The Cary Council is dedicated to advancing early stage research at UT Southwestern, in partnership with Southwestern Medical Foundation. Through engaging programming, they are catalyzing a new generation of community leaders and working to raise awareness of the important cause of academic medicine, research, and medical education in our community.
Our Inspiration
In 1939, Dr. Edward H. Cary had a vision to advance medical education, scientific research, and “inspire a great citizenship to greater deeds.” It was a vision that led to the establishment of both the Foundation and Southwestern Medical College, the precursor to today’s UT Southwestern Medical Center.
From the beginning, the Foundation and the medical school were supported by the city’s most farsighted civic and business leaders. What the Foundation has been able to achieve, it has done through the commitment of visionary leadership—a commitment that has helped build a great city while delivering life-changing advances in patient care, medical discoveries, dedicated physicians and brilliant scientists.
Through The Cary Council, the warmth of the relationship between civic leaders, the Foundation and UT Southwestern taps a new generation of leadership—young men and women that will carry on the visionary tradition that has enabled both the Foundation and the medical school to flourish.
Since its founding in 2015, The Cary Council has provided 15 $50,000 grants to early stage researchers, resulting in $9.4 million in additional federal funding. Additionally, The Cary Council has been able to participate along with esteemed leaders and philanthropists in the community to contribute to UT Southwestern’s Campaign for the Brain in support of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute.
The Cary Council Chair, Josie Sewell’s “My Why”
The Cary Council Steering Committee
Brittny Allred
Lauren Baldwin
Lili Clark
Lewis Chang
Jonathan Dietz
Saryn Dietz
Molly Edwards
Barrell Jones
Alex Kincaid
Sam Kincaid
Josie Sewell (chair)
Rob Swift
Mills Weinmann
Erik Yohe
The Cary Council Founder’s Circle
Annika Cail
Grace Cook
Lana Constantine
Nancy Collins
Pete Dale
Amanda George
Michael Gregory
Anders Fisher
Grafton Ifill
Jacob Jones
Michael Kahn
Kate Morris
Amanda Shufeldt
Recent News and Events
An Evening with DocStars 2022
November 3, 2022 – The Cary Council hosted its signature event – An Evening with DocStars – to celebrate this year’s early-stage research grant recipients and raise funding for future DocStar grants. This event was held at UT Southwestern and featured lively entertainment, delicious bites and drinks, and interactive simulation stations.
What’s Up, Doc?
September 29, 2022 – The Cary Council held a special, interactive night to get to know the 2022 DocStars being awarded early-stage research grants. This event was held at Pegasus Park and featured breakout sessions where this year’s DocStars presented on their research and took answers from The Cary Council members.
Learning From Leaders
March 30, 2022 – The Cary Council’s program, Learning From Leaders, brought together scientific and philanthropic leaders to discuss bridging the gap between the research lab and trusted medical treatments. We were honored to host an in-depth discussion about early stage research and the commercialization of the next big medical breakthrough featuring Claire Aldridge, Ph.D., and Brad Phelan, MBA, Director of Technology Commercialization at UT Southwestern.
Grow Your Mind
November 16, 2021 – The Cary Council’s interactive “Grow Your Mind” event at Gardenuity featured Dr. William T. Dauer, who spoke about the remarkable progress being made at the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, and also about the potential that lies ahead through leading-edge technology such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).
Dallas ‘DocStars’ on COVID and Pregnancy, Cancer and Spine Studies, and Working Till Midnight on Early-Stage Research
October 4, 2021 – In partnership with the Southwestern Medical Foundation, the Cary Council awarded $50K grants to each of its three 2021 young “DocStars.” On a recent “What’s Up Doc?” virtual event, the young investigators spoke about how their research projects are going, what they hope to achieve—and why the seed grants are a catalyst for medical innovation.
Evening With DocStars: Cary Council Awards Grants
August 12, 2021 – The Cary Council recently announced grant recipients of funds raised to support early-stage research from their 2021 “An Evening with DocStars at Home” event. The interactive nature of the 2021 celebration sustained the distinguishing characteristics of past An Evening with DocStars events, while following guidance from public health officials. Stations along the drive-thru route provided guests with several giveaway items, including swag bags, gourmet treats, coloring activities for children, and take-home science kits designed by former grant recipients and inspired by the research they are conducting in their respective labs.
