Southwestern Medical Perspectives 2023

CELEBRATING UNPARALLELED IMPACT

Our Community’s Promise

More people have moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth region than anywhere in the United States over the last 10 years, and the generosity of our socially and culturally diverse Metroplex continues to drive progress forward. Philanthropy plays a key role in attracting innovators and their ideas, and Texans (native or not) rarely shy away from an opportunity to pursue something bold. In that spirit, community visionaries and the brilliant medical leaders at UT Southwestern Medical Center have worked together over the last 80 years to achieve a number of groundbreaking advances in fields ranging from biosciences and brain treatment to mental health, cancer, pediatrics, and beyond.

As we enter yet another era of discovery, I can’t imagine a more exciting time to join Southwestern Medical Foundation. Although the world has faced events that have tested us in ways we couldn’t have imagined, we’ve shown that we can respond with grace, resilience, and grit. This will come in handy as we continue to address our pressing needs. Texas ranked 48th in the country in overall state health performance two years ago, and today, the disparity of life expectancy across North Texas is alarming—a distance of a mere two miles translates to a 26-year difference. We have to do better.

To that end, this issue is devoted to spotlighting the efforts of community standouts who are paramount in overcoming these challenges. Our cover story features The Sprague Award honorees of 2022: Maureen and Robert Decherd, Nancy and Jeremy Halbreich, and the Thompson family. These stalwarts have provided significant support to advance health care through contributions of time, leadership, and resources.

We also celebrate the more than 50-year partnership between Drs. Joe Goldstein and Mike Brown, UT Southwestern’s first Nobel Laureates. The duo established their lab in 1972 and received the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering the LDL receptor and its role in cholesterol metabolism. Their partnership continues to flourish, thanks in large part to the support of a generous community whom they wish to thank for encouragement and support of their work for so many years. By combining vision with action and service, we can collectively build a better world. We encourage you to join us in this mission—and we encourage you to invite the newcomers you meet—so that incredible collaboration and immeasurable advancements can continue to make this community the best possible place for all families to live, work, and thrive.

Michael McMahan President & CEO

Southwestern Medical Foundation Officers, Trustees, and Honorary Trustees

David B. Holl

T. Curtis Holmes Jr.

Keith W. Hughes

Walter J. Humann

Hunter L. Hunt

Ray L. Hunt

Kay Bailey Hutchison

Rex V. Jobe

Eric Johnson

Charlotte Jones

Robert L. Kaminski

Dale V. Kesler

Harlan Korenvaes

Julie Kosnik

Peter A. Kraus

Gary Kusin

David M. Laney

Laurence H. Lebowitz

Thomas C. Leppert

John I. Levy

Wendy A. Lopez

Sarah Losinger

Tom Luce

Bobby B. Lyle

Ann E. Margolin

William S. McIntyre IV

Pauline Medrano

Howard M. Meyers

Harvey R. Mitchell

Susan Byrne Montgomery

Kay Y. Moran

Jennifer T. Mosle

J. Fulton Murray Jr.

Mike A. Myers

Charles E. Nearburg

Joseph B. Neuhoff

James C. Oberwetter

Teresa Haggerty Parravano

Rena M. Pederson

Carlos G. Peña

Guillermo Perales

Jack Pew Jr.

J. Blake Pogue

Caren H. Prothro

Mary Stewart Ramsey

Carolyn Perot Rathjen

Michael S. Rawlings

Leonard M. Riggs Jr., M.D.

Jean W. Roach

Kelly E. Roach

Linda Harbin Robuck

Matthew K. Rose

William E. (Billy) Rosenthal

Lizzie Horchow Routman

Stephen H. Sands

Pete Schenkel

Robert J. Schlegel

John Field Scovell

Debbie Scripps

George E. Seay III

Paul R. Seegers

Carl Sewell Jr.

George A. Shafer

Florence Shapiro

Karen L. Shuford

Lisa K. Simmons

Ted C. Skokos

Emmitt J. Smith

William T. Solomon

William S. Spears, Ph.D.

Catherine B. Taylor

Richard K. Templeton

Ellen C. Terry

Michelle R. Thomas

John C. Tolleson

Gifford O. Touchstone

Jim L. Turner

f

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Carsen Young, LDWW

EDITORIAL TEAM

Emily Davis

Renee English

Blake Evans

Brittany Lebling

Dustin Magwire

Michael McMahan

Stephanie Vidikan

WRITER

Laura Kostelny

Sharon Reynolds

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Ken Maxwell, LDWW

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Steve Foxall Casey Holder

Grant Miller

Mike Morgan

Ren Morrison

Brad Newton

Brandon Wade Editorial

Fifty Years at UT Southwestern Nobel Laureates Michael S. Brown, M.D., and Joseph L. Goldstein, M.D., celebrate the incredible feats achieved so far, medical breakthroughs around the corner, and community leaders—both past and present—who made it all possible. 40

Serving the Greater Good North Texas’ community leaders, builders, and innovators have joined forces to launch the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern.

27

An Evening with DocStars

The Cary Council toasts, honors, and catalyzes support for UT Southwestern’s earlycareer researchers at their annual event.

36

The Gift of Education

As UT Southwestern’s impact on the future of medicine grows nationally and internationally, unwavering community support and generous scholarship opportunities have never been more critical.

Foundation highlights the accomplishments of former Board of Trustees Chairman James Huffines and CEO Kathleen Gibson and welcomes newly elected Chair Jere W. Thompson, Jr.

