Martha Hicks, director of Medical Center development and alumni affairs, calls Louise Warner “one of the most considerate and caring persons” she has ever met.
Warner has been a member of the Medical Alumni Society board of governors since 1985. She also sat on the group’s student relations subcommittee, which is responsible for reviewing proposals for funding of trips and conferences that facilitate students’ experience outside the classroom.
“Her passion for the College of Medicine and concern for the well-being of our students was very apparent in our first conversation,” wrote Hicks. “The College of Medicine, as well as the university, has been truly blessed with the time, talent, and treasure that Dr. Warner has given through her affiliation.”
In 1995, Warner approached the Medical Center’s alumni affairs staff with a proposal to provide a reading and reflection space in Meiling Hall. She recognized that students need a place to occasionally remove themselves from their rigorous schedules.
Warner established the Warner Family Endowment in April 2005 with instructions that annual interest from the fund be used to purchase books for students and other materials emphasizing personal and spiritual growth. The library contains no medical books, but does include current periodicals such as the Economist and Newsweek.
“This designated space is the perfect place to retreat to during our busy days and allows us to develop ourselves beyond the medical curriculum. It also allows us to an opportunity to broaden our horizons and keep us connected to the world around us, outside of the world of medicine,” wrote Kathryn Richards of the Class of 2010. “Being well-rounded not only improves our own well-being, but naturally also improves the care we provide to our fellow medical students, our medical community, and most importantly, the patients we serve.”
Warner and her husband, Clyde Gosnell, also met with staff from Meiling Hall to develop a plan for updating the student lounge. It received a fresh coat of paint and new carpeting, along with additional furniture, lighting, and shelves to hold the materials for the reading and reflection space.
Warner continues to be active in the upkeep of the student lounge and the expansion of the reading materials. A call for additional books from medical alumni, staff, and students has encouraged others to become involved.
In 2005, during her 50-year reunion, Warner received the College of Medicine’s Alumni Achievement Award.
“Dr. Louise Warner has been a wonderful advocate for our medical students and is truly deserving of this award,” wrote Wiley W. Souba, interim senior vice president for health sciences, interim CEO for the Medical Center, and executive dean for health sciences and dean of the College of Medicine.