When Heidi Charleson and her late husband, Lou Woodworth, first visited Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, they had no prior connection to the university. What they did have was a deep love for animals—especially dogs—and a friendship with Dr. Leo Bustad, son of the late Leo K. Bustad, dean emeritus of the college.
Lou and Leo met in 1978, bonding over their shared affection for black Labrador retrievers. That friendship became the bridge to WSU. Leo encouraged Lou and Heidi to visit Pullman, where then-dean Warwick Bayly offered a tour that showcased the college’s groundbreaking work in veterinary education and animal care. That visit planted the seeds of a relationship that would grow into a legacy of generosity, compassion, and transformative impact.
Over the years, Lou and Heidi became part of the WSU family. They spent time with the grizzlies, visited the raptor center, and met students whose passion for veterinary medicine mirrored their own. Their philanthropy began in 2007 with the creation of the Heidi Charleson Scholarship—an extension of Lou’s lifelong belief in education and opportunity. As Leo recently said, “All you need to understand the impact of scholarships is that debt payments equal a house payment.”
But it was a personal crisis that deepened their commitment to WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Cooper’s story: A turning point
Three years ago, Heidi and Lou’s beloved dog Cooper was diagnosed with melanoma and laryngeal paralysis. It was a frightening time. Cooper’s breathing had become labored, and the diagnosis was serious. Through a connection facilitated by Bayly, Heidi and Lou met Dr. Rance Sellon, a professor and veterinary oncologist at the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Cooper underwent emergency surgery for the laryngeal paralysis, followed shortly by surgery for the melanoma. Thanks to the care he received, Cooper lived another three years—years filled with joy, companionship, and good health. That experience led to action.
In 2024, Heidi and Lou made a $6 million gift to establish the Dr. Rance Sellon Endowed Chair in Veterinary Clinical Oncology—the largest gift to fund an endowed chair in WSU’s history. The gift honors Dr. Sellon’s compassionate care and ensures that future generations of veterinary oncologists will be trained to offer hope and healing to families like theirs.
“I was completely surprised,” said Dr. Sellon. “It’s overwhelming, to be honest. It wasn’t something I expected at all.”
The endowed chair will support faculty excellence, research, and clinical care, allowing WSU to recruit top-tier talent and expand its impact in veterinary oncology. It’s a gift that will ripple outward—touching students, faculty, patients, and communities across the state and beyond.
But Heidi and Lou were just getting started. In fall 2024, the college received a new $10 million commitment, supporting scholarships, community care, and enhancements to the WSU Pullman Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Heidi and Lou’s transformational investment will:
- Support renovations to the Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) unit in the WSU Pullman Veterinary Teaching Hospital, including moving existing conference rooms to a new location and expanding the footprint of the ECC unit.
- Establish the Charleson and Woodworth Emergency and Critical Care Equipment Fund to purchase and maintain equipment for the ECC unit.
- Establish the Woodworth and Bustad Scholarship to aid students enrolled in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at WSU.
- Establish the Charleson and Woodworth Good Samaritan Fund to support the healthcare costs for animals brought to the hospital who are without a human companion, and for those pet owners who do not have the resources to cover anticipated procedures or medications.
“This gift is a wonderfully holistic approach to truly supporting animals and the people that care for them,” said Dr. Dori Borjesson, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Lou and Heidi believe deeply in supporting the education of students through large, impactful scholarships; supporting faculty excellence in teaching and clinical service; and expanding hospital infrastructure and operations that permit us to open our doors to more animals locally and statewide. Their gift touches all parts of the human-animal bond and helps us fulfill our vision ‘to be the country’s best academic veterinary hospital for our patients, our students, our clients, our colleagues, and our community.’”
The ripple effect of giving
The impact of donor support is felt not only in faculty research and hospital infrastructure, but also in the lives of students. Dr. Yvette Virgin, a WSU veterinary alumna who graduated in 2010, knows this firsthand.
“I applied for scholarships during vet school, and it was incredibly impactful to receive them,” she said. “One of the scholarships I received came with a moral obligation to give back when I could. That stuck with me.”
That scholarship that stuck with her was the Heidi Charleson Scholarship—the very scholarship established by Heidi and Lou in 2007.
Dr. Virgin spent the first fifteen years of her career at a clinic in Federal Way, rising from associate to medical director and JV partner. As her career flourished, so did her desire to give back. She and her husband recently established the Dr. Yvette Virgin and Mr. Jeff Virgin Family Scholarship to support current veterinary students, and are now exploring new opportunities for making a difference in the future.
“If it can relieve any of the debt burden and worry they have coming out of college, that would be very helpful,” she said. “I still carry what I call a brain mortgage.”
Her story echoes the values that Lou and Heidi held dear: education, compassion, and the belief that giving back can change lives.
A legacy that lives on
Lou Woodworth passed away in November of 2024, but his legacy lives on—in the scholarships that bear his name, in the endowed chair that honors Dr. Sellon, and in the lives of animals and people who will benefit from the care made possible through his and Heidi’s generosity.
Heidi continues to focus her philanthropy on education, the arts, animal health, and the preservation of animal corridors. She supports organizations like the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Network, Evans Scholars, and First Tee of Cleveland. But WSU remains a primary focus—a place where her values and passions converge.
From a friendship forged over Labrador retrievers to a gift that will shape the future of veterinary medicine, Lou and Heidi’s journey with WSU is a testament to the power of connection, compassion, and commitment.
If you would like to support the Charleson and Woodworth Emergency and Critical Care Equipment Fund, the Woodworth and Bustad Scholarship, the Charleson and Woodworth Good Samaritan Fund, or the Dr. Yvette Virgin and Mr. Jeff Virgin Family Scholarship, please contact Lynne Haley, senior director of development, at lynne_haley@wsu.edu, or by visiting the college’s giving page.