houston methodist 2013 foundation magazine

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contentsL E T T E R F R O M C E O

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COVER STORYH O P E F O R T H O S E W I T H

B R E AST C A N C E R

O N C OV E R : PAT I E N TB A R B A R A B LO U G H

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P E A K C E N T E R1 2

F I G H T I N G M E M O RY LO S S

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D I G E ST I V ED I S O R D E R S

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L I V I N G P R O O F3 0

R E G E N E R AT I V EM E D I C I N E

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FA M I LY T I E S3 8

N AV I G ATO RC A R E P R O G R A M

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T H E S O C I E T Y4 6

S P E C I A L E V E N T S 5 2

R E N D E Z VO U S I N B L U E

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I N M E M O R I A M5 6

L E A D E R S H I P5 8

C H A I R M A N ’SL E T T E R

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2 Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation

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M A R C B O O M , M D

P R E S I D E N T

C H I E F E X E C U T I V E O F F I C E R

H O U STO N M E T H O D I S T

Last year, The Methodist Hospital System became Houston Methodist. Our new name

tells the rest of the country that our Houston-based hospital system is leading

medicine and becoming a national presence. A new identity is merely one of the

many reasons I am excited by what the future holds. Without question, we see a

growing demand for more Houston Methodist services. Because of this, we

are increasing the number of operating rooms in the Outpatient Center and outpatient

facilities for the Houston Methodist Cancer Center, at our primary teaching hospital in

the Texas Medical Center. We are expanding to The Woodlands, constructing a

third patient tower in Sugar Land and a new West building , and we have acquired St. John

in Clear Lake and St. Catherine in Katy. We are continuing our strategy of opening

stand-alone emergency centers in Sienna Plantation, Pearland and Fulshear. Houston

Methodist is still successful in recruiting the brightest physicians and scientists in the country.

Of course, everything we do leads back to focusing on the patient, and your continued

support makes it all possible. Philanthropy plays a vital role in achieving our vision. Every

contribution, big or small, has the potential to impact patients -– now and for generations

to come. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity and your role in elevating

Houston Methodist to a level that is on par with the best academic medical centers in the country.


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Barbara Blough WAS TREATED FOR BREAST CANCER BY HOUSTON METHODIST ONCOLOGISTS AND SURGEONS.

“E V E RYO N E C A R E D A B O U T H O W I F E LT. T H E Y W E R E S O K I N D A N D T H E Y W O U L D J O K E A N D L AU G H W I T H M E

A N D T E L L M E I H A D T H E R I G H T AT T I T U D E .”

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When Barbara Blough discovered

the quarter-sized lump in her breast

in spring 2012, she immediately

suspected something was wrong.

There’d been a history of breast

cancer in her family, so she visited

her doctor for a mammogram. He

sent her for a second mammogram

and biopsy. The news that came back

was not good: inflammatory, triple

negative breast cancer.

“I didn’t tell anybody at first,”

she says of her initial reaction to the

diagnosis. “I wanted my daughter to

finish college. I knew she would drop

out and come home to take care of

me if she found out.”

Blough needed an oncologist,

chemotherapy treatment and possibly

surgery as soon as possible. The

problem was, she had no health

insurance. Blough, who works as

a bus dr iver fo r the For t Bend

Independent School District, had

an option to obtain health insurance

through her employer. But she had

not signed up because the deduction

from her paycheck would have left

her short of money to pay for her

house note and her daughter ’s

college tuition.

At the age of 47, Blough had

entered the catch-22 of the American

health care system; she did not make

enough money to easily afford health

insurance, but she made too much

money to qualify for Medicaid. She

says another health care institution

refused to accept her as a patient

unless she cashed in her entire

State of Texas education system

retirement account, which would have

required her to pay a 30 percent early

withdrawal penalty.

Fortunately, Blough found her

way to The Rose, a nonprofit breast

care center that provides screening

and diagnosis for women regardless

of their ability to pay. A savvy patient

navigator at The Rose in turn referred

her to the Denver Harbor Clinic,

where Houston Methodist oncologists

Dr. Angel Rodriguez and Dr. Jaime

Mejia run a weekly breast-health

clinic serving the predominantly

Hispanic, low-income residents of the

eastside Houston neighborhood.

HOPEOF LIFE AFTER BREAST CANCER

THE

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Dr. Rodriguez quickly confirmed

the diagnosis, outlined a course of

treatment and recommended that Blough

apply for the charity care program

overseen by Houston Methodist. Once

her grant application was approved,

she started presurgery chemotherapy.