Campaign for the Brain

Celebrating a generous community that deeply supported the establishment of UT Southwestern’s Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute.

PATH TO EXCELLENCE

Behind every great city, there are extraordinary leaders who step forward to address the needs of their community. For three decades, Southwestern Medical Foundation has honored many of these leaders through The Sprague Award, its highest community distinction. These are the outstanding philanthropists who continue to shape the future of Dallas and inspire a higher standard in medical education, discovery, innovation, and care through contributions of time, leadership, and resources. Since its inception, the Award has been bestowed on almost 50 exceptional leaders and families.

This year, we celebrate winners Maureen and Robert Decherd, Nancy and Jeremy Halbreich, and the Thompson family for their decades of partnership and support, as well as their invaluable impact on the community at large.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: MAUREEN AND ROBERT DECHERD

Everyone in Dallas knows that Robert Decherd is passionate about the First Amendment. As the former chairman, president, and CEO of DallasNews Corporation, the holding company of The Dallas Morning News, Decherd has dedicated his life to free speech and distinguished journalism. But when his wife, Maureen, was struck by a car in 2007 and suffered a traumatic brain injury, he and his children, William and Audrey, became even more outspoken champions of health care, specifically neurosurgery. Audrey went on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing from UT Austin. Between the various foundations the family has established and all their hard work— including Decherd’s turn as chairman of the leadership committee of the Campaign for the Distinguished Chairs, which raised $21 million and endowed 28 new Distinguished Chairs at UT Southwestern— their impact will be felt throughout the community for years to come.

RECIPIENTS OF THE SPRAGUE AWARD

1991

JAMES W. ASTON

Q: Your family has generously supported the Parkland Memorial Hospital NeuroTrauma Award Honoring Duke Samson, M.D., Jim Thornton, M.D., and Babu Welch, M.D. What does this award mean to you?

Mr. Decherd: This award recognizes the fact that Drs. Samson, Welch, and Thornton were the first medical people who embraced Maureen after her accident and stuck with her and us, all the way through, even to this day. Dr. Samson conceived this award to recognize the larger trauma team—the physicians, nursing staff, and their support staff—who make a trauma unit successful in terms of the expertise of frontline workers and patient outcomes. Health care workers who encounter patients with severe and lifethreatening injuries or strokes must work proficiently and quickly as a team, and they must be willing to take calculated risks because they don’t know what the course of an injury or a stroke might be. Parkland is one of the great trauma hospitals in America, and this annual award celebrates a faculty member or frontline member on Parkland’s Neuro-Trauma team who demonstrates his or her importance to the survival and continued wellness of their patients.

| J. ERIK JONSSON | GEORGE L. MACGREGOR | MRS. EUGENE MCDERMOTT

RECIPIENTS OF THE SPRAGUE AWARD

Mr. Decherd: Anyone who has experienced a severe injury or illness, and is either hospitalized or is subsequently an outpatient, intuitively understands that the quality of nursing care is extraordinarily important. This is particularly true with an injury like Maureen’s and the amount of time she was in the hospital, as well as the amount of effort required afterwards in physical therapy. Nurses get their patients to physical therapy, and without great nursing care, the patient’s ability to remain optimistic, spirited, and determined is lessened. There is no substitute, and thankfully, Maureen has had that from the outset.

PAUL M. BASS JR. | JESS HAY | DONALD ZALE

Q: Your daughter was inspired to pursue an education in nursing after witnessing the care your wife received in the hospital after her accident. Describe the importance of the nurse’s role in patient outcomes and recovery.

Q: What do you see in the future in terms of UT Southwestern Medical Center’s importance to our state?

Mr. Decherd: UT Southwestern now, in the breadth of its resources and the talent and expertise that exists institutionally, influences and impacts health care, society, and how the state evolves. The School of Public Health opening this year will be a tremendous asset to our region, and it has only been made possible through the type of cutting-edge research and care UT Southwestern is leading. UT Southwestern Medical Center at RedBird opened in August 2022. This newest regional medical center makes accessing state-of-the-art health care convenient for families in Southwest Dallas. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties, overseeing nearly four million outpatient visits a year. We have great medical institutions in the major cities in Texas, but none are as good as UT Southwestern.

Benefactors of Distinction

Just a few of the family’s important efforts: ESTABLISHED IN COLLABORATION WITH SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL FOUNDATION: Decherd Family Fund for Medical Research

The Decherd Family Fund to Support the Parkland Memorial Hospital Neuro-Trauma Award

The Maureen H. Decherd Fund for Neurosurgical Innovation, in Honor of Duke Samson, M.D.

The H. Ben and Isabelle T. Decherd Chair in Internal Medicine

GENEROUS GIVING: Campaign for the Brain

Neurosurgery and Neuro-Trauma

Internal Medicine

Robert H. Collins M.D. Laboratory Fund for Leukemia Research

The George N. Peters, M.D. Center for Breast Surgery Fund

LEADERSHIP:

Chair, UT Southwestern Campaign for the Distinguished Chairs

First Faculty Endowment Campaign

MAUREEN AND ROBERT DECHERD THE SPRAGUE AWARD

RECIPIENTS OF THE SPRAGUE AWARD

Q: What does it mean to you to be honored with The Sprague Award?

Mr. Decherd: Charlie Sprague did such a remarkable job leading UT Southwestern in its early years, so it’s an honor to receive an award named after him. This award means a lot to us both on a personal and civic basis. We aspire for our city, our county, and our state to be a place that accommodates everyone, where there is a common understanding of why as a society, we need to look out for one another. Health care is central to that.

