For progress. For patients.® ® theBAYLOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOUNDATIONtorch D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 Special Edition Simmons $20 million gift to benefit, rename transplant institute nnette and Harold Simmons have pledged $20 million to benefit transplantation initiatives within Baylor Health Care System. In recognitionA of this transformational gift, Baylor will rename the Baylor Regional Transplant Institute the Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute. “Because of our own experience with transplan- Joel Allison, Dr. Göran Klintmalm and tation, we knew we wanted to give others the same Norm and Robin Bagwell and Rowland K. Robinson with a portrait of Dr. Göran and Tina Dr. Göran Klintmalm Harold and Annette Simmons Klintmalm opportunity to have a future,” Harold Simmons said. “We believe this gift will enable Baylor to make our vision a reality by advancing transplant science and creating one of the finest transplant institutes in the nation.” “This generous gift will help us continue to pro- vide life-changing treatments for transplant patients and conduct leading-edge clinical research that will further advance knowledge in the field of transplantation,” said Joel Allison, Rowland K. Robinson, Dr. Göran Klintmalm Dr. Robert and Amanda and Norm Bagwell ring the bell, a Foundation president and chief executive officer of Baylor Goldstein Erle Nye and Joel Allison tradition when good news is announced Health Care System. “Baylor is most grateful for the generosity of the Simmons family that will education and academic contributions on behalf “We are grateful beyond words for the incred- provide us the opportunity to impact our patients’ of our patients,” said Dr. Klintmalm. “This gift ible support we have been given by the Simmons quality of life.” will allow us to increase our research infrastruc- family,” said Rowland K. Robinson, president of Göran Klintmalm, M.D., Ph.D., has led the ture, support scholarly and academic initiatives, the Baylor Health Care System Foundation. “This newly renamed Annette C. and Harold C. expand our transplant fellowship programs, and gift is truly extraordinary, and we are excited Simmons Transplant Institute as its chairman anchor our transplant leadership for the future.” about the plans Baylor has for the institute’s since it began in 1984. Annette and Harold Simmons are among the future.” “This tremendous gift is an investment in the nation’s foremost philanthropists, and their sup- For more information about transplant initia- future of this institute and will help us continue port of Baylor will help transform the transplant tives, contact Drew Oleson at 214.820.4721 or to reach new heights in research, medical institute. [email protected]. Simmons family building better lives through philanthropy mong Dallas’ premier phi- humble. He was born to a pair of schoolteachers thrived as a brilliant and creative financier and lanthropists, Annette and in rural Golden, Texas, where he grew up in a controls numerous companies, including five Harold Simmons have an endur- modest home without plumbing or electricity. corporations listed on the New York Stock ing legacy of service and A self-made billionaire, he graduated Phi Beta Exchange. Among his many awards are the 2002 generosity.A Kappa from The University of Angel of Freedom Award from the Human Annette and Harold have Texas at Austin in 1952. He Rights Initiative and the Charles Cameron given more than $300 mil- began his career by working for Sprague Community Service Award. lion to improve the educa- the federal government and Annette was born in Tyler, and she and tion and medical care that then a Dallas-based bank. Harold were married in 1980, a year and a half positively affect the quality Reconsidering his options, he after they met at a Dallas Cowboys game. A of life of the area’s residents. made a shift from employee to graduate of Southern Methodist University, she Their vision is demonstrated entrepreneur. Though barely has served numerous civic organizations, by their funding of projects making ends meet and borrow- including on the boards of the National Kidney such as the Annette C. and ing money, he made his first Foundation of Texas, Baylor Health Care Harold C. Simmons investment, buying a small System Foundation and The Crystal Charity Transplant Institute (for- drugstore. A decade of hard Ball. Her community involvement has earned merly the Baylor Regional work and savvy moves saw the her several awards, including The Crystal Harold and Annette Simmons Transplant Institute) that venture grow into a statewide Charity Ball Hall of Fame Award in 1997 and will benefit the health and well-being of gen- drugstore chain that was valued at more than the Dallas County Medical Society Alliance’s erations to come — individuals who they will $50 million. Champ Award in 2003. She and Harold never personally know. Harold sold the chain in 1973 and made another received the Annette G. Strauss Humanitarian Harold’s beginnings, however, were more shift, beginning a new career as an investor. He has Award in 2000. 