A few months later, Blough underwent a

mastectomy of her right breast and lymph

nodes; the surgery was conducted by

Dr. Barbara Bass, Houston Methodist’s

John F. and Carolyn Bookout Distinguished

Endowed Chair of Surgery.

Through a generous Cullen

Foundation endowment, Houston

Methodist provided care for Blough,

including her mastectomy, chemo-

therapy and further treatments.

The surgery was followed

by more chemotherapy, administered

under Dr. Rodriguez’s supervision at

Houston Methodist Cancer Center.

“My niece, Peggy, went with me to

every chemo treatment,” says Barbara.

“Everyone at Houston Methodist cared

about how I felt. They were so kind and

they would joke and laugh with me and

tell me I had the right attitude.”

Now, a year after her treatment

began, Barbara Blough is officially in

full remission.

“We are both excited, and I am

cautiously optimistic about her prognosis,”

says Dr. Rodriguez, who also serves as

director of Houston Methodist’s Triple

Negative Breast Cancer Clinic. (Triple

negative is a form of breast cancer in

which there is no expression of estrogen

receptors, progesterone receptors or

Her2/neu. There are currently no approved

targeted therapies for these types of

cancer cells, though Dr. Rodriguez says

clinical studies are in progress.)

Houston Methodist’s partner-

ship with the Denver Harbor Clinic

dates back to 2006, when it was

designated as a primary care facility

for Houston Methodist’s family medicine

residents, physicians who have completed

medical school and who plan to specialize

in the practice of family medicine. Located

in a converted taco cantina, the Denver

Harbor Clinic serves a Fifth Ward

population estimated at 28,000, virtually all

of whom are uninsured and about three-

quarters of whom are eligible for Medicaid.

In 2011, Houston Methodist

Hospital expanded the partnership through

the creation and management of the

Denver Harbor Breast Clinic.

“With at least 30 percent of Harris

County’s population underserved, we hope

that this program will be the beginning of

a concerted effort to bring breast cancer

screening to the whole population,” says

Dr. Jenny Chang, director of Houston

Methodist Cancer Center. “Houston

Methodist has a multidisciplinary

breast center, one of the few in Houston

BEAUTYOF GENEROSITY

THE

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Dr. Rodriguez wa s pa rt o f a N I N t E r D I s C I p L I N a rY t E a m t h at

p r o v I D E D B a r B a r a B L o u g h w I t h C o N t I N u I t Y o f C a r E

t h r o u g h o u t h E r E N t I r E t r E at m E N t p r o C E s s .

accredited by the National Accreditation

Program for Breast Centers, and we

strive to offer the best breast care to

all our patients.”

The program is supported by

grants from the Susan G. Komen® --

Houston Affiliate, the Avon Foundation for

Women and the American Cancer Society.

“The American Cancer Society

is proud to provide funding and support

to Houston Methodist and specifically

their screening and early detection efforts

through Denver Harbor,” says Betti

Guzman, senior director of community

engagement for the American Cancer

Society. “Women like Barbara deserve

quality care and access to receive it.

Supporting patients and programs like

this through Houston Methodist ensures

women like Barbara have their health care

screening needs taken care of.”

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Dr. Mejia S AY S O F T H E D E N V E R H A R B O R C L I N I C P R O G R A M :

“O U R F O C U S I S O N G I V I N G W O M E N E D U C AT I O N A N D M A M M O G R A M S .”

The grants are written by Dr. Mejia,

director of hematology and oncology

clinical research and development.

“The commitment is f rom

the ent i re team,” Dr. Mej ia says.

“I couldn’t do anything if it was not

for Houston Methodist. The current

focus is on healthy women, giving

them education and mammograms.

The next step is to focus on patients

who are deemed to be at high risk.”

In spring 2013, at the Avon

Walk for Breast Cancer Houston, the

Avon Foundation awarded Houston

Methodist with a $100,000 safety net

grant to go toward expenses at the

Denver Harbor Breast Clinic.

“We’re pleased to be able to fund

access to mammograms at the Denver

Harbor Clinic’s Breast Health Initiative,

as well as a bilingual patient navigator,”

says Marc Hurlbert, executive director

of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.

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“Our grant will help patients like

Barbara Blough get the much needed

breast cancer care they need.”

According to Drs. Rodriguez

and Mejia, since its opening, the Denver

Harbor Breast Clinic has provided

mammograms to hundreds of women

who had never before received one.

Many factors contribute to health care

disparities among the poor, including

awareness, education and access to

health care, as well as time to be seen by

a physician, time for diagnostic tests, time

for treatment and access to clinical trials,”

says Dr. Rodriguez. “With these grants,

we are able to address all of the above.”

