She and her husband, Dr. Leland Olson, have contributed millions of dollars to fund women’s health and university initiatives
Dorothy Olson, one of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s top supporters, died June 30 at Brookestone Village following a battle with dementia and mobility problems. She was 88.
A native of Bloomfield, Neb., Olson and her husband of 66 years, Leland Olson, M.D., have been longtime contributors to UNMC for a variety of women’s health and university initiatives.
In 2007, they provided funding for the Olson Center for Women’s Health, which occupies the entire fourth floor of the Durham Outpatient Center. The Olson Center, which was originally established with a major gift from the Olsons in 1993, provides comprehensive services for women in one outpatient facility.
Since 1986, the Olsons have made multiple gifts to the University of Nebraska Foundation worth millions of dollars. These gifts have included: funding for two floors of UNMC’s Lied Transplant Center, creation of a resident research fund and a distinguished chair for UNMC’s Ob/Gyn department, an endowed chair in the UNMC College of Nursing, and two endowed chairs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“Dorothy Olson’s support for UNMC was nothing short of extraordinary,” said Carl Smith, M.D., professor and chairman of UNMC’s Ob/Gyn Department. “Along with her husband and family, they have provided the means to begin a transformation of how women’s health care will be delivered in our region. The Olson Center for Women’s Health at UNMC was born as a result of her vision and character. She continually challenged us to consider new and better ways of providing health care and educating future generations of providers. Her leadership will be missed.”
The Olson family has had a long association with the University of Nebraska. Dorothy Olson received her nursing degree from UNMC in 1943 and her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1967. Dr. Olson received his bachelor’s degree from the UNL in 1941 and his medical degree from UNMC in 1944.
All three of the Olson children earned degrees through the University of Nebraska, with a son, David, and a daughter, Karen, earning medical degrees at UNMC and daughter, Nancy, earning a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees through the University of Nebraska system. In addition, David Olson’s daughter, Kendra Olson Swanson, received her medical degree from UNMC.
In recognition of their contributions to the University of Nebraska, Dorothy and Leland Olson each received an honorary doctorate from UNMC as well as the University of Nebraska Foundation’s Perry W. Branch Award for Distinguished Service to the University of Nebraska.
Active in the community, Dorothy Olson served on the board of the Visiting Nurse Association for 25 years including multiple terms as president. She served as state president for the American Medical Association Auxiliary and as national treasurer of the organization. She also worked on the AMA Educational Research Foundation at the state and national level and on the national Legislation Committee for the AMA.
She raised and showed champion Great Danes and Giant Schnauzers and was an exceptional seamstress. She shared many of her husband’s interest including travel, reading, fishing and boating.
She is survived by her husband and her three children, David Olson, M.D. (spouse Lynn Scott, M.D.), Karen Olson, M.D., and Nancy Olson; grandchildren, Kendra Swanson, M.D. (spouse Mitchell Swanson) and Christian Olson; great grandchildren, Nathan Swanson and Elizabeth Swanson; a brother Robert Hodges (spouse Sally). She was preceded in death by parents, Henry and Ruth Hodges, and sisters, Betty Bouleware and Patricia Sewell.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 7, at Roeder Mortuary, 2727 N. 108th St. with a graveside service at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 7909 Mormon Bridge Rd. The family has asked that memorials be made to the UNMC College of Nursing through the University of Nebraska Foundation.
As the state’s only academic health science center, UNMC is on the leading edge of health care. Breakthroughs are possible because hard-working researchers, educators and clinicians are resolved to work together to fuel discovery. UNMC’s extramural research support now exceeds $100 million, resulting in the creation of 3,600 jobs in Nebraska. UNMC’s academic excellence is shown through its award-winning programs, and its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading health care centers. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 550 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.