Philanthropist Fuels Duquesne's Nursing Pipeline

Duquesne University hosted a ribbon-cutting for the new Joanne Barkett Conway Simulation Center, an 8,600-square-foot, state-of-the-art training facility made possible through a nearly $4 million gift from the donor-advised fund at the Bedford Falls Foundation, established by Bill Conway, and his late wife Joanne Barkett Conway. Named in her memory, the new center significantly expands hands-on, technology-driven learning opportunities for graduate nursing students at Duquesne.

University leaders, faculty, students and guests gathered at the School of Nursing to celebrate the new facility, which expands access to advanced simulation technologies designed to mirror real-world health care environments.

When asked what continues to drive his long-term commitment to investing in nursing education, Conway credits two things. “First—it’s so clear that there is a need, whether it’s because of the burnout that nurses have, the growing aging population or the wonderful reputations that nurses have because of the wonderful job that they do,” he explained. 

“The other thing? I’ve been doing this for about 15 years, and I get enormous satisfaction from seeing the difference that the nurses make,” Conway added. “I get to witness all the great things that nurses do and feel like a tiny part of it. That’s very rewarding for me and I’m sure it would be for Joanne as well.”

Designed to reflect the complexity of modern health care settings, the Joanne Barkett Conway Simulation Center includes advanced simulation bays and a fully equipped operating room suite that is utilized by experienced critical care nurses who are graduate students in the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia program at Duquesne. The specialized training environments also benefit students training in advanced practice nursing, disability health care and forensic nursing.

“The Joanne Barket Conway Simulation Center greatly augments the holistic nursing education infused with cutting-edge technology that our School of Nursing is well known for,” said Duquesne University President Ken Gormley. “It provides an incredible benefit to our faculty who train our students and to the patients our graduates will one day serve.” 

The Simulation Center also features high-fidelity mannequins and integrated video and audio systems that allow faculty to recreate real clinical scenarios and provide immediate feedback—helping students build both technical skills and clinical judgment before entering patient care settings.

“In the classroom, we talk about procedures, different conditions and skills. What's great about this Simulation Center is that here, we can actually practice them,” explained Dr. Michael Neft, clinical professor and director of nurse anesthesia studies at Duquesne. “This is a safe space, students can make mistakes and learn from them, and nobody gets hurt.”

Brody Webster, a student in the DNP in Nurse Anesthesia program, said he’s been practicing intubating patients on the mannequins at the Simulation Center. “We are supposed to be airway management professionals, so you can never intubate enough times,” he shared, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience. “Duquesne is a very good school and this is a very good program with great professors. They’re with us the whole way through—when I get my first job, I know that I’ll be prepared.”

Conway has become one of the nation’s leading champions of nursing education, through his significant philanthropic contributions in the Washington, D.C., region and into a broader national investment in the nursing workforce. 

The demand for nurses continues to outpace supply across Pennsylvania and the region, according to Nursing Dean Dr. Mary Ellen Glasgow. “Bill Conway’s investments here have enabled us to expand capacity and prepare highly skilled nurses and future faculty in complex clinical environments that reflect the realities of today’s health care system,” she said. “His continued investment reflects a deep belief in our faculty, our students and our ability to prepare nurses and nurse educators who are ready to meet urgent workforce needs.”

Conway’s continued support of Duquesne through the Bedford Falls Foundation and its donor-advised fund reflects a focused effort to expand high-quality programs that can move more students into the workforce and prepare future nurse educators.

According to Conway, his Pittsburgh-native wife Joanne is behind his ongoing support of the School of Nursing. “She thought supporting Duquesne would be a good idea, so we did a tour of the school and learned about it and we agreed it was a good fit,” he said. 

The Joanne Barkett Conway Simulation Center builds on Conway’s growing impact at Duquesne. A previous $2.5 million gift established scholarships for students enrolled in the School of Nursing’s accelerated 12- and 16-month Second-Degree BSN undergraduate programs—helping more than 125 graduates enter the profession to date and more benefiting in 2026.

“It was such an honor to meet William Conway and celebrate the memory of Joanne Barkett Conway at the opening of Duquesne's new simulation center,” said Kaylen Peden, a current student in the University’s accelerated Second-Degree BSN program. “The Conways have made a tremendous impact on the education of nursing students, myself included, and I am proud to call myself a Conway Scholar. Without the Conway Scholarship, I would not have had the opportunity to pursue nursing. I know this new state-of-the-art simulation center will support the learning and educational needs of future nursing students for years to come.”

A Conway Innovation Challenge grant also helped increase the number of full-time nursing faculty at Duquesne, and the Foundation provided funding to add a second academic support coach to the school’s nursing staff. 

“I once had a nursing student say to me, ‘Mr. Conway, Nursing is the most respected profession in America as it should be.’ The nurses that we turn out from Duquesne, particularly, and other nursing schools are prepared to take care of people. The simulation lab here, I think, will be a big part of making them even better nurses.”

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of more than 8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

It's time for bigger goals. Follow Duquesne University on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and LinkedIn.
www.duq.edu