UH Nursing School Honors Nancy Atmospera-Walch
Last month, University of Hawaii (UH) unveiled its permanent signage at Webster Hall to honor its new nursing school name: Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing.
“The school was renamed in honor of Dr. Nancy Atmospera-Walch for her transformational gift that will have an enduring impact on the quality of nursing education, student success, community service and the nursing profession,” said UH in a statement.
Born and raised in Vigan, Ilocos Sur in the Philippines, Atmospera-Walch moved to Hawaii after she graduated high school.
She was initially discouraged from attending college but she pursued and earned her Associate and Bachelor’s degree in Nursing in 1971 and 1977. In 1988, she received her Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Education. Then in 2017, she received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice, Organizational Leadership at UH.
“It is a tremendous honor to be the namesake of the Nursing School because my nursing education has had a great influence on my career and my life,” said Atmospera-Walch. “Without the UH School of Nursing I would not be who I am today. It is my sincere wish that every nursing student who passes through these doors will use the education they receive here to achieve their dreams, too.”
As a honorary donor of the UH nursing school, her gifts focuses on four areas of nursing: improving school health for Hawaii’s keiki, addressing the State’s nursing workforce shortage, supporting future nurses and developing early-career nursing faculty.
UH President David Lassner said her gift will be invested in critical areas to elevate UH Manoa’s School of Nursing.
“These new resources will be strategically invested in critical areas that enable UH to improve the health of people and communities across our islands,” said Lassner. “We are proud to display Dr. Atmospera-Walch’s name on the school she is helping to do so much for Hawaii.”
Interim dean of the nursing school, Celementina D. Ceria-Ulep, says she’s proud of Atmospera-Walch.
“She is a compassionate nurse, savvy businesswoman, dedicated family woman, and role model for our nursing community. As the first immigrant woman to have a UH school named after her, we are immensely proud of her achievements and her support,” said Ceria-Ulep.
Atmospera-Walch served 29 years at The Queen’s Medical Center in clinical, management and administrative aread. In 2009, she founded ADVANTAGE Health Care Provider, Inc. that provides health care services and support to intellectually and developmentally disabled clients. Moreover, she is the founder and CEO of AIM Healthcare Institute, a health care education and consulting company.
