Scholarships

The Dawn Gideon Scholarship for MHA Students: Provides scholarship assistance for students in the MHA program whose talents lean towards creative problem solving and an understanding of the value all individuals bring to the process.

Donor: A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health’s Hospital Administration program, Dawn Gideon built an extraordinarily successful career that was sadly far too brief. She began her career in Pittsburgh with Forbes Health System and following their merger with Allegheny Health she assisted them through bankruptcy. After she founded Transition Management Group (TMG) she embarked on a career that focused on cash distressed hospitals and their survival. She later sold TMG to Huron Consulting Group where she continued her work of finding new and creative tools for the survival of healthcare organizations. In between two periods with Huron Consulting Group as a managing director in business services, Gideon returned to Pittsburgh as the chief operating officer for Allegheny Health Network, helping them to avoid bankruptcy and lay the groundwork for a pathway forward. Diagnosed with cancer, Dawn continued her work inspiring those around her by her courage and passion. The Dawn Gideon Scholarship is funded by the Dawn Gideon Foundation, founded by family, friends, and colleagues. The foundation seeks to provide a forum for the development of hospital administration professionals. Gideon was devoted to creatively solving complex business problems in the healthcare environment. Her unique talents continue to be recognized by such entities as the Harvard Business Review, which uses some of her early work as a case study for health care.

Nathan Hershey Endowment in Health Administration: An annual award to a full time student enrolled in the MHA program. Secondary criteria shall include need.

Donor: Nathan Hershey, a graduate of New York University (1950) and the Harvard Law School (1953), held membership in the Pennsylvania bar. He co-authored The Hospital Law Manual, Human Experimentation and The Law (1976), and Hospital-Physician Relationships: Case Studies and Commentaries on Medial Staff Problems (1982), and edited the Hospital Law Newsletter. Hershey served as president of the University of Pittsburgh Senate from 1998-2001. He was also a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, served as president of the American Academy of Healthcare Attorneys (1972), and was continuously listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1993.

HPM Friends and Alumni Scholarship Fund

HPM Friends and Alumni Scholarship Fund: This scholarship provides tuition support to students within the Department of Health Policy Management.

Donor: This fund was created by a leadership gift from Bob Henkel and continues to receive donations from alumni and students.

Hunter Group Health Policy and Management Student Scholarship Award: This endowed fund provides tuition assistance for students in the Department of Health Policy and Management

Donor: David Hunter served as senior managing director and principal of Hunter. In addition to leading The Hunter Group, first as president and then as chairman, Hunter personally directed The Hunter Group’s most complex projects involving academic medical centers, public hospitals, large systems, networks, HMOs, and large medical group practices. He has been a leader in the health care field for more than 35 years, with experience as a senior executive in rural hospitals, community hospital systems, and academic medical centers.

The Thomas and Jody Priselac Endowed Fund for Healthcare Leadership: Provides support for MHA students participating in selected professional and leadership development activities nationally, including professional association conferences, academic team competitions, professional networking, and other health management career path opportunities.

Donor: Thomas M. Priselac is president and chief executive officer of the Cedars-Sinai Health System—a position he has held since January 1994. Prior to being named president and CEO, he was executive vice president from 1988 to 1993. Throughout his career, he has been a leader in the development of strategic and operational innovations to foster high quality, safe and efficient health care as well as being actively involved in health care delivery and finance policy development. He is the holder of the Warschaw/Law Endowed Chair in Healthcare Leadership at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Becky Surma

Surma Scholarship for Long-Term Healthcare Administration in Policy and Aging: This endowed fund provides tuition support to Graduate School of Public Health students who are Pennsylvania residents and have demonstrated an interest in long-term health care administration or policies.

Donor: Elizabeth (Becky) Surma holds a Masters of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh, with an emphasis in health administration. While she worked as a hospital administrator in her early career, most of her adult life has been devoted to being a community volunteer. Surma has an avid interest in programs and services for seniors. She has served on the board of directors of the Baptist Homes Society for over twenty years, chairing the board from 2008 to 2011. She now serves on the board of the Baptist Homes Foundation and was recently elected to serve on the boards of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and Health Career Futures. She works with United Way on issues relating to aging and vulnerable seniors, and currently serves as co-chair of United for Caregivers. She has served on the Pitt Public Health Board of Visitors since 2007.

Donna Lee Schultz Memorial Fund: Income shall be used to provide support for student resources in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Pitt Public Health. The fund will be administered by the Chair of the Dept or his/her designee.

Donor: In December 2013, Pitt Public Health mourned the passing of Donna Lee Schultz. She spent more than 30 years as a dedicated, successful, and generous staff member in the Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM). Devoting much of her career to the well-being of the school, her loss is felt by countless students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The Donna Lee Schultz Memorial Fund was established in January 2014 by HPM to honor her memory and commitment to Pitt Public Health.