HSC Champions

Every donor makes a difference. The following are just a few of the many gifts that enable the university to make lives better in San Antonio, South Texas and the world.

• A gift of $250,000 from the Baptist Health Foundation has funded the expansion of the pediatric palliative care program, which is a joint program of the UT Health Science Center and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital. The program serves as the only pediatric hospice and palliative care program in San Antonio.

• A gift of more than $100,000 from the William and Ella Owens Medical Research Foundation will support research of embryonic stem cells used to repair organs damaged by disease and bone cancer inhibitors. It will also support research of the debilitating disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Furthermore, the funds will support research at the Health Science Center’s Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC), including investigations of new anti-cancer agents, cancer immunotherapy as well as immune dysfunction and related cancer risk.

• A $25,000 gift from the AT&T Foundation, thanks to special leadership from John T. Montford, of the Health Science Center’s Development Board, will go to the President’s Excellence Fund to support research, student scholarships and other university programs designated to be top priorities of Health Science Center President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP.

Vulcan Materials Company honored for commitment to CTRC- (L-R) William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, Health Science Center president; Tom McFadden, Vulcan Materials Company procurement leader; Pam Jones, Vulcan sales service coordinator; Pat Bendele, Vulcan manager of statewide transportation; and Ian M. Thompson Jr., M.D., CTRC interim executive director, celebrate the naming of the reception suite in the Multidisciplinary Oncology Clinic at the CTRC. The Vulcan Materials Company Reception Suite was named in grateful recognition of the leadership and commitment of the Vulcan employees. Over the past 16 years, the annual Vulcan FunShoot has raised $1.5 million to benefit the CTRC.

• A $20,000 gift from St. Luke’s Lutheran Health Ministries Inc. will fund free health care and service programs for up to 3,000 residents, including homeless and pregnant teens and new mothers in underserved areas of Bexar County. The clinics are operated by the Health Science Center’s Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics.

• A $65,000 gift from the Judith & Jean Pape Adams Charitable Foundation will fund the research of P. John Hart, Ph.D., Ewing Halsell/President’s Council Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biochemistry. Dr. Hart is testing various compounds to assess their ability to delay the onset or duration of paralysis in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. His goal is to develop novel therapies.

P. John Hart, Ph.D.

• A gift of $2,500 from the Morgan Stanley Foundation, including Van Kampen Investments, and in honor of employee Harris Sterling, will support the “I Count Too Children’s Support Program” and the “Surviving and Thriving Conference.” The “I Count Too Program” assists children who have fears and anxieties when a parent or family member is diagnosed with cancer. The “Surviving and Thriving Conference” is an annual retreat and conference for cancer survivors and their caregivers. Both programs are organized and hosted by the CTRC.

• A $10,000 gift from Walter and Lenora Brown will support the President’s Council for research, student scholarships and other missions of the university. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been members of the President’s Council since 2005.

• A gift of $100,000 from the estate of Edward Suddath will establish the Edward Suddath Cancer Research Fund at the CTRC. The funds will support colon, intestinal and breast cancer research and other cancer research programs at the CTRC.

S.A.L.E. supports students Rose Broderick Hare, a second-year student in the UT Health Science Center’s Physician Assistant Studies Program, thanks Keith Martin, executive director and CEO of the San Antonio Livestock Exposition (S.A.L.E.) Feb. 10 at the “Get to Know Your Rodeo” event for executive leadership of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and other community leaders. Hare thanked the audience for their support, and discussed the tremendous impact S.A.L.E. scholarships have on students’ education and lives. Since 2004, S.A.L.E. has awarded more than $1.2 million in scholarships to students at the UT Health Science Center.

• A gift of $9,600 from Bobby and Minnie Waddell of Kerrville will fund the purchase of a second Karl Storz Endoscopy Tower in the Department of Urology. Using a state-of-the-art camera attached to a cystoscope, the diagnostic tool allows Ian M. Thompson Jr., M.D., interim executive director of the CTRC, and his clinical team to view with exact precision the lower urinary tract system to better detect lesions, stones, tumors, cancer and other problems. The additional machine will assist in efficient and accurate diagnosis and development of a treatment plan for patients.

• Drs. Donna and Ian M. Thompson Jr. have joined the Leadership Circle, the highest giving level of the CTRC Cabinet. The CTRC Cabinet is a vital group of community and business leaders who donate $1,000 or more annually to support and further the mission of the CTRC. Since its inception in 1996, the Cabinet has raised more than $4.5 million to benefit the CTRC. Dr. Thompson is the interim executive director of the CTRC.