“It is our honor and privilege

to be able to fund the work with the

Houston Methodist breast health

program at Denver Harbor,” says Adriana

M. Higgins, EdD, executive director of

Susan G. Komen® -- Houston Affiliate.

“Komen Houston is committed to

saving lives and ending breast cancer

forever and this partnership allows us

to continue that promise. Through the

Breast Health Initiative, the Denver Harbor

Clinic is serving a high-risk, underserved

population with little access to health

care services. This collaboration makes

it possible for those patients to receive

life-saving breast health screening and

support that they wouldn’t otherwise

be able to afford.”

For her part, Barbara Blough

is extremely thankful she found Dr.

Rodriguez, the Denver Harbor Clinic

and Houston Methodist.

“I have a lot of faith in God,

and I believe Dr. Rodriguez was placed

there for a reason,” she says. “Without

him, Dr. Bass and Houston Methodist’s

special program, I probably wouldn’t be

here today. They saved my life.”

Now, at each follow-up visit,

Barbara shouts, “I’m cancer-free!

Hallelujah!” and Dr. Rodriguez echoes her

words. At Dr. Bass’s recommendation,

she is currently exploring options for

reconstructive surgery.

In May, Barbara’s daughter

Danyell graduated from Lamar

University in Beaumont and returned to

Houston. Concerned the cancer might

someday develop in Danyell, Houston

Methodist ran a test to determine if

Barbara’s cancer was genetic.

“When they told me it wasn’t,

I was so relieved I cried in the doctor’s

office,” Barbara says.

Thanks to Houston Methodist and

its generous contributors, that same genetic

counseling is now available to all patients at

the Denver Harbor Breast Clinic.

To learn more or schedule an appointment with the

Houston Methodist Cancer Center, call 713.790.2700

or visit houstonmethodist.org/cancer.

JOYOFHEALTH RESTORED

THE


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F R O M T H E T I M E E M I LY H E R R M A N N W A S

D I A G N O S E D W I T H B R E A S T C A N C E R I N 1 9 9 8 ,

S H E Q U I E T LY D E D I C AT E D H E R S E L F TO H E L P I N G

OT H E R S W I T H C A N C E R . H E R L E G A CY O F H O P E

L I V E S O N AT H O U S T O N M E T H O D I S T A S

T H E E M I LY H E R R M A N N C A N C E R R E S E A R C H

LABORATORY CONTINUES ITS GROUNDBREAKING

T R A N S L AT I O N A L R E S E A R C H A N D I N N OVAT I V E

PAT I E N T T R E AT M E N T S .

INSPIRATIONOF A REMARKABLE LIFE

THE


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Six years after Emily’s death, her family, friends and

former workplace colleagues at Walter Oil & Gas gathered

at the research lab in December 2013 to celebrate her

life and launch another fundraising initiative to establish

the Emily Herrmann Chair in Cancer Research. The new

chair will recognize a distinguished cancer researcher,

support the latest in medical education through visiting

lectureships, provide seed funds for innovative research

projects and further strengthen the momentum toward

discovering new medications, treatments and cures.

“I have no doubt that the breakthrough research

taking place at Houston Methodist will lead to advances

in cancer therapy,” says Joseph C. “Rusty” Walter, Emily

Herrmann’s close friend and the generous benefactor whose

company helped create the Emily Herrmann Cancer Research

Laboratory at Houston Methodist shortly before her death.

“I am hopeful that these advances will eventually lead to a cure

for a disease that claims so many lives each year,” says Rusty.

The lab opened in 2011 thanks to a generous gift from

Walter Oil & Gas and through the largess of Rusty Walter and

his sister, Carole Walter Looke. Emily Herrmann worked for

Walter Oil & Gas for 20 years, and as treasurer and controller

was a strong force in the company’s growth and success.

Rusty Walter challenged others at the lab’s opening

to join in advancing cancer research, and Walter Oil & Gas

pledged to match any gifts, dollar for dollar, to fund high-

impact research projects. This initial effort far surpassed

expectations, raising $350,000 that was used as seed

funding for innovative projects, all with the potential to yield

significant results in the battle against cancer.

Led by internationally acclaimed oncologist Dr. Jenny

Chang, the lab’s research team is pioneering new treatment

protocols and investigating potential cures. Projects include

an implantable drug delivery system for breast cancer

prevention therapy, an insertion of “suicide” genes against

breast cancer stem cells using photothermal nanoblades

and utilization of state-of-the-art microfluidics technology

to prevent triple negative breast cancer metastasis.

