JULY 2025
Your Giving. Your Impact.
Lee and John Rippel
Celebrating and Amplifying Your Impact on Health in Central Texas and Beyond
Thank you for your continued support of Dell Medical School. Your generosity has empowered our students, faculty and scientists, supporting innovative cancer research, cardiovascular health, and so much more. This report highlights the impact of your contributions over the past year and our vision for the years ahead
Dear Lee and John,
On behalf of Dell Medical School and The University of Texas Medical Center, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support Enclosed, you will find an impact report highlighting the strides we have made in the past year thanks to your generosity You are instrumental in advancing our mission to revolutionize how people get and stay healthy
Your contribution is especially significant as we continue to develop The University of Texas Medical Center, always putting patients first This emerging academic health system is poised to become a hub of medical innovation, bringing together top-tier faculty, cross-campus research, cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art facilities, all with a relentless focus on the patient
You are making a tangible difference in the lives of our patients, students and faculty and the communities we serve Your support ensures that we can continue to offer compassionate, patient-centered care that transforms lives. We are honored to have you as a partner in this vital mission
Thank you for your invaluable support Together, we are defining the future of health and building a legacy of innovation, compassion and excellence that will transform lives for generations to come
With deepest gratitude,
CLAUDIA F. LUCCHINETTI, M.D.
Dean, Dell Medical School
Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin
Frank and Charmaine Denius Distinguished Dean’s Chair in Medical Leadership
$100,508.47
$300,000
$300,000
$300,000
$1,200,508.47
Willerson Chair
Thank you for supporting Dell Medical School in perpetuity through the Dr James T Willerson Endowed Chair in Cardiology The vision of leaders like you has helped lay the foundation for a world-class cardiovascular program, and the Willerson Chair will advance that work further, supporting the recruitment and retention of exceptional physician-scientists for years to come.
The Dr. James T. Willerson Endowed Chair in Cardiology is an influential position that lends prestige to our growing program Your critical early investment will be instrumental in bringing field-leading cardiovascular specialists to Central Texas, who will, in turn, deliver exceptional care to patients We look forward to updating you on our plans for filling the Willerson Endowed Chair, as well as the exciting possibilities ahead for Dell Med’s Institute for Cardiovascular Health, as heart health is one of the anchor disciplines of the emerging University of Texas Medical Center.
Rippel Family Scholarship
The Rippel Family Scholarship continues to support Octavio Zarraga, who recently entered his fourth year at Dell Medical School During his Growth Year, Octavio earned a distinction in social entrepreneurship. In this program, students shepherd an idea for social impact from concept to reality, gaining valuable experience in areas such as program design, fundraising and management. Octavio also continued to work with the Health Career Collaborative, providing mentorship to high school students with an interest in health sciences He plans to pursue a residency program in emergency medicine. YOUR IMPACT
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I am honored to be a continued recipient of the Rippel Family Scholarship with it, I can focus on my education, craft my skill set, and pursue my dream of becoming a physician to give back to the community.”
OCTAVIO
ZARRAGA
Dell Medical School, Class of 2026
Department of Oncology — Developmental Therapeutics Lab
The Rippel family donation to the Developmental Therapeutics (DT) Laboratory in the Department of Oncology has proven invaluable to us for a number of reasons First, funds from your gift supported two research staff as they focused on colorectal cancer and breast cancer projects in the DT Lab Your gift has also supported the research of Carla Van Den Berg, Pharm.D., who serves as co-director of the DT Lab.
Second, we used funds from your gift to purchase essential research supplies, allowing scientists to continue their investigations One project includes the collection of tumor samples from patients with colorectal cancer. Our researchers and surgeons collaboratively use these tumor samples to test the efficacy of new treatment options
Another project aims to clarify the role of the transcription factor important in cancer metabolism. It is well-established that obesity contributes to the risk of developing cancer, as well as its rapid progression Obesity also influences tumor response to immune therapy So far, we have proved that this transcription factor is very important for tumor growth in the presence or absence of obesity When we inhibit its activity, tumors respond better to immune therapy The latter findings have been critical in supporting three grant applications so far.
A third project studied the same transcription factor and showed that it is essential for glucose metabolism in cancer stem cells We recently published these findings and were able to cover publication fees with funds from your gift. Together, these data identify this transcription factor as essential for tumor growth and response to immune therapy Our goal is to pharmacologically inhibit it to improve patient outcomes and response to treatment
Thank you for advancing our work with your giving Your investment helped make these discoveries possible.
Publication
Soleimani, M , Duchow, M , Goyal, R , Somma, A , Kaoud, T , Bustamante, J , Wylie, D C , Giri, U , Dalby, K , Kowalski, J , Eckhardt, S G , Van Den Berg, C L Transcription Factor EB (TFEB) activity increases resistance of TNBC stem cells to metabolic stress Life Sci Alliance 2025 Jan 15;8(3):e202302259 doi: 10
Population Health
Your generosity has played a critical role in supporting and expanding innovative, community-anchored health initiatives for people experiencing homelessness in Austin
The Mobile Medical and Mental Health Care Team (M3 Team) continues to serve as a trusted model of integrated care, enrolling new patients with complex needs and connecting them to ongoing medical and behavioral health services Building on this success, we secured a second five-year federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, ensuring a decade of sustained support, and additional funding from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) to deepen our integration with Austin’s broader Homeless Response System.
We are especially excited about the launch of the Permanent Supportive Housing Health Care Collaborative (PSH HCC), a multidisciplinary care model inspired by M3, which will support over 1,000 people transitioning from homelessness into housing during the next three years This work was recently featured in a collaborative presentation at the National Health Care for the Homeless Council conference and is now moving into implementation under joint leadership from Dell Med and Central Health In addition to his faculty role at Dell Med, Tim Mercer, M.D., MPH, will serve in a new role as co-director of high-risk populations at Central Health, where he will continue to oversee initiatives like the M3 Team, the PSH HCC, and new mobile and “bridge” clinics reaching those members of our community not yet connected to care.
Thank you for your generosity your support is transforming lives in Central Texas.
Thank You, Lee and John
Thank you for being dedicated supporters of Dell Medical School Your far-reaching generosity has made so much possible over the past year, empowering medical students, researchers and faculty as they learn and lead the future of health We stand at the threshold of a historic moment to transform health care in Central Texas and beyond with The University of Texas Medical Center, making the work being done at Dell Med more critical than ever before.
Thank you for being a key partner in that work.
