In memoriam: Nina Donnelley, friend and philanthropist
Nina Herrmann Donnelley, a friend and philanthropic supporter of our Division of General Internal Medicine, died on November 19, 2025.
In 2017, Nina and her husband Jim established the Phillip August and Sarah Neely Herrmann Professorship in General Internal Medicine.
The endowed professorship honors Nina’s parents, Phillip and Sarah Herrman, and their legacy of healthcare volunteerism.
Phillip Herrman was a railroad dispatcher in western Maryland from 1936 until 1977. He volunteered weekly at two local hospitals and the Red Cross, and taught Sunday school for over 50 years.
He and his wife instilled those same values of empathy in Nina, who was an ordained Christian minister, a chaplain at two hospitals, and the author of two published books and several articles on death and dying.
Elizabeth Trowbridge, MD, clinical professor and chief, General Internal Medicine—and Nina’s former physician—was the first faculty member to hold the professorship.
Kelly Lavin, MD, clinical associate professor, General Internal Medicine, has held it since 2022.
At the 2022 Department of Medicine investiture ceremony, Nina shared this message:
“Our gift to support primary care here at UW was a particularly fitting way to recognize my parents’ legacy of empathy and concern for patients, as well as their life-long volunteerism in the healthcare field. I am glad that Dr. Kelly Lavin will hold this professorship that has so much meaning for my family. I’ll look forward to hearing how her work will make a positive difference for patients in the future.”
“It means so much to the primary care track to have had Nina’s support over the last several years,” says Dr. Lavin. “With it, we have been able to create novel curriculum and expand our knowledge in crucial areas to better serve our patients. Nina's generosity and caring nature set a wonderful example for all our learners—and for me. She will truly be missed.”
A celebration of Nina’s life will be held at a later date.