Christian university becomes first in nation to own and operate Save the Storks mobile ultrasound unit

Oklahoma Wesleyan University is an unapologetically pro-life institution. It’s already garnered national attention for its pro-life certificate program, in which students can take transferable college credit courses and earn a certificate in applied bioethics. Now the Christian school is taking its commitment to life even further by acquiring a Save the Storks mobile ultrasound unit for use in its nursing program.

The university reports:

On Saturday, May 20th, Oklahoma Wesleyan University launched a new effort in promoting the dignity of life with the delivery of a Save the Storks mobile ultrasound unit. The van will be used to aid OKWU School of Nursing, along with partners like the Cottage of Bartlesville and other regional pregnancy resource centers. OKWU is currently the only university in the country to own and operate a Save the Storks unit which reaches out to at-risk mothers and saves unborn lives.

Photo credit: Save the Storks

A donor, George Karpus of Karpus Investments, purchased the unit for the university, and it’s virtually certain that it will save lives. Save the Storks reports that “4 out of 5 women who board a Stork Bus choose life for their baby,” adding:

Going mobile is an proven method to reach women contemplating abortion, as many of them have never heard of pregnancy centers or the resources offered there. Stork Mobile Medical Units allow pregnancy resource centers to reach those women with love, compassion, and hope in their moment of need.

Our MMUs allow pregnancy resource centers to operate anywhere abortion-vulnerable women are likely to be – outside of abortion clinics, on university campuses, and at public events.

These mobile pregnancy centers minimize the distance and roadblocks between women who most need the help of a pregnancy resource center.

That’s just what OKWU is counting on, according to the Dean of Nursing, Dr. Jessica Johnson:

The van will allow our students the opportunity to go into the community and have firsthand experiences saving the lives of a vulnerable population. It not only provides the nursing students an opportunity to engage in educational opportunities, it helps the students navigate how to counsel the women they interact with.

One way the unit will partner with the community is through its connection with a local pregnancy resource center, The Cottage. The Cottage “assist[s] women to have healthy babies, develop parenting and life skills, pursue their education and engage in their community” and was co-founded by Dr. Becky Le, who is also a professor of nursing at OKWU. Le said:

As a maternal/child nurse, my life long goal is to support vulnerable mothers and babies. Nothing means more to me than mentoring young students in this passion and calling to save lives through ultrasound. I am beyond thrilled to begin this new adventure!

OKWU president Dr. Everett Piper has been an outspoken voice for life and moral conservatism for years, using his position as the leader of a university to promote a culture of life in a number of ways. Piper said:

OKWU’s commitment to serving, defending and protecting the most vulnerable among us is unshakable.  Thank the Lord that our nation is still blessed with the likes of George Karpus who share our passion and conviction for the “least of these.”

OKWU’s pro-life certificate program partners with pro-life organizations Life Training Institute, CareNet, and Heartbeat International, which together are a powerhouse for life in themselves. Adding a Save the Storks mobile ultrasound unit to the university’s work and education only deepens the reach OKWU has in integrating academia with pro-life realities.

OKWU is planning to offer a B.S. in applied bioethics in the near future – a fully accredited college degree that “will prepare students for vocational work in pro-life apologetics, political consulting, or for an executive role in the growing pregnancy help center and medical clinic movement.” Plans for the degree are moving forward, and the university says more information is forthcoming. Meanwhile, students will descend again on OKWU next month to begin or complete their applied bioethics certificates.