A recent bequest to the UCSF School of Nursing will carry on the life's work of an alumna whose career spanned three continents. In excess of $350,000, the gift from the estate of Elizabeth Hill Asche, MPH, creates scholarships for nursing students, including foreign students who will apply their UCSF education in their home countries.

A 1927 graduate, Asche became the first executive director of the Visiting Nurses Association of Los Angeles and served in the US Army Nurse Corps in Washington during World War II. She spent the majority of the rest of her career with the World Health Organization. Asche taught in China, developed education and service programs in the Philippines and—as Assistant Chief Nurse at the WHO's Switzerland office—established policy for the creation of nursing schools in developing countries. In 1965, Asche joined the faculty at UCSF, where she taught public health for the final nine years of her career.

Asche's bequest funds a series of annual scholarships awarded to masters and doctoral students at the School of Nursing. Special consideration will be given to traditionally underrepresented students, particularly international students committed to working in their native countries after completing their UCSF education. The initial round of scholarships will be awarded this fall.

"The School is tremendously grateful for Elizabeth Asche's generosity and thoughtfulness," says Assistant Dean of Academic Services and Diversity Enhancement Judy Martin-Holland, MS, RN, CS, FNP. "Her gift will spread UCSF knowledge around the world and create a fitting legacy for one of our most globally connected alumnae."

To learn more about giving to the UCSF School of Nursing, contact Mark Boone at mboone@support.ucsf.edu or 415/502-8310. For information on making a planned gift to UCSF, contact the UCSF Office of Planned Giving at plannedgiving@support.ucsf.edu or 415/476-1475.