History of the Olson Center
Origins
In the late 1980s, Dr. Leland Olson and his wife, Dorothy, envisioned a lasting contribution to women’s health. Working with McClure Smith, MD (then chair of OB‑GYN) and John Niemann of the University of Nebraska Foundation, they created the Olson Center on January 13, 1993 through a generous gift from the Olson Family Foundation. The endowment has been supplemented many times and is also supported annually through matching gifts from the University of Nebraska Foundation.
Mission
The Olson Center's mission is to provide a national, comprehensive health science center at UNMC focused on women, championing new directions in science, medicine, and nursing practice that improve health care for women.
Impact
Over three decades, the Olson Center has:
- Funded seed and bridge grants that launch new research
- Supported innovative clinical and educational programs, including residency initiatives.
- Helped recruit and retain talented investigators and educators whose work advances women's health.
This legacy of philanthropy has a long-reaching effect across UNMC and the communities it serves. We are proud to have surpassed $8 million in research activity funded by the Olson Center. These investments have helped investigators secure external awards—including funding from the National Institutes of Health—to address infertility, hormonal health, and cancer.