JULIA T. AND LOUIS A. BEECHERL JR. | NANCY B. HAMON | SARAH M. AND CHARLES E. SEAY | CHARLES C. SPRAGUE, M.D.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: NANCY AND JEREMY HALBREICH

The Halbreichs have worked tirelessly to make Dallas a better place during the course of their 37-year marriage—Jeremy is both a noted philanthropist and a distinguished executive who’s been called a “giant in the news industry;” Nancy has enjoyed a successful career at Neiman Marcus, Stanley Korshak, Sotheby’s, and Heritage Auctions, all while devoting a tremendous amount of time to a number of causes around town. Together, the couple has long supported Southwestern Medical Foundation in its mission to inspire and advance progress in medicine. They have donated time and resources to causes including brain disease, gastroenterology, and cancer prevention and treatment. Since 2002, Nancy has served as a Trustee of the Foundation and has been a member of the Public Affairs Committee since 2011, while Jeremy serves on the President’s Advisory Board at UT Southwestern, as well as on its Government Affairs Committee.

MARGOT AND ROSS PEROT

NANCY G. BRINKER

RECIPIENTS OF THE SPRAGUE AWARD

Q: You have both demonstrated outstanding civic involvement and have done so much for UT Southwestern in particular. What influenced your philosophy of giving back?

Mr. Halbreich: For Nancy and me, giving is just pure instinct. We are lucky because we share so many interests, including a commitment to helping others who aren’t as fortunate as we are. As the only son of Holocaust survivors, I know up close the horrific consequences of man’s inhumanity to man. The past has to teach us about the future.

Q: What do you see in the future of UT Southwestern Medical Center?

Mr. Halbreich: Over the last 10 to 15 years, the clinical care side of the institution has grown and flourished. The leadership has always aspired for it to become one of the top medical institutions in the country. We are in the top 25, and the Medical Center continues to grow, not just in quantity but in quality. We are so excited about what the institution is doing today across a variety of medical disciplines—cancer, brain research, gastroenterology, cardiology—areas where Nancy and I or members of our family have been involved firsthand. It is impossible for us to come away from any of those experiences and not feel a great debt of gratitude and commitment to the institution.

Mrs. Halbreich: I am so proud of what UT Southwestern has become. We are on the threshold of so much. I think there are going to be breakthroughs in so many areas that are going to change the course of medicine forever. We have attracted great researchers, and our laboratories are exciting places. Our clinical care is without peer anywhere in this city, which always makes me happy to help others enter the UT Southwestern system.

OUR COMMITMENT TO UT SOUTHWESTERN HAS BUILT OVER TIME, AND WE REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR SUPPORT FOR THE INSTITUTION TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. WE WANT TO TRY TO LEAVE THIS WORLD A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE ONE WE FOUND, AND WE BELIEVE OUR INVESTMENT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS.

I ” - NANCY HALBREICH

RECIPIENTS OF THE SPRAGUE AWARD

Q: What does it mean to you to be honored with The Sprague Award?

Mr. Halbreich: It means a lot, and we are very humbled. Nancy and I both knew Charlie Sprague, and we know what a pillar he was in helping establish and develop UT Southwestern into the institution it is today. Many of our doctors are not just our confidants or people that we consult with on health matters, they have become our best friends. It all adds up to a wonderful feeling and a deep sense of appreciation.

Q: You joined The Wildenthal Society in 2019 with a gift to further the discovery and treatment of glioblastoma. What does this gift mean to you?

Mrs. Halbreich: My mother died shortly after her glioblastoma diagnosis. We wanted her death not to have been in vain, and we hoped that something good could come out of it so that someone else might not have to suffer as she did, as well as our family. We hope glioblastoma can one day become a manageable chronic disease with more effective treatments so people can live their best lives.

Benefactors of Distinction

A few highlights from the noted philanthropists’ largesse: Endowed two Professorships at UT Southwestern in 2014

Helped establish the Annette G. Strauss Center for Neuro-Oncology where they endowed a Professorship in honor of Nancy’s father, Ted Strauss.

Joined The Wildenthal Society in 2019 with a legacy gift to invest in further discovery and treatment of glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer.

LEADERSHIP ROLES: NANCY HALBREICH

Trustee, Southwestern Medical Foundation

Member, Campaign for the Brain Steering Committee

Member, Southwestern Medical Foundation 75th Anniversary Steering Committee

Member, Southwestern Medical Foundation Public Affairs and Scholarship Committee

Member President’s Advisory Board, UT Southwestern

Member, Parkland Foundation Board of Trustees

LEADERSHIP ROLES: JEREMY HALBREICH

Member, President’s Advisory Board, UT Southwestern

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: THE THOMPSON FAMILY

As the founders of The Southland Corporation, the parent company of 7-Eleven, the Thompson family has created a legacy of business excellence in Dallas and beyond. They’ve also built an impressive reputation for their efforts to promote community growth and prosperity through generations of support. Jere Thompson, Sr.’s desire to create healthier communities was inspired by a serious illness followed by life-saving surgery at St. Paul Hospital. That spirit of generosity extends to the seven children he raised with his late wife, Peggy, and their families: Michael and his wife, Debbie; Jere Jr. and his wife, Carolyn; Kim Thornton; David and his wife, Lee; Patrick and his wife, Amy; Chris and his wife, Susie; and Debbie Nelson and her husband, Bruce.

