Dallas native William Henry “Hank” Briggs, M.D., remembers the night that changed his life as though it happened yesterday. It was during his sophomore year at Tulane University, where he had recently shifted his major from political science to geology. One night he had a vivid dream that he had entered medical school. That dream redefined his future. “I woke up the next morning,” Dr. Briggs recalled, “and knew I had to go to medical school. Just like that.”

That dream soon became reality when Dr. Briggs was accepted into UT Southwestern Medical School’s class of 1974. Reflecting on his experience, he said, “I had some of the most amazing professors I could ever imagine. Don Seldin, M.D., in the Department of Internal Medicine, and Bruce Fallis, M.D., our Department of Pathology Professor, both inspired us to excel to be the best doctors we could be.”

After completing his surgical internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital and a four-year residency in the ear, nose, and throat specialty, Dr. Briggs embarked on a successful career in private practice. He had a solo practice for many years before joining other specialists to form the multispecialty clinic Central Park Ear, Nose, and Throat. One of the highlights of his career was being named Chief of Staff at Arlington Memorial Hospital. “It was extremely rewarding because I was in a perfect spot to witness the growth of that particular medical community – especially among the young, well-trained staff there,” he said.

Dr. Briggs retired in 2015, but his connection to the medical community didn’t end there. After the passing of his wife, he revisited his estate plans, ensuring provisions for his children and organizations that had shaped his life, including UT Southwestern.

Today his estate reorganization has led to a gift through his will to UT Southwestern to fund future student scholarships.

His motivation for his estate gift is deeply personal. “When I attended UT Southwestern, my tuition was $300 for a whole year – with my biggest expense being renting my microscope,” Dr. Briggs explained, noting that his parents, along with part-time jobs, covered the rest of his medical school bill. “I know how terribly expensive education has become, so I thought that a scholarship fund seemed like a fitting way to help future students. Texas invested in me, and now it’s my turn to give back.”

Dr. Briggs has left it to UT Southwestern to determine which students will benefit from his scholarship fund. In making this planned gift, he joined The Wildenthal Society, which honors those who have made gifts to UT Southwestern Medical Center through their wills or estates. “My hope is to ease the financial burden for the medical students, knowing how overwhelming the cost of medical school can be. When I graduated, I had no debt. I want to make that possible for others,” he shared.

Dr. Briggs’ planned gift holds profound significance for UTSW students, said Melet Leafgreen, Director of the Office of Student Financial Aid. “I’m always excited to talk to students about a scholarship funded by a planned gift such as Dr. Briggs’, as it really brings home to the student what a person’s legacy can be.”

For Ms. Leafgreen, such a gift is a powerful example of the ripple effect of paying it forward.

“As a student embarks on his or her career, for them to be touched by a gift like this, clearly it has a financial impact on the student’s debt load, but it also has a dramatic impact in terms of understanding what the life of a donor can do,” she said. “These planned gifts are great examples of what a donor can do that will clearly outlive them. I see it as such a powerful motivator for a student who may be beginning their education to let them know that someone who did not know them made this plan for them, to benefit someone like them. It makes this planned gift so powerful.”

Gifts like Dr. Briggs’ benefit both individual students and the institution as a whole. “A planned gift can elevate the institution in many ways,” Ms. Leafgreen noted. “UT Southwestern is often compared to peer institutions based on the size of our endowment and how much goes directly to student scholarships. When we can keep student debt low while growing our endowed scholarships, it makes a big difference in attracting top-tier students,” she said. “Every one of these scholarship gifts, like Dr. Briggs’, boosts our reputation and gives us an edge in recruiting the most talented students. It really can’t be overstated how competitive it is between UT Southwestern and other schools for the most gifted students – and how these kinds of scholarship gifts can give our recruitment efforts a definite lift.”

Increased planned giving directly strengthens UT Southwestern’s ability to compete. “Every dollar makes an impact, and we are incredibly grateful to those who think of our students in their estate planning,” Ms. Leafgreen added.

For Dr. Briggs and donors like him, this forwardthinking generosity is deeply fulfilling. “My gift is a pure reflection of how I feel about UT Southwestern,” Dr. Briggs shared. “And a gift for scholarships is a meaningful way to contribute to the future of medicine by funding the education of future doctors.”