Duquesne University President Ken Gormley has announced this week that the university’s medical school will now be named the Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine, in recognition of the Jim and Celeste Nasuti providing Duquesne one of the two largest philanthropic commitments in its history. The university did not disclose the amount of the donation at the request of the family.
Jim Nasuti, a 1970 Duquesne graduate, and Celeste Bahl Nasuti, a Pittsburgh native, are co-founders of Summerwood, a West Conshohocken-based company that operates more than 200 Taco Bell and KFC franchises across six states. Their gift will support scholarships and faculty development, helping to ensure access to medical education for aspiring physicians committed to service.
“To have a couple with such meaningful connections to Duquesne and Pittsburgh emerge and provide such transformational philanthropic support for our medical school is truly inspirational,” said Gormley. “A significant portion of the funding will be used for scholarships, so that students who want to attend this mission-focused medical school will have that opportunity. This will enable our highly trained graduates of the Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine to go on and serve others in myriad ways.”
“We are just honored to be associated with such an excellent project,” said Jim Nasuti. “The world needs doctors. Plus, Duquesne adds that important consideration of service and helping people, going back to its founding purpose to help immigrants to Pittsburgh.”
Celeste Nasuti added, “This is a family decision and a family commitment. Our children are involved in our business and in this gift. We believe in Duquesne’s mission and its people.”
“The Nasutis’ care for people aligns with our Spiritan commitment to developing authentic relationships,” said the Rev. John Fogarty, C.S.Sp., U.S. Provincial of the Spiritans. “It’s wonderful to have people that have modeled that work serve as benefactors for the school, and to see a connection all the way from Holy Ghost Prep to Duquesne to now!”
Diane Hupp, Chair of Duquesne’s Board of Directors and CEO of UPMC Children’s Hospital, emphasized the societal impact of the gift: “We need highly qualified doctors, especially primary care doctors, and their gift is serving a crucial good for our society. We are honored to be the home of the Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine at this special university.”
Photo: Duquesne University