Since 1939, our Foundation has been rooted in advancing the public health and well-being of our community. As evident in the Grand Vision laid out by our founding officers Dr. Edward H. Cary, Karl Hoblitzelle, Hall Shannon, and E.R. Brown. Their mission was to bring the highest quality medical research, education, and care to the Southwestern region. Shortly after establishing the Foundation, these visionaries tapped into the generosity of our own community to secure the nearly $25 million needed to start a world-class medical institution by 1943. That institution was Southwestern Medical College, which would later go on to become UT Southwestern Medical Center. They did all this in the midst of a nation gripped by World War II.
Fast-forward to the year 2020, and our nation and region faced another crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic put the spotlight on infectious disease prevention. While this is a significant area of focus, there is so much more to public health. Data scientists, epidemiologists, health policy experts, health care delivery researchers, and more all play a part in public health. Their work directly impacts the health of their community through a focus on the burden of chronic diseases, cancer prevention and treatment access, and disparities in health outcomes and health equity.
All this work must then be masterfully implemented by medical and civic leaders on a massive scale. Advancing public health requires an immense amount of research, data, community support, and government coordination to be successful.
The $100 Million Gift that Transformed the Future of Health in Our Community
It started with a $100 million gift to endow and support a new school of public health at UT Southwestern. This was the largest philanthropic gift to a school of public health at a public university in U.S. history. Foundation leaders provided additional funding to attract the brightest students and faculty. Southwestern Medical Foundation Trustees, in partnership with UT Southwestern, saw a need and took action – forever transforming the future of health in our community.
Learn MoreThe thing about public health is, when it’s doing its job best, you don’t notice it.
Dr. Richard Hoffman
Trustee, Southwestern Medical Foundation
Our Future is at Stake
North Texas has long faced many public health challenges like high rates of chronic illnesses, disparities in access to care, and the impact of social determinants of health in our communities. The Dallas-Fort Worth area encompasses 13 counties and roughly 7.8 million people, growing exponentially. As the fastest-growing region in the United States, within the decade, our community is expected to surpass Chicago as the third-largest metropolitan area.
Community builders and innovators saw a need to not only address the public health challenges of today and the burgeoning population of tomorrow. They had the vision to build a world-class medical school to train a public health workforce that will translate scientific discoveries into public health solutions for generations to come.
Building a School of Public Health
Community leaders Lyda Hill, Richard Hoffman, M.D., M.P.H., and the late Peter O’Donnell Jr. set the standard for investing in their community. The O’Donnell Foundation’s $100 million gift is the largest to a school of public health at a public university in the United States.