Jere Thompson, Jr., an accomplished businessman and entrepreneur in his own right, has followed in his father’s footsteps and stepped into the role of trusted health care fundraiser and advocate. In 2022, he was named Chair of Southwestern Medical Foundation’s Board of Trustees and has been a member of the UT Southwestern President’s Research Council since 1990.

SYDNEY AND J.L. HUFFINES | LAURA AND JOHN L. (JACK) ROACH

Q: What have you enjoyed most about your involvement and leadership with UT Southwestern over the years?

Jere Thompson, Sr.: I enjoy being involved with Southwestern Medical Foundation, which has done so much for our local community through its support of leading-edge research and excellent health care provided at UT Southwestern Medical Center. It is amazing to me the breadth of talent in the faculty UT Southwestern has attracted, including physicians, researchers, and M.D./ Ph.D.s who have made tremendous progress in advancing medicine through discovery and innovation. It is so important that the growth continues, both today and in the future.

Q: Jere Thompson, Jr., as Chair of the Board of Trustees, what is your vision for the future of Southwestern Medical Foundation?

Jere Thompson, Jr.: The Foundation’s primary purpose is to support UT Southwestern Medical Center through the management of our $1.2 billion endowment and through our numerous philanthropic and development activities. We feel responsible for donor cultivation and ongoing donor communications. We anticipate that UT Southwestern will undertake some new and exciting capital campaigns over the next few years, and the Foundation will play a very strong supportive role. Our unwavering goal has always been the success of UT Southwestern and its mission. That will remain the same.

RECIPIENTS OF THE SPRAGUE AWARD

Q: Recently, the Thompson family established The Thompson Family Brain Fund with a generous $5 million gift. What motivated you to make this latest investment?

Jere Thompson, Jr.: About five years ago I was attending a Southwestern Medical Foundation Executive Committee meeting at Old Parkland. In the back of the conference room sitting impeccably dressed in his suit was Dr. Donald Seldin. He always attended our meetings, but he very rarely said a word. This meeting was different. Dr. Podolsky spoke about a possible brain center and what it would mean for UT Southwestern and brain research. He mapped out a plan and was hoping to get our support. When he finished, Dr. Seldin stood up and approached the table. He asked if he could say a few words and proceeded to explain why he thought the brain was the future of medical research. At age 90, he eloquently gave one of the most spellbinding orations I had ever heard. As a Board, we were convinced. And as a family, we agreed that this was a fantastic opportunity to give back to UT Southwestern. Dad, all of my siblings, and five members of our next generation were a part of the gift.

I“UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER IS LEADING THE WAY IN DISCOVERY, EDUCATION, AND PATIENT CARE, AND THE SCIENTISTS FROM THE O’DONNELL BRAIN INSTITUTE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED. THERE IS MUCH MORE TO DO, AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME. I ”

NANCY DEDMAN | RACHAEL AND ROBERT H. DEDMAN | PATTY DEDMAN NAIL

- JERE THOMPSON, SR.

RECIPIENTS OF THE SPRAGUE AWARD

Q: What does it mean to your family to be honored with The Sprague Award?

Kim Thornton: Mom would be so proud! She would be terrified she might have to speak in public, but she would be so honored to join such a distinguished group of some of Dallas’ most outstanding philanthropists and civic leaders. Our whole family is humbled and honored. Thank you so very much. And as Dad said, the best is yet to come!

Benefactors of Distinction

A few of the notable actions from the formidable family:

The Heart and Lung Center at St. Paul University Hospital

William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital with the Peggy and Jere W. Thompson and Family Cardiovascular Patient Care Unit named in honor of Kern Wildenthal, M.D., Ph.D.

Zale Lipshy Hospital

Three generations of the Thompson Family supported UT Southwestern’s Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute by establishing the Thompson Family Conference Center, located between the new brain research and cancer outpatient towers.

LEADERSHIP ROLES: JERE THOMPSON, SR.

President’s Advisory Board, UT Southwestern

President’s Research Council, UT Southwestern

Board of Visitors Member, UT Southwestern

Member, University Medical Center Board

Member, President’s Advisory Board Patient Services Committee

Founding Member, Friends of Zale Lipshy University Hospital

Chairman, St. Paul Medical Foundation Board of Trustees

President, St. Paul Medical Center Foundation

LEADERSHIP ROLES: JERE THOMPSON, JR.

Chair, Southwestern Medical Foundation

Chair, Southwestern Medical Foundation Audit Committee

Member, Southwestern Medical Foundation Executive Committee

Member, Southwestern Medical Foundation

Nominating Committee

Member, Southwestern Medical Foundation Risk Committee

Member, President’s Advisory Board, UT Southwestern

Member, President’s Advisory Board Corporate Partners and Executive Committees, UT Southwestern

Board of Visitors Member, UT Southwestern

Member, St. Paul Medical Foundation Board

MARY MCDERMOTT COOK | VESTER T. HUGHES | ROBERT W. KORBA

THE

RECIPIENTS

UTE SCHWARTZ HABERECHT AND DR. ROLF HABERECHT | LYDA HILL

2013

LINDA W. HART AND MILLEDGE A. HART III | TERRY AND ROBERT B. ROWLING

2017 HOBLITZELLE FOUNDATION

Following The Sprague Award presentations,

Making History

“We did it with 100-degree summers and no ocean, bay, or mountain—but we had the people of Dallas.”

Nobel Laureates Michael S. Brown, M.D., and Joseph L. Goldstein, M.D., toast the incredible feats achieved so far, celebrate the medical breakthroughs around the corner, and honor the community leadership—both past and present—that has made it all possible.

