father.”
A graduate of Rush College of Medicine in Chicago, Dr. Theodore Koefoot, Sr. practiced family medicine in Broken Bow, Neb. from 1919 until his death in 1955.
“My father’s dedication to his profession and his discipline with family and work made a deep impression on my brothers and me,” Dr. Koefoot said. “I grew up watching him first hand do the best he could each day to be a good doctor, a good parent and showing a concern for community.”
Dr. Robert Koefoot and his brothers, Theodore Jr. and Richard, each earned their medical degrees from the UNMC College of Medicine and remained in Nebraska to practice medicine. Theodore Jr. and Richard both practiced in Broken Bow and eventually Omaha. Robert established a surgical practice in Grand Island, where he became active in community service and public education. In addition to volunteering on numerous boards and committees, Dr. Koefoot served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents from 1970 to 1988 and as chairman of the board in 1973, 1979 and 1986.
The Koefoot family’s commitment to higher education, medicine and the University of Nebraska now spans four generations, as a great-granddaughter of Theodore Koefoot, Sr. earned her medical degree from UNMC earlier this year, and several other members of the Koefoot family are pursuing health-care careers.
The University of Nebraska Foundation is a non-profit corporation supplementing support for students, faculty, facilities and programs at the University of Nebraska’s four campuses through gifts from alumni, friends, corporations and other foundations.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state. Through its commitment to research, education and patient care, UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for cancer research and treatment and solid organ transplantation. Nearly $25 million in research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually. In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.