For mind, body, spirit

Mental health and physical wellness are inextricably linked.

You don’t have to work in health care to know it, but one couple who are longtime members of the Dayton health community are making sure the connection has high priority on campus thanks to a foundational gift to UD’s new Health and Wellbeing Center.

Mary Boosalis, former president and CEO of Premier Health, and Tom Olsen, physician with Dermatologists of Central States, have made a significant gift during early fundraising for the new center, one gift of several that have allowed construction to begin. Boosalis served for 12 years on the University of Dayton board of trustees, including three as chair. 

“By joining this campaign and donating, we’re acknowledging the need and helping address barriers to access,” Boosalis said. “At the end of the day, you want a student to have the ability to take greater control of their lives, not just during times of stressors in academic life, but also early on in their lives and careers.”

UD broke ground on the center in late winter, and it is expected to open in fall 2026.

The Health and Wellbeing Center will combine the services of UD’s health and counseling centers with the recreation and programming opportunities of RecPlex. The new center and RecPlex will be connected, which Boosalis hopes will facilitate campus conversations about the many aspects of wellness and reduce the stigma of seeking mental health care.

The center and its services will be a $30 million investment paid for through ongoing fundraising and a student charge to be assessed as part of UD’s transparent tuition plan after the center opens. The new center will increase health center appointment capacity by 80% and counseling center clinical hours by 46%. Staffing and programming will support overall health and wellness, and, once the building is open, full-time undergraduate students will not have to pay for services including appointments, lab tests, intramurals, fitness classes and more.

Olsen extends his dedication for the care of his patients to his philosophy of giving: “If you can help, I think you need to help.”

Said Boosalis, “Today’s students will drive the world’s future, so supporting their well being is certainly worthwhile.”

Boosalis, who serves as co-chair of the Health and Wellbeing Center’s fundraising campaign alongside Kristin Scheidt Dailey ’98, said she and her husband recognize the need for students to be well in body, mind and spirit to thrive. Giving to the new center, they said, supports two things they are passionate about: education to support young people, and the Dayton community.

Said Boosalis, “Today’s students will drive the world’s future, so supporting their well being is certainly worthwhile.”

A version of this article appears in print in the Spring 2025 University of Dayton Magazine, Page 12. EXPLORE THE ISSUE — MORE ONLINE