A Surprise and Welcome Gift

An unexpected bequest stands to transform the Division of Endocrinology

Harleigh Knott was a woman of great spirit and a fervent supporter of Stanford throughout her life—not only as an undergraduate, an alumna, and an employee but also as a philanthropist.

Never married, Harleigh (BA ’50) lived for adventure. Her career goals were modest; her jobs—of which there were many—were a means to an end, primarily serving to fund her extensive worldwide travel. Well known throughout her hometown of Morro Bay for her trademark fashionable hats and with a wide range of interests from opera to the Indy 500, Harleigh was, as friends have described her: thoughtful, eclectic, and humorous.

A Pleasant Surprise

Harleigh died in March 2019 at the age of 90. Unbeknownst to her family and friends, she left nearly the entirety of her estate—in this case, proceeds from the sale of her ocean-view Morro Bay home—to Stanford Medicine.

Harleigh was an earnest champion of her alma mater, including its research in medicine. She created a fund in the Division of Endocrinology and named it after her younger sister, Nona, who died of an endocrinological disease at the age of 30, and her mother, Rachel, who also was a Stanford alumna.

Helping to Drive the Science Forward

The Division of Endocrinology will use the gift for the recruitment and training of fellows who will conduct the research that is vital to advancing the science of endocrinology.

“Where this gift will make a huge difference is in allowing us to attract and recruit the most talented fellows and then giving them the support they need to pursue the research interests that are near and dear to them,” says Joy Wu, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Endocrinology and an associate professor of medicine–endocrinology. While approximately half of Dr. Wu’s current faculty focus on diabetes in their research—a vital pursuit in its own right—she anticipates that some of the new fellows will focus on additional endocrine-related disorders that are equally important for the health of the population.

Dr. Wu explains that endocrinology is a field in which many basic science discoveries have been made—such as the role that hormones play in our health—as well as more recent ones, with the potential to improve public health dramatically. “Research in endocrinology has led to new medications that are going to completely transform how we manage obesity, which in turn will create downstream effects on the management of diabetes and other metabolic diseases,” she says. “This is a great example of something that came about because people have spent decades doing basic science research in the labs.”

A Word of Thanks

Dr. Wu says it’s nearly impossible to convey the appreciation she has for Harleigh’s bequest—not only because of the benefit it will bring to her division, but to the field of endocrinology as a whole. “I’m so incredibly grateful for this gift,” she says. “To recognize the importance of endocrinology to the health of the general public, and to allow us to support the training and research in these critical areas that affect so many people—Harleigh’s gift is truly transformative, and we’re so excited about the possibilities it brings.”

If you would like to support the Division of Endocrinology, please contact Katie Robinson, senior associate director of major gifts, at katie.r.robinson@stanford.edu.

To learn more about making an estate gift or other bequest to Stanford Medicine, please contact the Office of Planned Giving at 650.725.4358 or pgmed@stanford.edu.