Alumni & Giving

Ray Calvert still remembers the moment he proposed to Paula.

Standing on a small bandstand as the guitarist and lead singer of a country band, he asked her to marry him in front of a crowd, even though she wasn't a fan of country music. For the next 41 years, Mrs. Calvert was his partner in life and love, his anchor, and his joy. When Mrs. Calvert was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2011, their world was shaken, but their love never wavered.

The initial diagnosis offered little promise. At one hospital, Mrs. Calvert was told her cancer was inoperable. The doctor could only offer chemotherapy that would not extend her life by much. But Mr. Calvert wasn't ready to give up. He reached out to UT Southwestern Medical Center for a second opinion. Within days, Mrs. Calvert was seen by Udit Verma, M.D., then Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, who believed surgery was possible.

Dr. Verma's treatment plan was aggressive - chemotherapy to stop the cancer from metastasizing (spreading), radiation to shrink the tumor, and then surgery. Mrs. Calvert also enrolled in a clinical trial that used her own immune system to target remaining cancer cells. Against the odds, she survived and lived not only more months, but years. Six of them. Those years were a gift. The couple traveled across the Southwest, explored the cool mountain air of Colorado and New Mexico, and visited their favorite place, Big Bend National Park, between treatments. Wherever they went, Mrs. Calvert carried her signature optimism.

"We were in Santa Fe when we got the call that the surgery could happen a few days early," Mr. Calvert recalled. "We packed up and drove home without hesitation." That was Mrs. Calvert: positive and flexible.

During her treatment, the Calverts read a story about someone who made a donation to honor a doctor, and it struck a chord. Inspired by Dr. Verma's dedication and the care Mrs. Calvert received, they decided to give back. In 2014, they made a significant gift to UT Southwestern that Texas Instruments, where Mrs. Calvert had built a successful career, matched. The gift established the H. Ray and Paula Calvert Fund in Gastroenterology and Oncology and honored Dr. Verma for the role he played in giving them time together they never expected to have.

But the Calverts wanted to do more than say thank you. They wished to create lasting change. They began discussing estate planning, eventually creating a charitable remainder trust that would support their children during their lifetimes and later fund research and clinical support for pancreatic cancer patients. After Mrs. Calvert passed away in 2017, Mr. Calvert fulfilled their shared dream by contributing additional gifts.

That legacy is already transforming lives.

“When you do your best in the moment, but also make plans for a better future, you reap double the rewards.”

Their support funds critical research through an endowed chair now held by Yujin Hoshida, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the Liver Tumor Translational Research Program. Dr. Hoshida is studying innovative treatments for liver and gastrointestinal cancers. The Calverts' support has also led to the creation of vital patient resource guides for newly diagnosed patients and their families, providing them with the knowledge and confidence needed to face a life-threatening disease.

"When Paula was diagnosed, it was hard to find information," Mr. Calvert said. "Now it's much easier. Paula would be proud to know that patients today can get the guidance we were searching for back then."

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal forms of cancer. In 2025, an estimated 67,440 Americans will be diagnosed, and nearly 52,000 will die from the disease. It is now the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., with only about 13% of patients surviving five years after diagnosis. When Mrs. Calvert began her journey in 2011, that ratio was just 5%.

Progress is being made - but it is clear that research, early detection, and patient support are vital. Mr. Calvert has become an advocate for all three. He also joined a pancreatic cancer support group during his wife's treatment and credits it with helping them both find strength.

The act of giving to UT Southwestern had a rejuvenating effect as well, Mr. Calvert noted.

"When you do your best in the moment, but also make plans for a better future, you reap double the rewards," he said. "In our giving, we gave while Paula was alive, with an eye toward the future when neither of us would be here. It allowed us to feel like we were doing everything we could."

The Calverts' gift ensures that research continues, doctors have the tools they need, and patients have access to information and encouragement at every step of the process.

"I would do just about anything to honor Paula and help other pancreatic cancer patients," Mr. Calvert said. "We worked hard to live comfortably in retirement, but it was too short. Now those funds go toward helping others."

• Dr. Hoshida holds the H. Ray and Paula Calvert Chair in Gastroenterology Oncology in Honor of Udit Verma, M.D.