Finding the good: A life of service, a gift of opportunity

During more than three decades as a surgeon, Leslie Cagle, MD ’83, learned lessons from her cancer patients that extended well beyond medicine.

“One of the things I admired most was how some people had the courage to take a challenging situation and find some goodness in it,” she said.

When Leslie began thinking about what she wanted her estate plans to accomplish, the idea of creating something good stayed with her.

“It was time to put my money where it would make a difference,” she said. “It feels good to use your money to make the world a better place.”

That philosophy ultimately inspired her decision to establish a scholarship as a planned gift to support future medical students at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. This generosity is the latest chapter in Leslie’s deep relationship with McGovern Medical School, where she completed both her medical degree and surgical residency. Those experiences launched a distinguished surgical career and inspired decades of loyal philanthropic support for her alma mater.

“The school and faculty gave me a chance and an education,” Leslie said. “They set me up for a lifetime of success.”

In 2024, the school recognized her professional accomplishments with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. Reflecting on her career, Leslie returns to the relationships that defined it. She worked alongside the same team of colleagues for nearly 30 years and mentored young women surgeons at a time when relatively few women entered the specialty. Even in retirement, other surgeons still seek her advice.

“Surgery is a team sport,” she said. “That’s one element that made it fun. It’s all about relationships.”

Now, she is focused on helping the next generation of surgeons who are beginning their own journeys in medicine.

“I came out of medical school with no debt,” she said. “People are coming out of medical school now with debt in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. When they try to buy a house and start a family, it’s cost prohibitive.”

Through scholarship support, Leslie hopes to make medical school possible for the students who otherwise would find it financially impossible. She also hopes her gift will leave her loved ones with the knowledge that something good will come from the life she has lived.

“If you can make the world a better place even after you’re gone, that’s a great thing,” she said. “It provides some comfort for your family and friends.”

The impact of her gift will extend beyond the students who receive her support, also reaching all the patients and communities they will care for throughout their careers.

“It's paying it back and paying it forward,” Leslie said.