Rusty Walter and his wife Paula, along with Ann

and Frank W. “Billy” Harrison and Carole and Jim Looke,

pledged $500,000 in matching gifts for this latest initiative

to create the Emily Herrmann Chair in Cancer Research.

It is the next big step in developing the research laboratory

and breakthroughs in cancer care.

Emily was beloved by many as a wonderful friend, a

loving wife and a dedicated mother. She is survived by her

husband of 24 years, Mike, and children Daniel, John and

Suzann. Throughout her 10-year battle with breast cancer,

Emily maintained her strength, humor and dignity and prayed

for progress in the quest to understand and treat cancer, at

one point saying: “I will continue to pray that a cure will

be found soon and that the [Houston] Methodist Cancer

Center will be instrumental in finding it.”

To learn more about the Emily Herrmann Chair for Cancer Research, or to

make a gift, visit houstonmethodist.org/Emily.


EMILY HERRMANN (1953-2007) “M Y O N C O L O G I S T T O L D M E T H AT E A C H P E R S O N ’ S B AT T L E W I T H

C A N C E R I S D I F F E R E N T A N D H A S T O B E D I L I G E N T LY F O L L O W E D A N D W AT C H E D . H E A L S O

T O L D M E T H AT A P O S I T I V E AT T I T U D E WA S I M P E R AT I V E I N C A N C E R T R E AT M E N T A N D S U R V I VA L .

I S O O N R E A L I Z E D T H AT A B AT T L E W I T H C A N C E R WA S B I G G E R T H A N I WA S , S O I I M M E D I AT E LY

T U R N E D M Y B AT T L E O V E R T O G O D A N D E N T R U S T E D M Y C A R E A N D G U I D A N C E T O H I M .”

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H O U S T O N M E T H O D I S T

K E N N E T H R . P E A K C E N T E R

F O R B R A I N A N D P I T U I T A R Y

T U M O R T R E A T M E N T

A N D R E S E A R C H


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T H E C E N T E R I S U N I Q U E I N M A N Y W AY S .

C U T T I N G - E D G E R E S E A R C H E R S I N N A N O -

T E C H N O L O G Y , G E N E T H E R A P Y , N E U R O -

C H E M I S T R Y , S T E M C E L L T E C H N O L O G Y

A N D G E N E T I C S A R E W O R K I N G S I D E - B Y -

S I D E W I T H W O R L D - C L A S S C L I N I C I A N S

I N C L U D I N G N E U R O S U R G E O N S , N E U R O L -

O G I S T S , R A D I AT I O N O N C O LO G I S T S , M E D I C A L

O N C O L O G I S T S A N D R E H A B I L I T A T I O N

S P E C I A L I S T S T O P R O V I D E P E R S O N A L I Z E D

C A R E F O R E A C H A N D E V E R Y P A T I E N T .

T H A N K S T O T H E G E N E R O S I T Y O F K E N N E T H

A N D D O N N A P E A K , T H E C E N T E R P R O V I D E S

I N D I V I D U A L I Z E D C A R E T O P A T I E N T S W I T H

B R A I N , S P I N A L A N D P I T U I T A R Y T U M O R S

A N D O T H E R B R A I N A N D P I T U I TA R Y D I S O R D E R S

T O D E V E L O P P E R S O N A L I Z E D T R E A T M E N T

N E V E R B E F O R E T H O U G H T P O S S I B L E .

D R . D A V I D S . B A S K I N ( L E F T ) ,

D I R E C T O R O F T H E P E A K C E N T E R ,

W I T H R E S E A R C H E R M A R T Y N S H A R P E


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Kenneth Peak, a prominent

and respected member of Houston’s

oil community, had not been feeling

l ike himself. A disciplined runner,

he’d been bothered by weakness

on one side of his body that was

making it difficult for him to keep up

his routine.

He went to see Dr. David

Baskin, vice chair and residency

program d i rector o f Houston

Methodist Hospital’s Department of

Neurosurgery and a senior member

of the Houston Methodist Research

Institute. The diagnosis was not

good; Peak had a very aggressive

tumor called a glioblastoma that had

spread throughout major portions of

his brain.

His survival would normally

have been measured in days to

weeks. After standard treatments

fai led, Dr. Baskin and his team

explored additional novel technologies

that are stil l in development.

“ In h i s case , i t meant

send ing h is tumor t i ssue to

four major genetic laboratories

to ana l yze the en t i re genet ic

makeup o f the tumor. We then

took eve ry chemotherapy agent

known to man , tes ted them to

see what worked, then combined

a l l th is in format ion to design a

highly special ized treatment. At

one po in t in t ime, we even used

superse lect ive microcatheters

to de l i ver chemotherapy drugs

d i rect l y in to the bra in ’s b lood

vessels that were actually feeding

the tumor at the stem of his brain,”

Dr. Baskin explains.

