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YOUNGSTOWN – Dr. Chander M. Kohli, a prominent local neurosurgeon and former chair of the Youngstown State University Board of Trustees, has donated $1.25 million to YSU's Centofanti School of Nursing, located within the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services, in honor of his late wife, Karen Kohli.
In recognition of this gift, the second-floor east nursing wing in the Bitonte College will be formally known as the "Karen L. Kohli Nursing Wing."
"Dr. Kohli's generosity is a powerful testament to his lasting commitment to Youngstown State University and to the community he has served for so many years," said Bill Johnson, president of Youngstown State University. "Naming this nursing wing in honor of Karen is a fitting tribute to a woman whose life was devoted to caring for others. Her name will now be associated with a place that represents opportunity, service and the continued advancement of healthcare in our region. We are honored to celebrate Karen's memory and grateful to Dr. Kohli for this extraordinary gift and his continued belief in the mission of Youngstown State."
The Karen L. Kohli Nursing Wing comprises three nursing classrooms and one nursing laboratory. It runs the entire length of Cushwa Hall from north to south. This wing reflects the evolving nature of healthcare education through the integration of advanced simulation technology and a traditional clinical training laboratory. This learning environment prepares students with the technical skills, clinical judgment, and hands-on experience necessary for today's healthcare industry.
"Karen Kohli's legacy reflects the heart of nursing: compassion, dedication and a commitment to improving the lives of others," said Sara Michaliszyn, dean of the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services. "This generous gift will create meaningful opportunities for our nursing students to learn, practice and grow in an environment that connects classroom knowledge with real-world experience. It is especially meaningful that this space will carry Karen's name, creating a lasting connection between her legacy of compassionate care and the future nurses who will go on to serve patients, families and communities."
Karen Kohli, a graduate of the M.B. School of Nursing in Elyria, dedicated her career to compassionate patient care at Elyria Memorial Hospital. While working there, she met her future husband, Chander Kohli. The couple married and went on to have two children, son Aneal, who died in 2007, and daughter Nisha.
Karen was widely recognized for exemplifying the true spirit of nursing through her compassion, dedication, and ability to create meaningful human connections that transformed care into healing and support.
A native of India, Dr. Kohli graduated from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and served more than three years in the armed forces of India as a general duty medical officer. He came to the United States in 1966. He did his rotating internship and one-year surgical residency at the Elyria Memorial Hospital, Elyria, Ohio, and served neurosurgical residencies at the University Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh. He started his own private neurosurgical practice in Youngstown in 1972.