Key Points
- Joel Holsinger is co-head of alternative credit and a partner in the Ares Credit Group. He also co-chairs the Ares Charitable Foundation.
- Joel and his wife, Michelle, believe strongly in giving back and in supporting organizations that are driving meaningful change.
Joel Holsinger is co-head of alternative credit and a partner in the Ares Credit Group and co-chair of the Ares Charitable Foundation. He also currently serves on several corporate boards and advisory groups with a particular focus on global health and education. Joel and his wife, Michelle, believe strongly in giving back and in supporting organizations that are driving meaningful change. We recently spoke with Joel about why he and Michelle support the Foundation and think focused ultrasound could make a significant impact.
What is your connection to the Foundation?
I was introduced to the Foundation by Michael Milken after my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a few years ago. That personal connection made the mission of the Foundation very real for me, and I immediately saw the potential for focused ultrasound to change lives.
What moved you to get involved?
It was a combination of personal and professional factors. On the personal side, my father’s diagnosis gave us a firsthand understanding of how urgent the need is for better therapies. On the professional side, we were impressed by the pioneering research being supported by the Foundation. After spending time with Dr. Kassell and hearing his passion and vision, it was clear that this is an organization pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in medicine.
What excites you most about focused ultrasound?
What excites us is the tangible progress we’re already seeing. Patients are experiencing real improvements in their quality of life today, and every year brings new breakthroughs. It’s not just about hope for the future, it’s that lives are already being transformed. Knowing that more advancements are on the horizon makes us optimistic about what’s yet to come.
Why do you care about focused ultrasound?
For us, it all comes back to family. Watching a loved one deal with Parkinson’s disease puts into perspective how critical it is to find better treatments. Focused ultrasound represents hope for our family, and for millions of families dealing with neurological conditions and other serious illnesses.
What impact do you hope to achieve through your philanthropy?
Our hope is to help sustain and accelerate the groundbreaking research that the Foundation is leading. Supporting this work means more clinical trials, more treatments reaching patients, and ultimately, better outcomes for people facing devastating diseases.
What would you tell someone who is considering making a gift to the Foundation?
Giving is deeply personal. Everyone has a different set of experiences and different passions, but I believe it is our obligation to give back to society through teaching, mentoring, or giving your time or your money to philanthropy. The key is the act of giving back, which will help define your own passions. The Foundation is doing amazing work on diseases that impact so many people in debilitating ways. The ultimate hope is a cure, but improving the quality of lives is a bridge to that cure.