SLU School of Medicine Receives Transformational $10 Million Gift
ST. LOUIS — (March 11, 2025) The Saint Louis University School of Medicine has been awarded a transformational $10 million gift, marking one of the largest and most impactful contributions in the School’s history.
SLU's Schwitalla Hall, the administrative home of SLU's School of Medicine. File photo.
The donation comes from a patient who wishes to remain anonymous in honor of Gerald A. Maguire, M.D. (SOM ’91). The accomplished California-based psychiatrist has also personally pledged $100,000 to support his alma mater.
“We are deeply grateful for this remarkable generosity, which will help us train future physicians who, like Dr. Maguire, provide exceptional, compassionate care and embody the Ignatian principle of cura personalis — care for the whole person,” said Christine K. Jacobs, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs.
The $10 million donation will be strategically allocated to enhance medical education and research at SLU:
- $3 million will establish the Gerald A. Maguire, M.D., and Joanne S. Maguire School of Medicine Cura Personalis Endowed Deanship, ensuring the school can continue to attract and retain visionary leaders committed to advancing SLU’s mission in medical education and patient care.
- $2 million will fund the Gerald A. Maguire, M.D., and Joanne S. Maguire Endowed Chair in Neuropsychiatry Research and Education, supporting groundbreaking research and academic excellence in mental health.
- $5 million will be directed toward a future state-of-the-art Health Education Center to enhance the educational and training experience for students.
SLU School of Medicine alumnus Gerald A. Maguire, M.D. Submitted photo.
Maguire is the director of residency training in psychiatry at College Medical Center, an urban teaching hospital in Long Beach, California, and the faculty director of graduate medical education at Oroville Hospital, which serves his rural home community in Northern California.
Co-author of “Without Hesitation: Speaking the Silence and Science of Stuttering,” Maguire is considered the world’s leading authority on the pharmacologic treatment of stuttering. He founded the world’s first clinic dedicated to the scientific study and medical treatment of the condition, which affects more than 80 million people worldwide.
“As a person who stutters, I am forever grateful to Saint Louis University School of Medicine for believing in my potential as a physician beyond my challenges with verbal communication,” Maguire said. “The SLU School of Medicine provided me a foundational education not only in the science of medicine but also the arts and ethics to practice and teach in my profession.”
The milestone philanthropy comes at an important moment for the School of Medicine as it pursues the ambitious goals of its 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes excellence and innovation in education, research, clinical care and community engagement.
“This legacy investment will help us accelerate our efforts to be the medical school of choice for those committed to improving the health of the communities we are privileged to serve,” Jacobs said. “We hope it inspires others to join us in advancing our mission and shaping the future of medical education, research and health care at Saint Louis University.
For more information about supporting the SLU School of Medicine, visit slu.edu/medicine/give-to-medicine.
About the Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Established in 1836, the Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in key areas, including infectious disease, liver disease, cancer, heart/lung disease, and aging and brain disorders.
Latest Newslink
- A Camp Friendship that Stirred Up Lifelong BondsIn the summer of 2005, Mary Kate Keenoy (Chaifetz Grad '22) and Genevieve Willman met at SLU's Gardens to Tables culinary camp. What started as a shared interest in cooking grew into a lasting friendship that has endured for two decades.
- Bruce Bacon, M.D.: 1949-2025Bruce Bacon, M.D., professor emeritus of internal medicine, died Sunday, July 6, 2025. He was 75. Bacon was known globally for his expertise in all aspects of clinical hepatology, specifically hemochromatosis, viral hepatitis, chronic liver disease / general hepatology, and liver transplant. Bacon was also a member of the research team that discovered the gene for hemochromatosis, HFE, in 1996.
- SLU Launches William L. Clay, Sr. Institute of Civic Engagement and Economic JusticeThe Clay Institute will provide immersive learning experiences and hands-on training that address the social and economic challenges facing the St. Louis region and the nation. Institute programming will be available to all students with an interest in civic engagement and democratic participation.
- SLU Research Explores Depression's Ripple Effect on DiabetesA study conducted by researchers at Saint Louis University found that patients with depression were more likely to have uncontrolled diabetes over time and that depression contributes to a heightened economic burden to diabetes management.
- SLU/YouGov Poll: Statewide Cell Phone Ban for Missouri Schools Popular with VotersGovernor Mike Kehoe has signed Senate Bill 68 into law, enacting a statewide ban on the use of personal electronic devices, including cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches, throughout the school day in Missouri public and public charter schools.
- SLU Vaccine Center Will Enroll Healthy Volunteers in Yellow Fever Vaccine Clinical TrialSaint Louis University's Center for Vaccine Development will enroll up to 70 adult volunteers in a clinical trial to study the safety elicited by a new investigational vaccine for yellow fever, a potentially deadly disease that is spread by mosquitoes. The research is funded by Sanofi Pasteur.
