In his opening remarks to a meeting of 650 members of the North Texas Commission, UT Southwestern’s Dr. Dwain Thiele told the crowd about a unique relationship.

“We are celebrating our 75th anniversary this year, but what you may not know is that UT Southwestern exists because of people like you,” said Dr. Thiele, Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and Dean.

“In the early 1940s, a group of business leaders, working on the economic development of the region, believed that the best way to serve the health care needs of the population was with a medical school to meet the capacity and growth of the future,” he said.

Dr. Heidi Rossetti, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, demonstrates a dowel test to measure response rate, which is used with people who may have experienced a concussion.

Dr. Thiele also presented the UT Southwestern 75^th anniversary video to attendees. 

“Everything we do converges into one goal: your good health,” he continued. “We bring together medical education, biomedical research, and leading-edge clinical care to improve the health of those who come to us for healing.”

UT Southwestern Medical Center was the Showcase and Reception Sponsor of the event, which included 19 UTSW volunteers and featured eight tables of various UT Southwestern areas of focus: the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care, ConTex and concussion prevention, stroke prevention, Alzheimer’s research and the Diamond lab, heart health, cancer prevention, UTSW’s 75th anniversary, and Southwestern Health Resources.

Dr. Brian Hitt, Assistant Instructor of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, talks to a guest at the Alzheimer's information table.

“This regional gathering of business and civic leaders, including many elected officials, was a unique opportunity for UT Southwestern to showcase consumer-friendly information, promote our work, and reinforce our brand identity to a broad audience of new and existing stakeholders,” said Arnim Dontes, Executive Vice President for Business Affairs and a member of the North Texas Commission Board of Directors.

According to its website, the North Texas Commission is a “public-private partnership dedicated to advancing the vibrancy of the North Texas region.” Established in 1971, the Commission is a regional consortium of businesses, cities, counties, chambers of commerce, economic development entities, and higher education institutions in North Texas that seeks to improve the economic vitality, infrastructure, and lifestyle of North Texas by marketing the region, promoting collaboration, and advocating on critical federal and state issues.