Long-Lived Support: Couple's Planned Gift to UNM Hospital College of Nursing to Benefit All New Mexicans

Comprehensive, quality health care for the people of Bernalillo County and specialized services for all New Mexicans—this is UNM Hospital's mission. UNM College of Nursing (CON) prepares students for challenging nursing work within their communities. Both institutions face significant triumphs and challenges in providing compassionate care. The generosity of individuals like Gerald (Jerry) and Barbara Landgraf, however, goes a long way in helping the hospital and the college maintain their traditions of excellence.

A History of Partnership

The Landgrafs have made a bequest gift that will benefit both UNM Children's Hospital and the CON. The hospital portion, said Jerry, is in recognition of the partnership between the hospital and the managed care business that he was instrumental in creating and developing in the state.

"I happened to get into the administration side of HMOs," said Jerry, "and one of the reasons for the gift was in recognition of UNMH's support toward our HMO program."

In 1984 Jerry co-founded Health Care Horizons, which became the parent company of Cimarron Health Plan. Cimarron provided commercial and Medicaid managed care plans, and UNMH was a contractor for hospital and physician services.

Cimarron also developed and provided administrative support for UNM Care, a tax-supported health care assistance program for low-income Bernalillo County residents. In 1997 Cimarron won part of the state's Salud! managed care contract for Medicaid populations. "When we got into the Medicaid business," he continued, "UNMH was our primary provider for that population."

Jerry was chief operating officer and a member of the board of trustees for Cimarron Health Plan, which was acquired by Molina Healthcare in 2004. Prior to his work at Cimarron, he helped Presbyterian Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital form HealthPlus of New Mexico—which later became Presbyterian Health Plan. Jerry has served on UNM Medical Group Advisory Board and the UNM Foundation Board of Trustees. Barbara is an educational diagnostician with Albuquerque Public Schools.

"Barbara and Jerry have given so much of their time and various other resources to UNM Hospital, including significant financial support," said UNMH CEO Steve McKernan. "Their planned gift to UNM Children's Hospital honors this passion and reflects their vision of creating continued support for New Mexico's smallest and sickest patients. We are humbled and grateful for their generosity."

Crucial Support for Future Nurses

The CON portion of the Landgraf's planned gift will aid the vital role that registered nurses play in the health care system. Jerry's mother Dorothy, who lived and attended nursing school in Iowa, was a nurse, as are five of Jerry's sisters. "Nursing is a tremendously noble and much-needed profession," he said, "and [the college] has a well-rounded program. In New Mexico, some students have a hard time financially when getting a degree."

Several years ago, the Landgrafs established the Dorothy Landgraf Memorial Scholarship Endowment in Nursing to assist CON students with financial need. "We did that to honor what my mother has done in her lifetime and to carry it forward," said Jerry.

"Jerry and Barbara have already impacted the lives of our nursing students through the creation of the memorial scholarship," said CON Dean Nancy Ridenour, PhD, RN, APRN, BC, FAAN. "Their decision to include the endowment in their estate plan will ensure that future generations of nursing students are able to receive financial support and achieve their dreams of becoming nurses."

Story by Michelle G. McRuiz