Universities exist to educate and prepare individuals to think critically, pursue careers and serve society. Richard Pitts, D.O.’73, Ph.D., and his wife, Colleen O’Connor, CRNA, both agree there is one additional purpose that is often overlooked.Â
“A university has the obligation to do more than teach,” says Pitts, chief medical officer at CalOptima Health, a public agency in Orange, California. “A university must also search for new knowledge. There is no question that DMU has done an excellent job in the field of education. Now is the time for the university to develop a strong research program to expand its reach and reputation.”
The couple has invested in that goal with their recent gift to the Purple & Proud Campaign at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, which will establish the endowed Dr. Angela L. Walker Franklin Research Fund. Named in honor of DMU’s 15th president and CEO, the fund “will play a crucial role in fostering a vibrant and productive research environment within DMU,” says Pravin Mishra, Ph.D., M.B.A., executive director of research.
“The fund will enable the Office of Research to initiate and support innovative projects with a focus on technology and product development, including patient-centered, applied and translation research projects leading to groundbreaking discoveries and advancements,” Mishra says. “Research funded by donations at DMU can have practical applications that benefit society and stimulate the state’s economic growth. The fund also will help us create more student research training opportunities.”
Pitts and O’Connor know firsthand the transformative power of research. Pitts was involved in research projects during his undergraduate degree, in his Ph.D. research, in his time as a faculty member at the University of California and at a teaching hospital where he was the chief medical officer.
“I have always found research to be invigorating and knowledge-expanding,” he says. “It doesn’t mean it is always easy, but it has always been rewarding.” 
During O’Connor’s anesthesia training, she researched oxygen desaturation from the operating room to the recovery room using the then-new technology of pulse oximetry, a painless, noninvasive method of measuring oxygen saturation in a person’s blood.
“Her research resulted in an entire hospital system adopting a new approach to post-operative care regarding oxygen monitoring,” Pitts says.
“Philanthropy is critical to nurturing DMU’s expanding research enterprise,” says Stephanie Greiner, M.S., vice president of advancement. “The commitment shown by Dr. Pitts and Colleen will have an immeasurable impact on the university, making research more accessible to more students and attracting the best faculty. We are so grateful to them for this life-changing gift.”
The couple named the research fund after Franklin, whom Pitts described as “the president of an incredible university on the precipice of greatness.”
“By any measure, Dr. Franklin is a true one-of-a-kind,” he says. “My wife and I are not ones who seek recognition for our donations. We want to celebrate those who have made a positive contribution to education, to our society and to our country. We celebrate Dr. Franklin and DMU.”