D R . D AV I D S . B A S K I N , K E N N E T H P E A K ’S

N E U R O S U R G E O N , U S E D T H E M O S T

A D VA N C E D T R E AT M E N T S T O E X T E N D

M R . P E A K ’S L I F E .


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As a result of a number of treat-

ments, Peak’s tumor shrank considerably

over the course of the next several months,

and he was able to remain mentally alert

and physically functional.

“Mr. Peak was a very smart man,”

says Dr. Baskin. “This was a man who ran

major companies. He motivated people as

soon as he walked into the room. He was a

master at organizing new ideas and quickly

creating successful ventures. He realized

that this was an extraordinary effort.

“We had long conversations

along with his wife Donna, who is an

incredible woman. She has a PhD in

biochemistry and was 101 percent up-

to-date with everything we were doing.

She has a tremendous understanding of

molecular biology. One could have very

high-level scientific conversations with

her and get new ideas, like speaking

with a senior research colleague. Donna

was instrumental in helping to design

and execute Mr. Peak’s personalized

treatment, and brought a creative

scientific outlook to the table during

our many discussions.”

At one point, Kenneth asked Dr.

Baskin if the kind of out-of-the-box treatment

he was getting was available for everybody.

Dr. Baskin replied, “We do the best we can,

and we do very well. But in order to deliver this

on a larger scale, it’s always been my dream

to build a brain tumor center and to have

a whole bevy of people available for

each and every patient -– multispecialty

doctors, caregivers, nurse practitioners,

research scientists -– a combined effort

to try to bring this to the next level.”

2 4 / 7 PAT I E N T - F O C U S E D C A R E

The Kenneth R. Peak Center for Brain and Pituitary Tumor

Treatment and Research provides patients immediate access

and around-the-clock care. Patients’ personalized treatment

plans are tailored to their unique conditions, with access

to ongoing national brain cancer protocols, as well as novel

research projects unique to Houston Methodist.

A team of dedicated, knowledgeable and compassionate

caregivers provide an unprecedented and comprehensive

continuity of care. The team considers every aspect of a

patient’s treatment, from the individual genetic makeup

of each patient’s tumor, drug side effects, the important role

of nutrition and emotional concerns, considering alternative

therapies as appropriate.

Technological advances and protocols under development and in

use at the Peak center include:

• Minimally invasive endoscopic brain surgery to remove

pituitary and other skull base tumors through a patient’s nostril,

sparing intensive recovery from traditional open surgery

• Immune therapy and tumor vaccines made from the patient’s

own tumor, to use the immune system to kill cancer cells

• Robotic nanosyringes that inject chemotherapy directly into

cancer cells, sparing healthy ones

• Smart bombs that selectively deliver chemotherapy to a cancer

cell’s mitochondria, thus killing the cancer’s energy source

And that’s just the beginning of what is possible in the Peak center.

Visit houstonmethodist.org/peakcenter for more information

about clinical trials and to view patient stories. If you have

questions about the Peak center or would like to schedule

an appointment, please call 713.441.8500 or email Dr. Baskin

at [email protected].


67821houD1R1.indd 15 3/19/14 5:46 PM

In the end, the best medical science

available in the world could not save Kenneth

Peak. He passed away in April 2013 at the

age of 67. But before he died, he and Donna

made a $10 million commitment to Houston

Methodist to establish the Kenneth R. Peak

Center for Brain and Pituitary Tumor Treatment

and Research. The Peak center, which is already

up and running, should move into a beautiful

new location before the end of 2015. It will

be housed in Houston Methodist’s state-of-

the-art outpatient facility and will collaborate

extensively with the Houston Methodist Cancer

Center, under the direction of world-renowned

breast cancer researcher Dr. Jenny Chang.

“Donna Peak was instrumental in this

gift,” says Dr. Baskin, “because Mr. Peak looked

to her to explain to him what was going on. He

was a brilliant human being, and had an innate

ability to grasp complex issues quickly. However,

understanding neuroscience and tumor biology

was like learning a foreign language to him, and

Donna was his teacher. But Donna looked to him,

too, to make major decisions all along the way.

“When people have cancer, one

sometimes sees the very worst in families, not

the best. Minor stresses turn into major rifts.

Personality differences become major issues.

But not with the Peaks. This is a loving and

wonderful family, who rallied together to fight

Ken’s cancer with their hearts, souls and

minds. The captain of the ship was Donna

Peak, with scientific brilliance and a profound

love for Ken that one rarely has the privilege to

see. She idolized him to the last second.”

