The University of Pennsylvania has announced a $125 million gift from alumnus Leonard A. Lauder, chair emeritus of the Estée Lauder Companies, to create a tuition-free nurse practitioner program.

The largest gift ever to an American nursing school will establish the Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Program, which will recruit and prepare a diverse cadre of expert nurse practitioners to provide primary care to individuals and families in underserved communities across the United States. Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Fellows will enroll full-time in a two-year Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program at Penn Nursing. Fellows will complete at least 50 percent of their clinical education at community partner sites and/or comparable sites that provide direct patient care.

Penn Nursing will select 10 fellows to begin classes this fall and expand the program through 2026, when it will reach its annual target enrollment of 40 fellows. By 2027, the program will have enrolled 140 nurse practitioner students. The program will provide all participants with financial aid to cover tuition and fees, enabling them to enter the workforce free of graduate school debt, thereby eliminating any potential financial barriers for those who wish to enroll. In addition, Penn Nursing will provide funding for select community partner sites to support the clinical education of Lauder Fellows while offering professional development and networking opportunities and access to school and university resources.

“Penn Nursing has a long history of advancing science, promoting equity, practice excellence, and preparing leaders.... The synergy between Penn Nursing and the program will improve the health of underserved patients and families by uniquely preparing primary care nurse practitioners, who will work with them in their communities. The sustained investment in the education and careers of primary care nurse practitioners and communities is unprecedented,” said Penn Nursing dean Antonia Villarruel. “We are deeply grateful to Mr. Lauder for recognizing and investing in this critical need, and for partnering with us in this ambitious endeavor.”

“Now more than ever, the country needs greater and more equitable access to quality primary care—and highly-skilled nurse practitioners are the key to making that happen,” said Lauder. “The program will ensure that more Americans receive the essential health care services that everyone deserves, and I’m so pleased to be working with Penn Nursing on this initiative. I look forward to welcoming our first class of future nurse practitioners this fall. I know their expertise will be matched only by their commitment to serving our communities.”

(Photo credit: Mark Leibowitz)