An enduring legacy: Alumna and faculty member gives back to the school that shaped her career

Mary Pat Rapp, PhD ’06, MSN ’89, RN, explored many areas of nursing before she found her passion in caring for older adults.

“I saw gerontology nursing as the conductor of the orchestra in managing many of the concerns associated with an older population,” she said.

She earned a master’s degree at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston to become a gerontological nurse practitioner. Upon graduation, Rapp joined her physician husband in developing a collaborative model of care for nursing facility residents. Their nurse-physician team was among the first of its kind in the Houston area and eventually gained national recognition. The practice, Geriatric Associates of America (GAA), also became a training site for nurse practitioners, geriatric fellows, and medical residents, many of whom joined GAA or established their own practices based on its approach. Through its commitment to both clinical care and education, GAA earned recognition for excellence in clinical practice and teaching.

Rapp later returned to Cizik School of Nursing for her doctorate. Her thesis sparked a lifelong interest in research, eventually leading her to join the school’s faculty. As an instructor in the gerontology nurse practitioner courses, she observed her students’ excitement as they grew their clinical and decision-making skills and embarked on their nursing careers.

“It was gratifying to see them go into the community and foster excellence in the care of older adults in a variety of settings, from nursing homes to teaching roles in medical center hospitals and as key members of interdisciplinary teams,” said Rapp, who is now retired.

Having received scholarship support during her own nursing education and research funding through philanthropy as a faculty member, she believes strongly in giving back. She created an endowment to support faculty research and included Cizik School of Nursing in her estate plans to provide student scholarships and further advance nursing science.

“My husband and I have chosen to contribute the bulk of our gifts upon final settlement of our estate,” she said. “We expect the estate to grow as we age, increasing our contribution in the years to come.”

For Rapp, leaving a legacy gift is both a meaningful way to support the school and an expression of her belief in the power of education, service, and mentorship.

“Legacy gifts are a message to students and faculty that alumni and other supporters value them and the opportunities afforded by Cizik School of Nursing,” Rapp said. “I hope our legacy gift will inspire others to support the mission of the school in its efforts to prepare tomorrow’s nursing leaders.”

Rapp’s education and rewarding career in nursing, teaching, and research have given her a deep appreciation for the school’s impact.

“This is my opportunity to contribute,” she said. “We will always need nurses, and students will always need faculty for guidance and mentoring, from basic clinical practice through research. By providing research support, I hope to help Cizik School of Nursing continue to recruit and retain excellent faculty. Providing scholarships eases students’ financial burdens and helps shape the next generation of nurses.”