In keeping with Kenneth Peak’s wish

for everyone to have access to the same kind of

care he received at Houston Methodist, the Peak

center will offer personalized neurosurgical

and cancer treatment options. It will give patients

access to novel research studies not available

elsewhere. Investigational therapies include

immunotherapy, nanosyringes for drug delivery,

mitochondrial chemotherapy “smart bombs,”

stem cells, gene therapy, genomic, proteo-

nomic and DNA profiling, and high throughput

screening of every tumor to determine the

most effective course of treatment.

In addition to tumors originating in the

brain and spine, Dr. Baskin says the Peak center

will focus on cancers that have metastasized to

the brain (usually from the breast or lung), as well

as pituitary tumors. While pituitary tumors are

rarely malignant, they can cause blindness or

other life-threatening disorders due to hormonal

changes, if they go untreated.

“Brain and pituitary tumors are a

devastating set of diseases,” says Dr. Baskin.

“We are bringing together specialists from

all over the world and, using state-of-the-

art technology, designing novel, personalized

treatment for each patient, and when possible,

eradicating tumors and killing cancer.”

Dr. Baskin, who began his medical and

research career at Baylor College of Medicine

in 1984 and now is a professor of neurological

surgery at Houston Methodist and the Weill

Cornell Medical College, emphasized that

Houston Methodist is covering all of the

construction and operational costs, so that the

gifts from the Peaks and other contributors will

be devoted entirely to patient care and research.

“Houston Methodist’s generosity is unusual in the

medical world, where such gifts almost always

have to support a portion of operational

costs for the institution. Their willingness to

cover construction and infrastructural costs

leverages this gift and allows me to use all of

“I T’S A LW AY S B E E N

M Y D R E A M T O B U I L D A

B R A I N T U M O R C E N T E R

A N D T O H AV E . . .

A C O M B I N E D E F F O R T

T O T R Y T O B R I N G T H I S

T O T H E N E X T L E V E L .”

D R . D AV I D S . B A S K I N


67821houD1R1.indd 16 3/19/14 5:48 PM

these funds for what they were

intended for, with the operation of the

center supported by the hospital.

“We consider each patient to be

unique, and know that each tumor has

different genetic information and biological

behaviors. The Peak center will capitalize

on these differences, starting with an

initial $5 million commitment to research

which we hope will further our goal to

provide personalized treatment using new

technologies to achieve cure rates never

before thought to be possible.”

For a man who spends his days

getting inside people’s heads, literally,

Dr. Baskin seems to have maintained the

ability to not take himself too seriously.

Among the weighted volumes of scientific

research lining the shelves of his

Scurlock Tower office is a thin book called

Your Brain on Cubs, documenting the

biochemical changes that apparently

result from rooting for a team that has not

won the World Series in more than 100 years.

But he is not kidding when he

expresses his profound appreciation and

gratitude for the gift he and Houston Methodist

have been given by Kenneth and Donna Peak.

“How paradoxical is it that the man

who had the worst of the worst, who we

really couldn’t help as much as we’ve helped

so many people, could still have the vision,

foresight, compassion and commitment to

the Houston community to provide such

generous support? Here’s a man who knew

he was dying, but who made this gift to

help others after him. It speaks volumes

about him and his family, and sets a high

bar for all of us to cure brain tumors.”

K E N N E T H P E A K WA N T E D OT H E R PAT I E N T S TO

H AV E A C C E S S TO N O V E L R E S E A R C H ST U D I E S A N D

O U T - O F - T H E - B O X I N V E ST I G AT I O N A L T H E R A P I E S .


67821houD1R1.indd 17 3/17/14 3:55 PM

fighting memory loss18 Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation

67821houD1R1.indd 18 3/17/14 3:55 PM

fighting memory loss

I T I S H E A RT B R E A K I N G W H E N

A L Z H E I M E R ’S PAT I E N T S

C A N N O LO N G E R R E C O G N I Z E

T H E FAC E S O F T H E I R LOV E D O N E S .

T H E N A N T Z N AT I O N A L A L Z H E I M E R

C E N T E R AT H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST

I S L E A D I N G T H E F I G H T

AG A I N ST D E M E N T I A ,

W I T H C U T T I N G - E D G E R E S E A R C H

A N D STAT E - O F - T H E - A RT

T R A I N I N G F O R P H YS I C I A N S A N D

H E A LT H P R O F E S S I O N A L S .


67821houD1R1.indd 19 3/17/14 3:56 PM

who are you?