UT Southwestern Medical Center recently celebrated the 50-year Nobel Prize-winning partnership that the two of us forged in its laboratories and clinics. We take this occasion to reflect on the extraordinary growth of this institution in that period.

We began our joint research in 1972 when UT Southwestern comprised one building appended floor-by-floor to Parkland Hospital. The faculty numbered 450. The research budget was $10 million. The class size was 100.

Fast forward 50 years: Our campus comprises 110 buildings. Our faculty numbers 3,000. Our research budget is $554 million. Our class size is 225. Our physicians still care for patients at Parkland, but we also have Zale Lipshy Pavilion and William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. Thirty-one of our faculty have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and six have received Nobel Prizes. Discoveries by UT Southwestern scientists have led to approved drugs that prevent heart attacks and treat kidney cancer, prostate overgrowth, insomnia, pulmonary hypertension, and a rare form of diabetes.

In many ways I don’t believe it would have been possible anywhere else. The community seemed to step up in every way it was needed each time there was funding, insight, or a connection needed.

—Michael S. Brown, M.D.

How did this growth happen? There are two reasons: leadership and commitment. Leadership came from four visionary individuals, and commitment came from the state of Texas and Southwestern Medical Foundation. The intellectual father of UT Southwestern was Donald W. Seldin, M.D., a physician-scientist who was lured to Dallas in 1951 as a 31-yearold wunderkind from Yale Medical School. In 1952, Seldin was appointed Chairman of Internal Medicine, a position he was to occupy for 36 years. A brilliant intellectual and a dazzling clinician, Seldin envisioned a medical school in which science and service were one.

Seldin’s vision was shared by Charles Sprague, M.D., the first of our three great presidents. Under Sprague’s leadership, new research buildings were built adjacent to Parkland Hospital. The people of Dallas pitched in financially—especially the founders of Texas

Instruments: Erik Jonsson, Cecil Green, and Eugene McDermott. To give the school a head start, Seldin recruited brilliant scientific and clinical leaders from the Northeast. The Yankee teachers inspired the Texas students, and the brightest soon became faculty leaders.

In 1972, we began our research on cholesterol as young physicians inspired by Seldin. Thirteen years later, in 1985, we shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the first Nobel Prize awarded for research conducted in Texas. This watershed moment validated all that Seldin and Sprague had built.

In 1986, President Sprague was succeeded by Kern Wildenthal, M.D., Ph.D., one of Seldin’s Texas protégés. Wildenthal engineered a major growth spurt. He grew the campus from 65 to 300 acres. With support from the O’Donnell, Perot, Simmons, and Hamon families, and others, Wildenthal built and staffed seven research

Prize in Chemistry. In 1994, UT Southwestern received its fourth Nobel Prize, awarded to Alfred Gilman, then Chairman of Pharmacology.

In 2008, President Wildenthal was succeeded by Daniel Podolsky, M.D., a distinguished physician-scientist from Harvard. Podolsky enacted an expansive plan to couple state-of-the-art medicine with cutting-edge science. Energized by a $100 million gift from William P. Clements Jr., Podolsky built Clements University Hospital. He engineered a merger with Texas Health Resources, bringing 27 community hospitals into our orbit. Maintaining the balance of medicine and science, Podolsky commissioned a research building to house the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, secured funding for the new Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, and erected buildings for outpatient cancer care, radiation oncology, and bioengineering.

Aided by the state-sponsored Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), Podolsky oversaw the recruitment of hundreds of faculty stars. We were honored with two additional Nobel Prizes—in 2011 to Bruce Beutler, M.D., and in 2013 to Thomas Südhof, M.D. We are gratified that five of the six laureates have M.D. degrees, attesting to Seldin’s original vision of science coupled with medicine. Among medical schools, our six Nobel Prizes in 40 years trail only Stanford (eight laureates) and share second place with the University of California at San Francisco (six). We did it with 100-degree summers and no ocean, bay, or mountain—but we had the people of Dallas.

Length constraints preclude naming the hundreds of Dallasites who helped propel UT Southwestern from obscurity to the front ranks in 50 years. All of us at UT Southwestern are forever grateful.

Michael S. Brown, M.D., and Joseph L. Goldstein, M.D., Nobel Laureates

When Joe and I won the first Nobel Prize in medicine for work done in Texas, Ross Perot said that if Dallas could put on a parade for its football team, we could definitely host a great celebration for the winning of the Nobel Prize. He then stepped up and made sure it happened.

—Michael S. Brown, M.D.

The Next Generation of Leadership: The Cary Council

In partnership with civic leaders, Southwestern Medical Foundation, and UT Southwestern, The Cary Council taps new leadership—young men and women who will carry on the visionary tradition that has enabled both the Foundation and the Medical School to flourish.

Council members are dedicated to catalyzing a new generation of community leaders to advance early stage research at UT Southwestern. Thanks to the success of their efforts and events—including the annual “An Evening with DocStars”—The Cary Council has provided 15 $50,000 grants to early stage researchers, resulting in $13 million in additional federal funding for research spanning breast cancer, brain cancer, genomic technologies, and infectious disease.

Additionally, the Council has been able to make a lasting gift to UT Southwestern’s Campaign for the Brain in support of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute.

THERE’S NO BETTER WAY TO HONOR THE POTENTIAL OF THE LONE STAR STATE’S EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS THAN BY SUPPORTING THEM AT THE ANNUAL AN EVENING WITH DOCSTARS EVENT.

