Back in 1939 “Stagecoach”, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Gone With The Wind” premiered; “Grapes of Wrath was published; Lou Gehrig gave his legendary farewell speech; Highland Park Village was just eight years old; NorthPark was a cotton field; and the Southwestern Medical Foundation was established in Dallas.
The foundation leaders realized that an outstanding medical school was needed to support health care providers. Baylor University had “elected to move its school of medicine from Dallas to Houston” and World War II was ramping up. So, in 1943, “the Foundation established Southwestern Medical College and helped to nurture its growth from a fledgling medical school into one of the preeminent medical research and academic centers in the world.” It was the 68th medical school in the U.S.
Those were pretty darn lofty plans. But now 75 years later, those plans seem like a whisper compared to the reality of what has resulted. Need an example: Have you seen the list of accomplishments by that “little college” that is known today as UT Southwestern Medical Center? Check this out.
But over the years the Foundation, like UT Southwestern, has grown way beyond its initial POA. Today the Foundation “currently manages over $800M across 1,000 funds, creating a financial resource that will enable advances in health care benefiting the citizens of this community, state and the nation for years to come.”
Southwestern Medical Foundation 75th anniversary*
In addition to “marking a milestone for the Foundation and providing the opportunity to honor donors and recognize the impact the community has had in advancing the important cause of academic medicine, research and medical education at UT Southwestern Medical Center,” Foundation President/CEO Kathleen Gibson announced a steering committee for the 75th anniversary celebration including Chairman/Foundation Chair Bill Solomon and Honorary Co-Chairs Mayor Mike Rawlings and Edith and Peter O’Donnell.
Kathleen Gibson (File photo)
Members of the steering committee include Ruth Collins Altshuler, Jan Hart Black, Edward H. Cary III, Mary McDermott Cook, David R. Corrigan, Harlan R. Crow, Thomas M. Dunning, Robert A. Estrada, Nancy Strauss Halbreich, Paul W. Harris, Lyda Hill, James R. Huffines, Margaret McDermott, Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, Caren H. Prothro, Carolyn Perot Rathjen, Catherine M. Rose, Robert B. Rowling, Lizzie Horchow Routman and Emmitt J. Smith III.
According to Kathleen, “The Steering Committee will play a vital role in celebrating the remarkable history of this Foundation in the last 75 years and the impact that has been made due to the foresight of so many wonderful visionary men and women. To everyone who has contributed their time, talents and financial gifts, past and present, we humbly and sincerely thank you.”
* Graphic provided by Southwestern Medical Foundation