In what the is calling a “major strategic move,” the announced that it will make a $50 million donation to the ‘s new Dell Medical School to create the Livestrong Cancer Institutes.
Formerly known as the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the nonprofit cancer-support organization split with its founder in 2012, after the latter was brought down by a doping scandal. Livestrong has since pressed ahead, forging a fresh identity under Doug Ulman, the organization’s new president and CEO.
“We’ve obviously gone through a pretty strategic planning process over the last 18 months,” said Ulman. “This opportunity clear and away rose to the top in terms of where we could, as an organization, have the biggest long-term impact on our mission. It’s truly one of those opportunities that doesn’t come along very often.”
Livestrong’s financial commitment to UT Austin will be paid out over 10 years and is one of the largest the university’s new medical school has received.
Clay Johnston, the school’s inaugural dean, said the money will not go toward new buildings but rather to increasing the collaboration between the university and Livestrong, with an emphasis on patient-centered cancer care.
“In Austin, the care that’s provided to people with cancer who don’t have insurance is not appropriate,” Johnston said. “Austin does the best it can but in an antiquated system.”