Chinese-American entrepreneur donates $30 million, UCLA School of Nursing renamed in historic move

The UCLA School of Nursing will be renamed the "Joe C. Wen School of Nursing" as Chinese-American entrepreneur Joe C. Wen donates $30 million, setting a new record for the school.

[Los Angeles, News]

Chinese-American entrepreneur and alumnus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Joe C. Wen, along with his family, recently donated $30 million to the UCLA School of Nursing, marking the largest single donation the school has ever received since its establishment in 1949. To honor his generous contribution, UCLA announced that the School of Nursing will officially be renamed "UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing," which also becomes the first college at UCLA named after an Asian American in its history.

Supporting nursing education and AI medical innovation, promoting balanced development of academia and community

UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk stated: “Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. This extraordinary donation from Joe C. Wen and his family reflects respect and foresight for nursing, and will significantly enhance our ability to cultivate the next generation of nursing leaders and researchers.”

Dean Lin Zhan of the School of Nursing also pointed out that this historically significant investment will help the school continue to uphold its tradition of innovation, leadership, and excellence, and further develop nursing education, research, and practice.

This donation will focus on supporting four educational programs at the School of Nursing, covering more than 600 students, from undergraduate to doctoral levels. It will also be used to expand faculty and student research resources, promote the application of artificial intelligence technology in nursing practice, and strengthen community health programs serving marginalized groups such as the homeless in Los Angeles.

From Taiwanese immigrant to multinational group founder, Joe C. Wen contributes to public healthcare education

Joe C. Wen immigrated to the United States from Taiwan as a child with his family. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in economics in 1998, and later obtained an MBA from the University of Southern California. In 2003, he founded a paper trading company, which gradually developed into a multinational business group called Formosa Ltd., covering real estate development, venture capital, forest product manufacturing, and international trade.

In a statement, he said: “This transformative donation will help build an academic research powerhouse and a think tank for future nursing leaders around the world.”

He emphasized, “My alma mater inspires me. It shaped our firm belief that educational institutions are drivers of human health transformation. I am honored to support this great cause. Most importantly, this donation will have a direct and profound impact on the communities in Southern California, especially in today's challenging healthcare environment, bringing more direct and profound impacts through additional research funding and advancements in artificial intelligence in the healthcare field.”

Wide-reaching impact: Cultivating future nursing talents to address the shortage of nurses

The School of Nursing works closely with the UCLA Health system, which employs nearly 6,000 nurses in California, jointly committed to cultivating professional talents skilled in evidence-based nursing and technological tools. President of the UCLA Health system, Johnese Spisso, emphasized: “In the face of a nationwide shortage of nurses, this transformative donation will ensure our ability to train excellent nursing talents, maintain medical quality, and sustain innovation.”

Additionally, Joe C. Wen and his family have continued to support the development of the entire University of California system, including establishing the "Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health" at the University of California, Irvine in 2024. Since 2022, the total donations from his family to the University of California system have exceeded $100 million.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839668164610183/

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