Mosle charitable gift annuity furthers O’Donnell Brain Institute mission

By Brittany Worley

Paula Mosle, a longtime supporter of UT Southwestern Medical Center and Southwestern Medical Foundation, has stepped forward to champion the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute through a generous $1 million charitable gift annuity. UT Southwestern is pursuing a bold mission at the O’Donnell Brain Institute – leveraging expertise in advanced imaging technology, data, and analytics to solve the delicate and pervasive challenges of brain disease and injury.

“My parents always believed in supporting the innovation and quality care for which UT Southwestern is so well-known,” said Jon Mosle III, Mrs. Mosle’s son. “Their advocacy for this Institution has been deeply personal, and I know my mother is honored to offer this gift in support of the next great frontier of medicine.”

It is estimated that 50 million Americans suffer from brain-related diseases, with debilitating effects that may continue for years, or even decades. On its current trajectory, the devastating impact of brain disorders on our society will only grow, causing untold suffering and a staggering economic burden that is approaching $1 trillion.

UT Southwestern’s noble pursuit aims to turn the tide on those statistics, with opportunities for breakthroughs now greater than ever. With the support of key philanthropic partners, the O’Donnell Brain Institute is bringing together the best and brightest physicians and researchers, providing them with the resources they need to unravel the mysteries of the brain.

“We are extremely grateful to Mrs. Mosle and her family for their support,” said Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern. “With the rapid advances in brain imaging technology now possible, this leading gift comes at a time when there is tremendous opportunity to translate groundbreaking research into clinical practice.”

The Mosle family’s involvement with the Foundation and UT Southwestern began with a desire to memorialize their daughter, Meredith Mosle, who tragically died from liver cancer at the age of 12. In 2001, Mrs. Mosle and her late husband, Jon Mosle Jr., generously endowed the Meredith Mosle Chair in Liver Disease in Honor of Dr. William M. Lee, a liver disease specialist, Professor of Internal Medicine, and a friend of the couple.

The family’s philanthropic giving has supported investigation across several liver-related conditions, including a major acute liver failure study and research on hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and drug-induced liver injury from over-the-counter medications.

“We are truly grateful for our deep friendship and the leadership of the Mosle family,” said Kathleen Gibson, President and CEO of Southwestern Medical Foundation. “Their relationships with UT Southwestern faculty and friends’ groups have had such impact, as has the family’s participation on the Foundation’s board.”

A graduate of Rice University, Mrs. Mosle has contributed both her time and financial resources to many civic organizations in the community. She is a life Trustee and past Chairman of the Board of the Hockaday School, past member of the Board of Trustees at Rice, and past President of the Junior League of Dallas. She has also served on the boards of St. Philip’s School, St. Michael School, the Dallas Heritage Society, and others.

Jon Mosle Jr., a graduate of Yale University, was an established business and civic leader in Dallas. His lifelong career in money management and investment banking began in Houston with Rotan Mosle Inc., a regional investment firm founded by his father. In 1959, the couple moved to Dallas to open the firm’s Dallas office, where Mr. Mosle worked for 23 years, eventually serving as Vice Chairman of the Board. Following the sale of Rotan Mosle to PaineWebber in 1982, Mr. Mosle joined MVestment, a trust and investment group within MCorp, where he remained until his retirement. Mr. Mosle was very active in the community, including at the Episcopal School of Dallas, St. Mark’s School of Texas, St. Michael School, the Episcopal Foundation, and the Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation.

Jon Mosle III and his wife, Jennifer, continued to pursue the family’s philanthropic vision and made their own leadership gift to the O’Donnell Brain Institute. Jon Mosle III is a Managing Director and the General Counsel of HBK Capital Management. After serving as a Southwestern Medical Foundation Trustee for 10 years, Jennifer Mosle is now an Honorary Trustee and member of the newly established President’s Advisory Board at UT Southwestern.

Dr. Podolsky holds the Philip O’Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration, and the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science.