THE CARY COUNCIL puts the fun in fundraising at their signature event, which has become a must-attend for those who value the importance of supporting talented, early-career UT Southwestern principal investigators—AKA “DocStars”—in their pursuit of novel treatments and cures.

In 2022, UT Southwestern nominated five finalists, and The Cary Council Steering Committee selected three winners: Proshad Efune, M.D., Robin Higashi, Ph.D., and Dominic Moon, M.D. These DocStars each received $50,000 to continue their pioneering work in anesthesiology & pain management and pediatrics, population and data sciences, and radiation oncology, respectively. These winners now have stronger chances of attracting additional sources of funding to further their breakthrough research.

The 2023 An Evening with DocStars event will be held November 2. More information, sponsorships, and tickets are available at swmedical.org/docstars2023.

“

Ensuring a healthier, more innovative future for the delivery of health care is dependent in part on the support received by the next generation of exceptional and talented leaders in research.

—

Kathleen M. Gibson Past President and CEO Southwestern Medical Foundation

GROW YOUR MIND

WHAT’S UP, DOC?

INSPIRING A GREAT CITIZENSHIP TO GREATER DEEDS

The Ho Din Award

In 1943, the Ho Din Award was instituted by Southwestern Medical Foundation in conjunction with the creation of Southwestern Medical College to recognize those who exemplify the unique personal qualities embodied in all great physicians—medical wisdom and human understanding. The Award continues to be the highest honor bestowed on a UT Southwestern medical student or medical leader.

Dr. Cayenne Price

Named the 2022 winner, Dr. Cayenne Price has demonstrated excellence at every level. Among other accolades at UT Southwestern, she earned a GPA of 3.93 and was selected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (AOA) as a senior medical student. She also leads with a heart of service and hopes to create an impact in her community while caring for her patients. She has volunteered to assist with screening and healthy lifestyle education at local events, helped lead planning efforts for a medical service trip to the Dominican Republic, contributed to critical community education efforts that engaged the African American community around the COVID-19 vaccine, and produced an independent film about systemic racism and how to initiate social change.

Dr. Natasha Houshmand received the honor in 2021 after achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA during her studies at UT Southwestern. In addition to her academic excellence, she was co-leader of UT Southwestern’s Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society Gamma Chapter, organized a committee to help medical students in preparation for standardized examinations, and strongly advocated for mentorship. Raised in Dallas, Dr. Houshmand worked with a local surgeon while still in high school. “That sort of mentorship relationship from an early phase set me on track to pursue medical school and be in this position now,” she says.

2020 Dr. Priyanka Gaur

The Foundation granted its highest honor to Dr. Priyanka Gaur in 2020. After graduating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she earned her medical and Master of Public Health degrees from UT Southwestern with a 4.0 academic record and a stellar reputation for her service to the at-risk patient population. Dr. Gaur served as President of the Future Residents of Obstetrics & Gynecology and founded the Health Advocacy Student Interest group (now called Student Patient Advocates for the Rights of our Communities or SPARC), which offers medical students an opportunity to explore and address social, economic, and political determinants of health care.

2021

Dr. Natasha Houshmand

The Gift of Education

As UT Southwestern’s impact on the future of medicine grows nationally and internationally, unwavering community support and generous scholarship opportunities have never been more critical.

UT Southwestern is made up of four degree-granting institutions. Collectively, the schools train 3,700 students, postgraduate, resident, and postdoctoral fellows annually. Some of its medical residency programs are the largest in the state and the nation. UT Southwestern trains more than half of the physicians in North Texas.

“UT Southwestern has gained distinction as one of America’s foremost medical schools,” says William Turner, M.D., a professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal and Acute Care Surgery and Master of Sprague College. “We want the very best students to come here and to become physicians who will take care of us. We hope that donors will continue to see that the value of their investments here competes well with just about any other investment.”

James “Brad” Cutrell, M.D., Program Director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, notes that the success of UT Southwestern couldn’t happen without the impressive support and generosity offered by the people of North Texas. “Whenever the university says we want to take a bold initiative of doing research in some new field that we think is important, the community and Southwestern Medical Foundation lead the way to support the institution. I think that level of community support is very unique.”

I think giving really binds the community, the donors, and the Foundation to the institution,” Dr. Cutrell adds. “It’s a significant investment in the future of the institution. Not every academic medical institution experiences that.

Current anesthesiology resident Cayenne Price, M.D., and winner of the 2022 Ho Din Award experienced the support first-hand. “I remember the day I got my acceptance letter and scholarship,” she recalls. “It was just this huge weight that came off my shoulders at that moment. Doors open for those of us that don’t necessarily have the financial ability to fund a medical education, which I didn’t.”

Dr. Price notes that the scholarship allowed her to spend her four years totally focused on school. “I wasn’t trying to pick up extra jobs here and there to make extra money to pay the bills or interest on loans. I could really spend 100 percent of my time investing in my future patients, which I think is what they deserve.”

Offering scholarships to students will continue to be an important goal for UT Southwestern moving forward, according to Dr. Cutrell. “We believe that we can do a better job of that than any of our competitors. Providing scholarships is essential to retaining the heartbeat of this institution.” 

Every year, UT Southwestern rewards the efforts of the best and brightest with awards to better help recipients further their impressive career pursuits. Funds for these special awards are managed by Southwestern Medical Foundation.

