DALLAS (Nov. 8, 2024) – On November 7, The Cary Council celebrated the 2024 recipients of its Early-Stage Research Grants at the sixth An Evening with DocStars. Each $50,000 seed grant helps fuel critically important medical and scientific research in North Texas. To date, the 21 researchers supported by The Cary Council have gone on to secure more than $21 million in additional funding.
The Cary Council is comprised of leaders dedicated to advancing early-stage research at
UT Southwestern Medical Center in partnership with Southwestern Medical Foundation. Through engaging programming, the Council is catalyzing a new generation of community leaders and working to raise awareness for the important causes of medical research, patient care, and medical education in our community and beyond.
“As The Cary Council approaches its 10th anniversary in 2025, it’s inspiring to see how our mission of supporting early-stage research has resonated with our community,” said Josie Sewell, Chair of The Cary Council. “Over the past decade, we’ve been able to amplify the impact of some truly groundbreaking ideas by providing the resources that early-career researchers at UT Southwestern need to move their work forward. We’re committed to continuing this legacy of advancing innovation, and it’s motivating to witness what our grant recipients and our community have achieved together.”
An Evening with DocStars is held annually to highlight researchers and inspire funding for their work. The highly anticipated 2024 event took place at the Texas Instruments Biomedical Engineering and Science Building at UT Southwestern, drawing over 300 guests who enjoyed gourmet food, music, and six interactive stations showcasing leading-edge technology and innovative science from UT Southwestern. Several faculty members and former grant recipients attended, connecting with guests to discuss their work and the impact of philanthropic support in advancing medicine.
“My husband and I are deeply honored by the remarkable turnout for An Evening with DocStars. This sold-out event is a testament to the passion and commitment of our community in advancing the mission of The Cary Council,” said Lara Pryor, who chaired the 2024 event alongside her husband, Brian. “Tonight is not only a celebration but a critical step forward in empowering early-career researchers to pursue breakthroughs that can transform health care. We are profoundly grateful to our sponsors and every guest who believes in the potential of these dedicated scientists to shape a healthier future for all.”
Presented by the lead sponsor, the Michael and Abby Gregory Foundation, the event honored three UT Southwestern research physicians working in:
- Improving the lives of patients after liver transplantation
- Reducing the risk of brain injury in critically ill children
- Empowering Dallas school students to save lives by transforming CPR education
Supporting these early career researchers is critical for fostering a culture of innovation that continues to lead UT Southwestern to the forefront of medical research, patient care, and effective treatments.
2024 Recipients of the Early-Stage Research Grants
Sarah Lieber, M.D., M.S.C.R.
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine – Division of Digestive and Liver Disease at UT Southwestern Medical
Center
Dr. Lieber’s clinical practice emphasizes patient-centered care for individuals with advanced liver disease who are in need of liver transplantation. Her research interests are focused on liver transplantation outcomes, aiming to understand why some patients flourish after transplant while others struggle profoundly. She intends to implement interventions to ensure that all patients thrive after receiving their gift of life. Dr. Lieber earned her medical degree at the University of Michigan Medical School and completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She received advanced training in gastroenterology and transplant hepatology through fellowships at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. Dr. Lieber also holds a master’s degree in clinical research from UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. She joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2020.
Ethan Sanford, M.D.
Pediatric Intensivist and
Anesthesiologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dr. Sanford is the Associate Program Director for Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and regularly leads clinical teams in caring for some of the sickest children in our community. He works with multidisciplinary groups to determine best practices and continuously evaluate how we may better serve children at their greatest time of need. Dr. Sanford works with a group of bioengineers, mathematicians, and statisticians to guide the development of novel brain health monitors on ECMO. His work is aimed not only towards improving the survival of sick children but also to allow the best possible neurologic outcome after severe illness. Dr. Sanford received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his pediatric and anesthesiology residencies and fellowships at Boston Children’s Hospital. He returned home to Texas to complete pediatric critical care training at UT Southwestern before joining the UT Southwestern faculty in 2020.
Anezi Uzendu, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine at
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dr. Uzendu specializes in interventional cardiology and cardiac arrest care and is passionate about improving outcomes after cardiac arrest. He has partnered with the American Heart Association on multiple projects to advocate for heart health and CPR awareness and also created virtual CPR training for Boston minority youth during the pandemic. He is bringing this expertise to a partnership with Dallas ISD to transform cardiac arrest and CPR education in schools, empowering students to save lives. Dr. Uzendu earned his medical degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. He gained advanced training through fellowships in cardiovascular medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center and interventional cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Corrigan Minehan Heart Center. He also completed a research fellowship in cardiovascular outcomes at Saint Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute. Dr. Uzendu joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2023.
“An Evening with DocStars is a celebration of innovative minds and community support for early-stage medical research,” said Jonathan Dietz, An Evening with DocStars Co-Chair with his wife, Saryn Dietz. “This event provides a vital opportunity to invest in the next generation of researchers and their groundbreaking work. By funding their research and partnering with them along the way, we are helping to ensure a healthier future for everyone.”
Additional photos and resources are available upon request.
Victoria Jett Kuper
Public Relations Managing Director
LDWW
214-404-9455
victoria@ldww.co
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ABOUT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL FOUNDATION
Southwestern Medical Foundation is a public charity and a registered 501(c)(3) with a prestigious 85-year history that all started with a question: “Why not a great medical center in the Southwestern United States?” The Foundation was created to rally citizens in support of the highest quality health care possible in the Southwestern US. Out of that community vision, UT Southwestern Medical Center emerged. Today it remains the Foundation’s partner and most significant beneficiary. Southwestern Medical Foundation is guided by four core principles: Service to Community, Vision of Excellence, Mindful Stewardship, and Best Outcomes. Each principle is a promise to donors, beneficiaries, and generations to come that the Foundation is dedicated to bringing the gift of better health to the Southwest and the world beyond. Southwestern Medical Foundation continues to earn a Candid (formerly GuideStar) Platinum Seal and Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating. These organizations rate governance, accountability, and transparency, supported by both qualitative and quantitative measures.
ABOUT UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 25 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 24 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 3,200 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 120,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5 million outpatient visits a year. Learn more at www.utsouthwestern.edu/.