On October 1, 1948, a brilliant young surgeon named Michael Ellis DeBakey stepped into the Roy and Lillie Cullen Building, Baylor College of Medicine’s newly completed state-of-the-art education facility, to accept his new role as chair of the Department of Surgery.
He would quickly become one of the defining figures in Baylor’s history, fueling its efforts to become one of the nation’s preeminent academic medical centers. In his roles as chair and as Baylor’s president from 1969 to 1979, Dr. DeBakey helped usher in an era of transformation that launched Baylor as a global leader in medical education and training, world-renowned center for patient care, pioneer in groundbreaking surgical techniques and hub for cutting-edge research.
Nearly 80 years later, Baylor is once again ushering in a new era of educational excellence. Three transformative gifts have been made to support the future home of Baylor’s School of Medicine and School of Health Professions, the Lillie and Roy Cullen Tower, scheduled to open in 2026. The gifts include $25 million from The Brown Foundation, Inc., $16 million from The DeBakey Medical Foundation (adding to the $12 million it has already committed to the project), and $10 million from The Sarofim Foundation, which matches a previous $10 million committed by Fayez Sarofim.
In recognition of The DeBakey Medical Foundation’s increased commitment to The Cullen Tower and additional funding to the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor will name the park the Michael E. DeBakey Health Sciences Park. It will encompass the new Cullen Tower, a dedicated research tower to be built in future years, the Commons building linking the two towers and the existing Jamail Specialty Care Center clinical building.
Dr. DeBakey’s legacy, particularly his passion for empowering students through education, resonates with The Brown Foundation.
“The Brown Foundation believes in the transformative power of education,” said Isabel Stude Lummis, president of the Foundation. “This gift reflects our deep commitment to ensuring that future generations of healthcare leaders have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.”
Likewise, Dr. DeBakey’s example of steadfast commitment to excellence inspired The Sarofim Foundation to seize a compelling opportunity to collaborate with Baylor.
“We are deeply honored to be a part of this historic project,” said Christopher Sarofim, chairman of Fayez Sarofim & Co., board member of both the Brown and Sarofim foundations and member of the Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees. “Baylor College of Medicine is synonymous with the best that Houston and the Texas Medical Center have to offer. On behalf of all parties involved, we are very pleased to partner with Baylor and other fine philanthropic organizations to make a significant investment in the healthcare leaders of tomorrow.”
