On June 4, 2026, Southwestern Medical Foundation and UT Southwestern Medical Center hosted the annual luncheon for The Wildenthal Society. The event honored members of the planned giving society and the enduring legacy they are building in support of medical progress.
This year’s program featured remarks from Dr. William Turner, a retired surgeon and professor who spent 35 years at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Turner reflected on the joy he and his wife, Toni, have found through legacy giving and their connection to Southwestern Medical Foundation and UT Southwestern. He spoke about the Foundation’s enduring role as a gathering place for people united by a shared commitment to health care, medical education, and discovery.
Looking ahead to the nation’s 250th anniversary, Dr. Turner drew a thoughtful connection between the civic ideals that shaped America’s founding and the community spirit that led to the creation of Southwestern Medical College in 1943. At a time of uncertainty during World War II, Dallas leaders, physicians, and citizens came together around a conviction that medicine belongs to all people and should be supported by all people. That same sense of shared purpose continues to animate the work of the Foundation and The Wildenthal Society today.
Guests also heard from Dr. Andrew Y. Koh, Professor and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at UT Southwestern, where he holds the Grant A. Dove Distinguished Chair for Research in Oncology. Dr. Koh leads the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, which advances care, research, and training for children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders. His presentation explored how the gut microbiome may affect immune responses in patients with cancer and stem cell transplants, including the effectiveness of certain cancer treatments. His work highlights how scientific discovery can open new paths for understanding patient response to therapy, and how philanthropy helps make this kind of promising research possible.
Photo Gallery: The Wildenthal Society Luncheon 2026
The Wildenthal Society recognizes those who have included Southwestern Medical Foundation or UT Southwestern in their estate plans. Through their generosity, members help ensure that future physicians, researchers, and health care leaders have the support needed to advance medicine and improve lives.
If you are interested in learning more about your charitable estate planning options, please fill out the form below, and someone from our team of planned giving specialists will be happy to assist.
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