For thirty years, Dr. Jean Anne Paterson gave to the University of Manitoba both as a professor and as a researcher, focusing on the area of developmental neuroscience in the Faculty of
Medicine.

Now, as a retiree, she continues her legacy of support by acting as co-chair of the faculty and staff giving campaign and by choosing to give her financial support to the Neil John Maclean library.

“I chose the library because I really felt that this is a resource that benefits every group that works in the health profession,” she says. “It’s a resource that benefits students because of the books and the video aids and it also benefits researchers and clinicians.”

The Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library supports the teaching, research and patient care requirements of the staff and students in the Faculties of Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing and the Schools of Dental Hygiene and Medical Rehabilitation.

Paterson also noted that the library staff always went the extra mile to make her work easier as a teacher.

“I was always very grateful for the responsiveness and cooperativeness of the library,” Paterson says. “I would say that this library is a model of staff/faculty cooperation. It always made my life so much more pleasant to have this cooperation.”

Paterson also noted that she had an ulterior motive for donating to the Neil John Maclean library in particular.

“When I retired I wanted to give financially because I believe in lifelong learning and wanted to come back to the library,” she says. “I’ve been welcomed back to the library, as have other retirees. I knew that the money would be well spent and that I would possibly benefit.”

The needs of present and future students were also on Paterson’s mind when she made her decision to give to the library.

“I know the students value the library as a place to study as well as a place to gain access to resources, so I was definitely influenced by the students,” she says.

In the end, Paterson sees her financial support of the University of Manitoba as a wise investment in a valuable resource and encourages others to do the same.

“To encourage others I would say that their money will be well used,” she says. “It will be used not only for the present but to invest in the future because students are our future.”