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
- SLU's Flying Billikens to Host Regional Event for National Intercollegiate Flying CompetitionThe Flying Billikens from the Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science will host the 2025 National Intercollegiate Flying Association Competition's Region VI and VIII SAFECON event Oct. 13-18 at the St. Louis Downtown Airport.
- SLU Program in Physical Therapy Class of 2028 Celebrates White Coat CeremonyThe Saint Louis University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Class of 2028 recently celebrated its initiation into the professional phase of the program by hosting a white coat ceremony. The ceremony took place at Saint Francis Xavier College Church and celebrated more than 80 students advancing to the professional phase of the program.
- Saint Louis University Commits up to $1.4 Million for Teacher Education Through New StayTeachLead Scholarship ProgramThis week, Saint Louis University School of Education launched the StayTeachLead Scholarship Program, an initiative designed to strengthen the local teacher pipeline through direct partnerships with St. Louis area schools.
- SLU Student Earns Obama-Chesky ScholarshipSaint Louis University political science major Faith Townsell has been named a 2025-2027 Voyager Scholarship Recipient. The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service supports students who have a passion for helping others, experience serving their communities, and can demonstrate an expansive view of what's possible through public service.
- 'Soul on Fire,' Film Based on the Life of Saint Louis University Alum John O'Leary, Opens Friday, October 10"Soul on Fire," a film based on the life story of John O'Leary (CSB '99) and shot on the campus of Saint Louis University in 2023, opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, Oct. 10. The film had a star-studded world premiere in St. Louis at Powell Hall on Oct. 2.
- Center for Bosnian Studies at SLU to Present Civic Courage AwardThe Center for Bosnian Studies at Saint Louis University will present Nermana Huskić with the 2025 Civic Courage Award for commitment to the civic values of respect, equality and pluralism that represent the best traditions of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