3600 Gaston Avenue, Suite 100 Dallas, Texas 75246 214.820.3136 n [email protected] special edition t H e t o R c H Transplant institute has provided second Ginny Sillers tells chances for more than a quarter century transplant success story ince it was established in 1984 hen Ginny Sillers with an urgent liver transplant for a needed a transplant to 5-year-old girl, the Annette C. and treat her liver cancer, she Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute knew where to turn. As she S(formerly the Baylor Regional Transplant andW her husband, Don, had long come to Institute) has served as a beacon of hope for Baylor Health Care patients in need of organ transplants to survive. System for their med- Göran Klintmalm, M.D., Ph.D., has led the Dr. Göran Klintmalm was joined by ical care, she was well Simmons Transplant Institute as its chairman from transplant pioneers Dr. Carl Groth, Dr. Roy Calne aware of the quality of its inception. Since then, the medical staff of the and Dr. Tom Starzl for the transplant institute’s the medical staff at 25th anniversary transplant centers within Baylor Health Care Baylor University System have performed more than 8,000 solid organ Medical Center at transplants, including more than 3,400 liver trans- Dallas, one of the plants and in excess of 2,900 kidney transplants. transplant centers of Ginny Sillers “Dr. Klintmalm has been a shining light in the the Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons field of transplant, one that has illuminated the Transplant Institute (formerly the Baylor way to new life for thousands of our patients at Regional Transplant Institute). Baylor,” said Joel Allison, president and chief “On February 2, 1989, I had very bad executive officer of Baylor Health Care System. pains in my stomach,” Ginny said. “The next “Without his contributions, the world would be day, it was worse. I had a tumor the size of Ann and John McReynolds and Marsland Johnson a far darker place.” two grapefruits in my liver. I was told it was Members of the institute’s transplant staff have Winspear Opera House. Several pioneers and leaders not operable, it was malignant, and I had 10 published almost 1,000 articles in peer-reviewed in the field of transplantation, as well as former weeks left to live.” journals and authored the premier textbook on transplant patients, joined Baylor for the evening. But within a month, she had a new liver. liver transplantation. Research conducted at the “We have a long history of achievements at The surgery was performed by transplant sur- Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Baylor in the field of transplantation, but we can geons on the medical staff at Baylor Dallas. Institute has helped produce medication used as not rest on our laurels,” Dr. Klintmalm said. “We “My prayers were answered,” Ginny said. standard therapy the world over, and 35 trans- have to strengthen our transplant research pro- But she wasn’t out of the woods just yet. plant fellows have trained there, some of whom gram, train fellows and recruit leadership. We Two years later, she learned the cancer had lead major transplant programs around the world. intend to stay at the top in the transplant field.” metastasized to her lung. The transplant institute celebrated the many For more information about transplant initia- “They took out a portion of my lung, and achievements of its first 25 years in November 2009 tives, contact Drew Oleson at 214.820.4721 or that’s the last we’ve heard of it,” Ginny said. in the first private event at the new Margot and Bill [email protected]. In gratitude, Ginny and Don created an estate gift to Baylor Health Care System Foundation. Ginny also served as co-chair- Transplant future man for a luncheon that raised funds for the he Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute seeks to continue its leadership in research, medical transplant program, and she is a longtime Teducation and academic contributions while delivering quality, compassionate patient care. Its goals, which can be member of the Baylor Health Care System met with the help of continuing philanthropy, are to: Foundation Board of Directors. n Recruit and retain the finest transplant physicians and n Train the next generation of transplant surgeons More than 20 years later, she still marks scientists n Continue to make important academic contributions to each March 3rd, the anniversary of the trans- n Grow the research program in disease prevention and the field plant that has allowed her to live much lon- innovative therapies n Raise awareness of the institute’s life-saving transplant ger than expected, witness the birth of several n Increase patient participation in advanced clinical trials services in the public and the medical community grandchildren and watch her family grow up.