Good For The Community

Good For The Community

As members of the Albuquerque community off and on for nearly four decades, Duffy Swan and his wife Jean Ann understand the value of creating a strong community.

“Access to high-quality, specialized healthcare draws professionals and creates opportunities for collaboration in all areas of society,” says Duffy.

Duffy is the past chairman of French Family of Companies where he worked for 10 years. He also worked in the worldwide telecommunications community and served two different periods as director of development and president of the University of New Mexico Foundation. Throughout his professional life, Duffy has always felt an obligation to help strengthen the community. His involvement in Albuquerque Economic Forum with former Presbyterian CEO Jim Hinton gave him deeper exposure to Presbyterian and its role in strengthening the community.

An avid exerciser, Duffy first gained appreciation for the importance and intricacies of neurology when he required surgery for lower back pain while living in Denver in the mid-80s.

“We were advised how important it was to have a good neurologist,” says Jean Ann. “Once we moved back to New Mexico, we became very aware of how few neurosurgeons were available in Albuquerque. It’s such an important medical specialty so anything we can do to help develop it in this community is worthwhile.”

In making their gift to PHF late last year, the Swans wanted to make sure their contribution would help facilitate Albuquerque’s role as a hub for expanded access to specialized healthcare.

“We’re really motivated to support this project,” says Jean Ann. “Neuroscience is a very key part of medicine, where so many doctors across so many specialties work together. We like the idea that over time, this program will grow and have greater influence over a broader area of healthcare throughout New Mexico.”