For more than 40 years, Carola Bruflat (WHNP ‘98) has been a formidable force in women’s health. From her early days serving in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps to later working with VCU Nursing luminaries like Judy Collins, Joanne Henry, Ellis Youngkin and her faculty advisor, Judy Lewis, what Carola learned all along the way was that advocacy for patients goes hand in hand with clinical expertise.

“If you don't advocate for your patients and your professional role in their care, someone else is going to make those decisions for you,” Bruflat recalls.

Carola carried this philosophy with her during her extensive work with national and state organizations such as the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses and the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners. She recognized an ongoing need to speak out for the nursing profession and the patients it serves.

It’s no surprise that this lifelong dedication naturally evolved into meaningful philanthropy. The catalyst for Carola Bruflat’s most recent major investment in the VCU School of Nursing began with a conversation with Dean Patricia Kinser, who shares Bruflat's passion and vision for advancing women's health through education, research and practice. Kinser, Bruflat and Jessica Sorensen, senior director of development, worked together to bring this vision to life. The result was The Bruflat Initiative for Maternal and Family Health, a visionary investment that supports innovative care models, learning opportunities for students, leadership development that supports all nurses passionate about women’s health and families, and research focused on improving outcomes for women and families.

If you don't advocate for your patients and your professional role in their care, someone else is going to make those decisions for you.

Carola Bruflat
Alumna and School of Nursing Donor

Bruflat recalls her excitement during the development of the initiative. "It is designed to support experiences for students and research about women's health and maternal mental health — I thought, 'we’ve gotta do this.' And so here we are. I'm very happy to support it."

Through The Bruflat Initiative, her generosity will help translate research into action and prepare the next generation of nurse leaders to advance maternal and family health. For example, the initiative will support students to work side-by-side with faculty on clinical care and research in innovative care models like the Mobile Health and Wellness Program.

The Bruflat Initiative isn’t Carola’s first investment at VCU. In 2021, Bruflat established the Carola Bruflat Advanced Practice Nursing Scholarship, designed to support Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice students pursuing specialties with a specific focus on women’s health and health policy.

For Bruflat, investing in VCU is a natural extension of the relationships and experiences that have shaped her life. “VCU really has become quite a home to me,” she says. “I have a lot of friends down here in Richmond, and so I've always enjoyed coming back.”

Her continued commitment reflects the power of philanthropy rooted in purpose: a belief that investing in people, advancing discovery and supporting innovation today will create a healthier future for generations to come.