Southwestern Medical Foundation President/CEO Kathleen Gibson has just reported that the Foundation has a new chair plus six new trustees.
Succeeding James Huffines, who has chaired the board since 2019, is Jere Thompson Jr.
According to James, “It has been a distinct privilege and an honor to serve as Chairman of the Foundation for the past three years. Jere has been a longtime friend of mine for 40 years and has long served on the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and other roles. I have no doubt that he will be an outstanding Chairman for this Foundation, guiding the mission through his business expertise.”
Jere’s family has been a longtime supporter of the Foundation with “three generations of his family establishing the Thompson Family Fund, which contributed $5 million in support of the UT Southwestern Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute in 2021.”
In addition to being on the Foundation’s board since 1999, Jere himself “is past Chairman of the Dallas Citizens Council and sits on the Boards of Southwestern Medical Foundation, Hoblitzelle Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Texas Transportation Alliance, and Cistercian Preparatory School. He served for 11 years as a Board member, including six years as Chairman, of the Texas Turnpike Authority and later the North Texas Tollway Authority. He continues to spend a great deal of time on regional and state transportation issues.”
Joining the Board are new trustees Kim Askew, Peter D. Brundage, Pete Chilian, Michael Kahn, Linda Kao and Amy McKnight.
As Kathleen said, “Our business community has long been a driver of excellence and innovation, and it is an honor to have worked with Chairman James Huffines. It is equally inspiring to continue to attract outstanding talent, such as Jere Thompson Jr., as Chairman, and this distinctive group of community leaders as Trustees. Jere has been a critical leader, helping to ensure the growth and progress we have made. I know he will bring great vision and insight in accomplishing the many opportunities ahead.”
* Photo provided by Southwestern Medical Foundation