Remembering T. Denny Sanford: A Legacy of Discovery, Compassion and Impact
Visionary philanthropist helped advance groundbreaking research, transform health care and create a lasting legacy across UC San Diego – and beyond
Story by:
- Jade Griffin
–
cjgriffin@ucsd.edu
Published Date
July 20, 2026
Story by:
- Jade Griffin
–
cjgriffin@ucsd.edu
Topics covered:
- Philanthropy and Giving
Article Content
T. Denny Sanford, a visionary philanthropist, business leader and friend of the University of California San Diego, died on July 18 at the age of 90. Sanford’s extraordinary generosity helped fuel some of UC San Diego’s most ambitious efforts to transform human health and improve lives
“We have lost a cherished friend whose presence brought joy, and a visionary benefactor whose generosity reshaped San Diego — from its universities and medical research institutions to its health care and beloved zoo,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “Denny Sanford personified the very values of compassion and empathy that he so passionately championed. I have lost a dear friend, and San Diego has lost a true changemaker. His legacy will endure in every life he touched and every institution he helped transform.”
Up until his death, Sanford continued to serve as chairman and CEO of United National, the holding company for First Premier Bank/PREMIER Bankcard, which he founded in the 1980s. Spurred on by the desire to use his success to help others, Sanford invested in bold ideas with the potential to make a profound difference in the world. At UC San Diego, his philanthropy helped accelerate the promise of regenerative medicine, launch groundbreaking research in space, explore the science of empathy and compassion and expand opportunities for students.
His giving to UC San Diego totaled more than $355 million, including a $150 million commitment in 2022 — the largest single gift in the university’s history — to establish the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute
Sanford was honored with the Chancellor’s Medal in 2014 for his generosity and in 2023, he became only the second recipient of UC San Diego’s Lifetime Legacy Award, an honor reserved for exceptional visionaries whose contributions have made an enduring impact on the university and the world
“The impact of Denny Sanford’s generosity extends far beyond the buildings and institutes that bear his name,” said Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health. “At UC San Diego Health, he helped create a global destination for regenerative medicine — one where discoveries are transformed into treatments, and where hope is advanced through science every day. His legacy will live on in the researchers he empowered, the innovations he inspired and the patients whose lives will be changed for generations to come.”
Sanford’s visionary support gave UC San Diego researchers the relped create programs designed to improve the lives of patients, physicians, students and communities for generations to come
“Denny Sanford understood that transformative advances in human health begin with the courage to invest in bold ideas and the people who pursue them,” said John M. Carethers, MD, vice chancellor for Health Sciences. “Denny’s extraordinary generosity empowered our scientists, physicians and students to push the boundaries of what is possible — from regenerative medicine and space-based research to a deeper understanding of empathy and compassion in health care. His legacy will continue to shape discovery, education and patient care at UC San Diego for generations to come.”
Harnessing the Power of Stem Cells
In 2013, Sanford made a transformative $100 million gift to create the Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center, accelerating UC San Diego’s efforts to translate discoveries in stem cell science into new drugs, clinical trials and therapies for patients. Nearly a decade later, his historic $150 million commitment established the Sanford Stem Cell Institute (SSCI), consisting of six centers and a brain tumor and neuro-restoration program, bringing together and expanding the university’s efforts in stem cell science and regenerative medicine.
Today, the institute is a global hub for multidisciplinary research, translational regenerative medicine and clinical trials, with over 1,126 patients enrolled, targeting some of the most challenging degenerative diseases facing humanity. Its researchers are also looking beyond Earth for answers. Through a growing program of space-based science, UC San Diego scientists are using the unique environment of microgravity to better understand aging, cancer and human disease
As of June 2026, the institute had launched 19 research missions to the International Space Station, achieving multiple firsts in space-based stem cell science. These studies have revealed new insights into how microgravity affects aging, cancer and human disease, including discoveries involving retrotransposon-induced neural senescence and cancer stem cell propagation. The findings have helped inform innovative clinical trials for severe autism and myeloid malignancies, with the potential to guide new approaches to treatment-resistant breast cancer — the disease that claimed the life of T. Denny Sanford’s mother when he was just four years old.
“Showing inspiring prescience with his impactful support, T. Denny Sanford was a life-saving force driving stellar stem cell science and health innovation,” said Catriona Jamieson, MD, PhD, director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute. “He perpetuated a zeal for leaving the world a better place, particularly for patients facing draconian diseases. Denny retained a joyful fervor for forging an indelible path as a visionary architect of the future of medicine. His lofty goal was to transform the best science into the best medicine. Motivated by Denny’s indelible ‘esprit de corps,’ we will preserve his profound legacy of accelerating scientific discoveries that elevate human health.”
Transforming Health Care Through Empathy and Compassion
Sanford’s vision for a healthier world also extended to the human experience of medicine. In 2019, he gave $100 million to establish the T. Denny Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion (SIEC) at UC San Diego. The institute brought together researchers, educators and clinicians to investigate the neurological basis of empathy and compassion and translate those discoveries into new approaches to medical education, patient care and clinician well-being
At its heart was an ambitious idea: that empathy and compassion could be studied with the same scientific rigor as other aspects of human health, and that these qualities could be strengthened and taught to improve the experience of both patients and health care professionals
That vision continues today through six centers spanning research, medical education, mentorship, compassionate communication, technology and social justice in human health. The institute’s programs are helping educate future generations of physicians while addressing issues ranging from clinician burnout to the role of empathy in an increasingly technology-driven health care landscape
The founding of the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion was a response to Sanford’s deep commitment to human values. Bill Mobley, MD, PhD, director of the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, noted that “Denny understood, as did few others, that ‘hard science’ can inform and support compassionate human connections.”
Inspired by Sanford’s wish to help young doctors practice compassionate care, SIEC programs for medical education have been created and extended to foster the well-being of physicians and other health care professionals. Research and curricula from the institute have been adopted by medical schools in the U.S. and internationally, expanding impact around the globe
Creating Meaningful Change
Sanford’s commitment reached across the university. He was a consistent supporter of The Preuss School UC San Diego, which serves motivated students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who strive to become the first in their families to graduate from college. He also provided support for Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Epstein Family Alzheimer’s Research Collaboration and other critical research initiatives
As an honorary co-chair of the Campaign for UC San Diego, which concluded in 2022, Sanford played a leadership role during the university’s historic $3 billion fundraising campaign, helping inspire a culture of philanthropy that continues to propel UC San Diego forward
Sanford often spoke about his desire to use philanthropy to create meaningful change during his lifetime. At UC San Diego, that philosophy translated into remarkable support for researchers, physicians, educators and students willing to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges
Locally, he also supported the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, National University and many other organizations. He gave generously to philanthropic organizations in his home state of South Dakota, as well
Those wishing to honor Sanford’s memory may consider making a gift to the Sanford Stem Cell Institute or the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion
Topics covered:
- Philanthropy and Giving