• 2022 RECIPIENT • AKANSHA SHAH

• 2021-2022 RECIPIENTS • LAUREN SMALLEY, RAMITA MARJARHAN

• 2022 RECIPIENTS • AKSHARA SANKAR

ANJALI LYER

GIANN RUIZ

RAGHAV RAMKI

VEDA KUTAGULA

• 2022 RECIPIENTS • NICO CAMPALANS

PATRICK LYNCH

HEATHER POSTMA

SANAA TEJANI

ISABEL WEES

Parkland Memorial Hospital Neuro-Trauma Award

The Richard Mays Smith Award

The Ida M. Green Award

The Priddy Award

SERVING THE GREATER GOOD

NORTH TEXAS’ COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUILDERS, AND INNOVATORS HAVE JOINED FORCES TO LAUNCH THE

PETER O’DONNELL JR. SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT UT SOUTHWESTERN

Exciting opportunities lie ahead as UT Southwestern Medical Center embarks on a strategic plan to build a new and needed School of Public Health. This is the first school created by UT Southwestern in more than 50 years, building on research strengths and experience of UT Southwestern’s three existing schools as well as previous investments by UT Southwestern to enhance the future of public health research and interventions.

In early 2022, UT Southwestern announced a transformative $100 million gift from the O’Donnell Foundation to endow and support the new school. This was the largest gift to a school of public health at a public university in the U.S. and matches the third largest gift supporting any school of public health.

The O’Donnell Foundation, established by the late visionary philanthropist Peter O’Donnell Jr., and his late wife, Edith, made this gift for its unprecedented potential to accelerate the momentum of the recently established school. In recognition of this gift, UT Southwestern has named the new school the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health.

“Peter and Edith O’Donnell cared deeply about UT Southwestern and making a difference in the greater Dallas community. These two passions are inextricably linked in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health. We are proud to share a gift that honors the O’Donnells’ immeasurable legacy and makes a lasting impact on UT Southwestern and the communities of North Texas.”

—William T. Solomon, President and CEO of the O’Donnell Foundation

THE BUILDERS AND INNOVATORS

Two people have been particularly instrumental in the development of the new Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern. Richard Hoffman, M.D., M.P.H., a Southwestern Medical Foundation Trustee and UT Southwestern alumnus with an extensive background in public health, appreciates the profound and permanent impact created by public health programs when they are sustainably funded and supported. That’s why he was one of the first donors to invest in student scholarships for the new school.

Lyda Hill, a Southwestern Medical Foundation Honorary Trustee, renowned philanthropist, and community leader, has invested in public health and life sciences initiatives for many years. She has generously funded the Lyda Hill Deanship of the School of Public Health at UT Southwestern.

“I wanted to fund students because we want students who are very diverse to be the leaders of public health in the future. Rather than addressing a gift toward a particular disease, I wanted to help students just as I had been helped when I was starting my career.”

—Richard Hoffman, M.D., M.P.H. Trustee,

“Creating better health care starts with investing in the right people. Never underestimate the power of the right people being in the right places. UT Southwestern is already a leader in medical innovation, and with this new Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, our region will continue to thrive.”

—Lyda Hill Honorary Trustee,

Southwestern Medical Foundation

Southwestern Medical Foundation

A 1975 graduate of UT Southwestern Medical School, Dr. Hoffman with his mother, Adelyn, established the Hoffman Family Center for Genetics and Epidemiology at UT Southwestern.

Photo-poster made by some of Dr. Hoffman’s employees in 1997 when he was working at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

“The thing about public health is, when it’s doing its job best, you don’t notice it.”

—Richard E. Hoffman, M.D., M.P.H.

THE VALUE OF QUALITY EDUCATION

Best-in-class public health begins with excellent teaching and excellent students. Faculty leaders are instilling that excellence in each facet of medical training at UT Southwestern. James “Brad” Cutrell, M.D., is an expert epidemiologist at UT Southwestern and a previous winner of Southwestern Medical Foundation’s Ho Din Award. Dr. Cutrell recognizes the importance of shaping the next generation of health care leaders through thoughtful training and preparation. From his perspective, the O’Donnell School of Public Health represents the next phase in establishing our region as a global leader in health care.

MOVING FORWARD

The O’Donnell School of Public Health expects to welcome its first class of Master of Public Health students in the fall of 2023, followed by the first cohort of Ph.D. students in the fall of 2024. The school will partner with multiple community organizations across Dallas-Fort Worth, including regional health systems and universities, as well as Parkland Health, Children’s Health, and UT Dallas.

With the new O’Donnell School of Public Health, UT Southwestern will develop the next generation of leaders to expand research-intensive public health initiatives. They will go on to implement programs on a large scale across systems, and their impact will ultimately benefit the citizens of North Texas, the U.S., and the world.

“Much of medicine is focused on treating the individual patient in front of us and taking care of people who have illness or disease. Public health is the perfect complement to focusing on the community’s needs and focusing on disease prevention.

—James “Brad” Cutrell, M.D. Associate Professor Program Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program Director, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Clements University Hospital and UT Southwestern Health Systems

“Excellence for impact is the cornerstone of O’Donnell School of Public Health. The solid base for the school created by the O’Donnell Foundation’s generous investment, the strong support of the state, and the eagerness of the UT Southwestern community for our mission offers an exciting environment to recruit the best and brightest public health scientists, teachers, and students. It is our commitment to our communities that drives us to generate and utilize high quality evidence to improve their health. ”

—Saad Omer, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Inaugural Dean, Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health

Lyda Hill Deanship of the School of Public Health at UT Southwestern

Throughout our history, it would be impossible to fathom where we would be without significant philanthropy. We treasure, honor, and remain grateful for each of our family legacies and the continuing impact of lasting value they make.

