Einar Cook’s Legacy Inspires Clovis Medical School President

Einar Cook was a humble, visionary leader. He dedicated his life to serving and inspiring others and improving the City of Clovis for the benefit of the whole community.

Einar Cook is an inspiration to leaders like Florence T. Dunn, Founding President of California Health Sciences University (CHSU).  President Dunn exemplifies Einar’s selfless character with her commitment to advance the City of Clovis and the surrounding communities. She is well-known for her extensive record of shaping and helping organizations of all industries succeed in the Central Valley’s unique economy during her three decades of banking in the region.

The Clovis Chamber of Commerce awarded the Einar Cook Leadership Award to President Dunn at the Salute to Business Awards Luncheon on January 25, 2024. This honor recognizes individuals who effectively adapt their vision for the Clovis community into existence.

Einar’s son, Jerry Cook, presented President Dunn with the award for her long-time advocacy for education and community service in Clovis and the entire Central Valley.

While accepting the award in the presence of her colleagues, friends, and family, President Dunn remarked, “Leadership, in my opinion, is not about standing at the front and dictating directions. It is about empowering others, fostering a sense of unity, and working towards a common goal.“

Sharing Einar Cook’s mission to provide for families in the Clovis area, President Dunn’s recent efforts have been serving as the Founding President of CHSU since 2012 to fulfill the university’s mission by educating future physicians and other healthcare professionals in this region so they will who stay and serve locally.

“Our university mission, to improve the healthcare outcomes of people living in the Central Valley, is not a solo act. It’s a collaborative effort that thrives on the collective spirit of individuals who are passionate about making a difference,” stated President Dunn.

Under her leadership, the university has rapidly grown, successfully building the current campus, and establishing the  CHSU Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine; Pharmacy; and Biomedical Sciences and Health Professions. CHSU is the first university of its kind in Central California to open a medical school located in Clovis, which will graduate its inaugural class of medical students in May 2024.

Clovis Chamber of Commerce President, Greg Newman, congratulated President Dunn for being named as the Einar Cook Leadership Award recipient.

“We treasure our relationship with California Health Sciences University and are blessed to have you support so many of our events and programs at the Clovis Chamber of Commerce,” said President Newman. “It is passionate families and companies like you that have built this community and make it such a wonderful place to live, work and play.”

Join CHSU in congratulating President Florence T. Dunn and in thanking the Cook family for their continued support of visionary leaders who meet the needs of the Clovis community.