“ A LT H O U G H I D O N ’T K N O W J I M N A N T Z P E R S O N A L LY,

H I S D O N AT I O N I N H O N O R O F H I S FAT H E R I N S P I R E D

M E TO D O S O M E T H I N G SIMILAR FOR MY MOM.”

-- BILLY HARRISON


Like many people with a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s

disease, Frank W. “Billy” Harrison has seen firsthand how it can

erase a lifetime of memories. His mother has had Alzheimer’s for

many years, and she is now in its advanced stages. So, while

Harrison understands that his mother’s disease cannot be

reversed, he decided to honor her in a another way.

Harrison learned about the Alzheimer’s research hap-

pening at Houston Methodist, so he made a contribution in his

mother’s name to help further those efforts. The clinic space in

the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, where patients are seen by

their physicians, has been named the Pat Harrison Alzheimer’s

Consultation Suites in Mrs. Harrison’s honor.

“Houston Methodist has such a great reputation in

research and in patient care, and I wanted to honor my

mom with a gift in her name,” explains Harrison, who is

the co-founder and co-owner of Houston Energy, L.P.

“My mom is still living, but sadly, she is too sick to

come in to see the suites named for her. But for future gen-

erations, including my friends, family and the people of

Houston, I wanted to help take Houston Methodist to the

next level in Alzheimer’s research. It’s certainly one of the

biggest health care challenges as our generation ages.”

HOPE ON THE HORIZON Alzheimer’s disease

starts years before symptoms appear, and the damage to brain

cells cannot be reversed. The good news is that research

breakthroughs have revealed that Alzheimer’s and other neuro-

degenerative diseases -– disorders that involve accelerated

nerve cell damage or death -–appear to have similar underlying

processes. These disease processes are at the core of

Houston Methodist’s efforts to understand and combat

Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders such as

Parkinson’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Lou

Gehrig’s disease), Huntington’s and others.

IMAGING EXPERT These efforts include the recruit-

ment of an internationally acclaimed expert in neuroimaging,

Joseph Masdeu, MD, PhD, which was made possible by a

generous gift from Bob and Annie Graham. Dr. Masdeu joins

other Houston Methodist researchers, including Stephen Wong,

PhD, PE, John S. Dunn Sr. Distinguished Endowed Chair in

Biomedical Engineering, to continue the fight against Alzheimer’s.

“Research on Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative

diseases is coalescing around certain malformed proteins

that trigger damaging inflammatory processes in brain cells,”

says Stanley H. Appel, MD, the Peggy and Gary Edwards

Distinguished Endowed Chair and director of Houston Methodist

Neurological Institute. “Neuroimaging allows us to study these

disease processes at cellular and molecular levels in the brains of

living people, so this is where Dr. Masdeu’s expertise comes in.”

67821houD1R1.indd 20 3/17/14 3:56 PM

who are you?


67821houD1R1.indd 21 3/17/14 3:59 PM

To schedule an appointment at the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, call 713.441.1150. To learn more, visit nantzfriends.org.


EMMY AWARD-WINNING CBS SPORTS COMMENTATOR JIM NANTZ

AND HIS WIFE COURTNEY PARTNERED WITH HOUSTON METHODIST

NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE TO CREATE THE NANTZ NATIONAL

ALZHEIMER CENTER. THEY HAVE MADE A GENEROUS LIFETIME

COMMITMENT TO AGGRESSIVELY SUPPORT RESEARCH TO FIND A

CURE FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AS A LASTING TRIBUTE TO JIM’S

FATHER, JIM NANTZ JR., WHO BATTLED ALZHEIMER’S FOR 13 YEARS.

P I CT U R E D B E LO W: J I M N A N T Z A N D H I S B E LOV E D FAT H E R

67821houD1R1.indd 22 3/17/14 4:01 PM

we will not forget


GETTING THE PICTURE One of the keys to understanding

the disease process in Alzheimer’s appears to be beta amyloid –

a microscopic protein fragment that is always present in

the brains of people with Alzheimer’s but is absent in those

without the disease. “The causes and effects surrounding

beta amyloid and nerve cell damage are still unclear, but we

believe that neuroimaging data is crucial to our ongoing

research,” explains Dr. Masdeu, who was most recently

the senior staff physician in the Section on Integrative

Neuroimaging at the National Institutes of Health. “For

example, using positron emission tomography (PET)

scanning, we can measure exactly how much beta amy-

loid is present, and exactly where it’s located in the brain.

We believe that collating these and other research data with

clinical findings will point the way to treatments that can stop

Alzheimer’s before the damage starts. However, testing preventa-

tive Alzheimer’s drugs is extremely problematic given the time lag

of several years between the onset of the disease and the onset

of symptoms. This is where Dr. Wong’s expertise comes in.”

