James Raper, Scott Holtham Compassionate Care Endowment boosts UAH College of Nursing

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (MAR 26, 2026) – The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) College of Nursing has a new way to promote the well-being of the college's faculty and staff as they nurture the nursing profession's next generation of caregivers: the James Raper and Scott Holtham Compassionate Care Endowment. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System.

"A nursing program is only as strong as the people who sustain it," says Dr. Yeow Chye Ng, professor and associate dean of graduate programs, College of Nursing. "When we invest in the resilience, connection and emotional health of our faculty and staff, we are ultimately investing in every patient who will one day be touched by the nurses they help to form."

The endowment was established in the spring 2026 semester to honor the legacy of two individuals whose lives reflect compassion, generosity and unwavering support for others.

"Faculty and staff at the College of Nursing pour their hearts into shaping the next generation of health care professionals, often carrying the emotional weight of that sacred responsibility quietly and alone. This endowment exists to change that," Ng says.

"By honoring the compassion and leadership spirit of James Raper and Scott Holtham, this fund creates a lasting commitment to the well-being of those who stand at the front of the classroom, in the simulation lab, in the clinic, and behind the scenes – reminding them that they are not just educators, but human beings who deserve the same compassion they work so hard to instill in others."

Dr. James L. Raper is a UAH alumnus, having received a Master of Science in Nursing in 1982 and a post-master certificate as a family nurse practitioner in 1995. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kent State University in 1979 and his Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 1995. He also holds a Juris Doctor from the Birmingham School of Law, 2003.

He served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps on active duty from October 1979 to September 1982, including a posting to Fox Army Hospital on Redstone Arsenal, and on Reserve status until April 2003. He rose to the rank of major.

From 2007 to 2022, Raper was director and nurse practitioner at the 1917 HIV Outpatient, Research and Dental Clinics at UAB. He was named professor emeritus at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine in 2023 in recognition of outstanding service and years of dedication to the Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases.

In 2025, the James L. Raper Endowed Professorship in Nursing at UAB was established to honor his contributions as a distinguished nurse practitioner and professor of medicine and nursing. The endowed professorship reflects his significant impact on the field of nursing and his dedication to advancing health care for patients with HIV/AIDS.

Scott Jeffrey Holtham earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management at East Tennessee State University (1983). He spent 20 years in the banking industry. He was vice president and senior vice president at AmSouth Bank (Regions) in Birmingham from 1996 to 2003.

As a graduate of Birmingham School of Law (Juris Doctorate, 2003), he is known as a "servant attorney" for spending the last 19 years focusing his law practice on helping children and their families. He litigated countless cases of barriers to a free, appropriate public education and resolution and rehabilitation of matters of child abuse, neglect and delinquency.

Since 2006, he has served as an appointed special circuit court judge in the Family Court Division of Jefferson County, hearing high volume dockets of appeals from referees and petitions related to "protection from abuse" and child "abuse and neglect."

The new endowment is dedicated to supporting initiatives within the UAH College of Nursing that focus on these goals:

Advocating for the emotional and mental well-being of faculty and staff through activities that promote resilience, normalize vulnerability and encourage the seeking of support.

Creating opportunities for meaningful connection through events, gatherings and peer support that foster a strong sense of community and mutual care.

Providing memorial or celebratory gifts in recognition of special occasions or in remembrance of members of the College of Nursing faculty and staff.

The James Raper and Scott Holtham Compassionate Care Endowment was established with a $25,000 gift. Donors may become partners in supporting the UAH Nursing faculty and staff by contributing to the endowment through the UAH Foundation. Contributions will directly support the evolving needs of faculty and staff, ensuring that the endowment remains aligned with its core purpose.