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James Sampson was a Jesuit priest studying biology at Harvard when he began to doubt his plans for a career in academia. He watched as friends and colleagues succumbed to HIV and AIDS, and wanted to help—but wasn’t sure how. 

A friend encouraged him to consider becoming a nurse practitioner, and he began sitting in on nursing classes at top schools, such as Yale and Columbia—but felt something was missing. Then his friend suggested he visit �ǿմ�ý. The “jaded Chicagoan” was skeptical about moving to Cleveland, but would later regard it as one of the best decisions he ever made. 

Sampson found the holistic style of teaching he was seeking at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. As an alumnus, he became a regular donor and recently named the school in his estate plans.

“Philanthropy is more than just opening your checkbook. It has to be, at its deepest, an expression of gratitude,” said Sampson, NP, DNP (NUR ’94, ’96). “It is incumbent upon us [as alumni] to acknowledge our experience by giving of our time, talent and treasure.”

Sampson, who already had two bachelor’s and two master’s degrees before attending �ǿմ�ý, graduated from Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing with his bachelor’s, nurse practitioner certificate and doctorate. He moved to Denver, where he joined the Denver Health Infectious Disease Clinic and taught pathophysiology and pharmacology for 11 years at both Regis University and University of Colorado.

He briefly retired from the clinic in 2022—for 30 days, before they asked him to come back part time. His fluency in Spanish and expertise in infectious disease keep him in high demand for a city experiencing a ballooning refugee population. 

“I’ve had a professionally stimulating, intellectually challenging and financially rewarding career because of �ǿմ�ý,” said Sampson “I give so more students can have that same experience.”

Originally published in the summer 2024 issue of Forward Thinking magazine