William T. Solomon, Founding Member, The Heritage Society Past Chair, Southwestern Medical Foundation

JERE THOMPSON, JR., CHAIR

KATHLEEN GIBSON, PAST PRESIDENT & CEO

JAMES HUFFINES, PAST CHAIR, TRUSTEE

Southwestern Medical Foundation renames The Heritage Society

Board members approved the renaming of The Heritage Society in honor of Dr. Kern Wildenthal, who has spent a lifetime championing UT Southwestern in a variety of fundraising and academic roles. As Dr. Wildenthal recently told The Dallas Morning News: “Southwestern Medical Foundation and UT Southwestern have been literally my entire career and having devoted myself to trying to help both organizations together be as good as they could be—to be recognized by the Foundation was a wonderful honor.”

Planned giving donors have been extremely important in building the Foundation’s permanent endowment and have been a cornerstone of family giving to Southwestern Medical Foundation. These remarkable families are sustaining our mission to address the health needs of a quickly growing region.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Bob Jordan

Imran Khan Brian Schultz

Jack B. Lowe Jr.

Shonn Brown

Kelvin A. Baggett M.D.

Cheryl D. Alston Rod C. Jones

Pilar Tabarnero Henry

2021-2022

2020-2021

Michael L. Kahn Amy McKnight Linda Kao

Peter D. Brundage Kim J. Askew

Pete Chilian

2022-2023

Dawn Zierk

Kathleen J. Wu

MAINTAINING THE DRIVE AS

Southwestern Medical Foundation was established in 1939 to rally the community and meet the health care needs of a quickly growing region. Almost 85 years later, the mission remains the same: to build and promote the highest quality health care, research, and education in the Southwestern United States.

Even as we continue to establish strong partnerships with the brightest thought leaders and celebrate the many milestones and breakthroughs we’ve achieved together, there is still much work to be done.

$1.5

BILLION

IN PHILANTHROPIC IMPACT OVER 30 YEARS

Led

Raised $11 million

Led by Bill Solomon

Raised more than $770 million

Led

Raised more than $500 million

Our community continues to grow at an incredibly rapid pace, and in order to meet the complex needs of a diverse population, we must remain vigilant and continue to scale our momentum.

Led

Raised almost $30 million

Led

Raised $200 million

Zale Lipshy University Hospital Capital Campaign

by Don Zale

Innovations in Medicine Campaign to expand research endowment and clinical care

Campaign for the Brain to fund the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute

by Bob Rowling

Campaign for Distinguished Chairs to endow, attract and retain top faculty

by Robert Decherd

Building the Future of Medicine campaign for Clements University Hospital

by Bill Solomon

OUR REGION THRIVES

GENEROSITY + STEWARDSHIP = IMPACT

A HIGHLY RATED AND TRUSTED PARTNER:

SCALING MOMENTUM

ALMOST 60% OF ALL GRANTS WERE AWARDED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

Financial strength and dedication to transparency continue to earn Southwestern Medical Foundation a Candid (formerly GuideStar) Platinum Seal and Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, which represent their highest ratings.

WHAT

In 2022, Texas’ overall state health system performance ranked 48 out of 51.*

WILL

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex population is expected to grow to more than 10 million in the next decade, surpassing Chicago as the country’s 3rd largest metro area.

REQUIRE?

Almost 1 in 5 Texans lack health insurance.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU CAMPAIGN FOR THE BRAIN

Our community’s generous investments in UT Southwestern’s Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute strategically filled gaps in talent, technology, and space, bringing to life the vision set forth by Edith and Peter O’Donnell in 2015. Together, we are building and assuring UT Southwestern’s position of leadership in understanding and healing the human brain. The rewards of this $500 million campaign reach far into our future, and we will always be grateful for the tremendous citizenship who made this progress a reality.

STEERING COMMITTEE

Robert B. Rowling, Chair

Ruth Sharp Altshuler*

Mary McDermott Cook

Harlan Crow

Robert (Bob) Dedman Jr.

Kathleen M. Gibson

Nancy Strauss Halbreich

Linda W. Hart

Fred Hegi

James R. Huffines

Julie Kosnik

Todd Maclin

Lynn McBee

David B. Miller

Ross Perot Jr.

The Honorable Jeanne Phillips

Deedie Potter Rose

Bonnie Bass Smith

Bill Solomon

Rich Templeton

Peter Townsend

Parkland Hall at Old Parkland 3889 Maple Avenue, Suite 100 Dallas, Texas 75219 swmedical.org

At swmedical.org, you’ll find news, information, and links to follow us on social media.

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Although we try to continually update our address list, errors and duplications sometimes occur. Please call 214-351-6143 to inform us of any necessary corrections. In the meantime, we hope you will share any extra copies of Southwestern Medical Perspectives with a friend.

GIVING THANKS

A NOTABLE PHILANTHROPIST WEAVES ART WITH HEALING

The art in the offices of Southwestern Medical Foundation is part of an extraordinary collection of early textiles curated by Margaret McDermott during her travels in Southeast Asia.

A 1993 winner of The Sprague Award, Margaret and her husband, Eugene McDermott, gave generously in support of many needs of Southwestern Medical Foundation and UT Southwestern.

They knew the role that the medical center would play in the vibrancy of the city and appreciated the profound interplay between art and science. A favorite quote of Margaret’s was:

“So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”

—William Shakespeare

Gift of Margaret McDermott