On Jul. 10, 2015, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced it had awarded the UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center its highest designation, making it one of only 45 cancer centers nationally to receive this distinction over the past 44 years.

Simmons Cancer Center is the first and only facility in North Texas to receive the NCI’s comprehensive designation, and the second in the University of Texas System, joining MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The designation includes an $8.1 million grant for cancer center support.

Simmons and his family had to date given and pledged more than $100 million to enhance cancer programs at UT Southwestern.