Jeanne Rous’s compassion, skill and dedication as a nurse midwife are an inspiration to all who follow in her footsteps. In honor of her distinguished contributions to the field, the Jeanne Rous Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at the UCSF School of Nursing—the first fund specially dedicated to supporting students in the Nurse Midwifery Program.

A graduate of the program, Rous taught obstetrics at UCSF and is fondly remembered by both nurses and physicians who were her students. She later practiced at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Redwood City, California, where she was revered by her colleagues.

Thanks to gifts from many of these former students and colleagues, the scholarship fund has exceeded its $50,000 goal. Lead gifts included generous contributions from Maryann Frisbie, a nurse midwife; physicians David Hung, Ruth Shaber and Michael Nwynn; and Rous's loving family.

“Jeanne valued education very highly,” remembers her husband, Marvin Rous. “The best way to pay tribute to her work is through this fund, which will help students pursue their careers as nurse midwives.”

Since its inception in 1975, UCSF’s Nurse Midwifery Program has graduated hundreds of nurse midwives, and the midwifery faculty practice has attended more than 10,000 women at their deliveries. Nurse midwives provide primary care to childbearing women in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings, including hospitals, homes and birth centers. The program is dedicated to increasing service to vulnerable and underserved women and families.

“The scholarship will be the enduring legacy of Jeanne Rous,” says School of Nursing Dean Kathleen Dracup. “Jeanne was an exceptionally skilled nurse midwife, and UCSF is proud to be able to honor her memory in this way.”

To contribute to the Jeanne Rous Memorial Scholarship Fund or for more information about the Nurse Midwifery Program at UCSF, contact Mark Boone at 415/502-8310 or mboone@support.ucsf.edu.