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER Dr. Wong is

the founding director of the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao

Center for BRAIN (Bioinformatics Research and Imaging for

Neurosciences). He is a world-renowned expert in bioinformatics,

a field of research that gathers massive amounts of biological

and biochemical information for various purposes, including

computer modeling. The goal is to create mathematical and

“virtual” models of disease processes in humans, on which

experiments can be run.

Among Dr. Wong’s numerous projects with bioinfor-

matics, one of the most promising is drug repositioning. This

process uses huge databases and high throughput image

screening to identify FDA approved drugs that could be

repurposed for other diseases in addition to the ones for

which they were approved. “Instead of starting from

scratch looking for Alzheimer’s drugs, we work toward

identifying drugs that we can reposition,” explains Dr.

Wong. “That requires merging data from many sources,

including neuroimaging and brain mapping information

from Dr. Masdeu, longitudinal clinical patient data from

Houston Methodist, public clinical trial and research data-

bases, and drug screening and preclinical results from our

Chao Center for BRAIN. Especially in the case of

Alzheimer’s, computer modeling can accelerate the testing

of potential drugs and cut years off the time it would take

to run drug trials on people and learn the results.”

THE PATH AHEAD Of course, none of this happens

without proper financing, and the availability of funding from

government sources is steadily decreasing. This is just one of the

many reasons that philanthropy will continue to play a crucial role

in the ongoing research into neurodegenerative diseases.

“Although I don’t know Jim Nantz personally, his

donation in honor of his father inspired me to do something

similar for my mom,” explains Harrison. “I will continue to support

the Nantz National Alzheimer Center’s efforts in Alzheimer’s

research because it’s so important that we find a cure.”

“We cannot do all the research we need to do without

having good people and the right resources to put them to work,”

says Dr. Appel. “We have the ideas and we have the opportunity

here at Houston Methodist. I call it ‘pioneering the future of medical

care.’ We want to be practicing next year’s medicine today. But

we still need help from the friends of Houston Methodist to

support the kind of efforts that we think are going to make a

difference, because we know it will take a significant amount

of work and resource investment to get there.”

67821houD1R1.indd 23 3/17/14 4:01 PM

AS M A N Y AS 7 0 M I L L I O N A M E R I C A N S

S U F F E R F R O M D I G E ST I V E D I S O R D E R S .

T H E LY N DA K . A N D DAV I D M . U N D E R W O O D

CENTER FOR DIGESTIVE DISORDERS AT

HOUSTON METHODIST IS MAKING A CONCERTED

EFFORT TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM.

Between 60 and 70 million Americans suffer from

digestive disorders. Many of these conditions are

highly treatable or curable. Yet, they often go

undiagnosed and untreated for one critical reason:

People are embarrassed to talk about them, even

to a medical professional.

Dr. Eamonn Quigley, David M. Underwood

Chair of Medicine in Digestive Disorders and

co-director of the Lynda K. and David M. Underwood

Center for Digestive Disorders at Houston Methodist,

has spent most of his professional life researching

“gut health.” He is the immediate past president of the

American College of Gastroenterology.

“Colon cancer, which is one of the most

common cancers in the United States, is largely

preventable through screening and early detection,” Dr.

Quigley says. “Yet, despite a lot of publicity, screening is

far from complete across the population. There are a

lot of other disorders out there, such as irritable bowel

syndrome and ulcerative colitis, that can be treated

very effectively, yet we know from research that there

is a very long delay in the diagnosis, because people

are reluctant to complain about diarrhea or a change

in their bowel habits.”

The main message, Dr. Quigley says, is that with

early detection, the outlook for these disorders is much

improved, and there are many effective therapies now.

The Underwood center, funded

by a generous gift from David and

Lynda Underwood, was launched in May

2013. David Underwood is Houston

Methodist’s longest-serving board

member, vice chair and longtime

chair of the finance committee.

His leadership and keen financial

stewardship helped establish Houston

Methodist as a financially secure, leading academic

medical center. David, Lynda and their family have

faithfully supported Houston Methodist, giving

generously of their time, expertise and philanthropy,

most recently to create the Underwood center.

Vital to the center’s effectiveness is the

patient-focused care, which is done in an environment

that fosters education, training and research. Through

the Underwood center’s relationship with the Houston

Methodist Research Institute, patients can become

involved in trials of new therapies and diagnostics. The

Underwood center exemplifies Houston Methodist’s

core mission of education, research and patient care.

“Lynda and I saw a need in our community to

provide enhanced care and research in this area, so


SOMETIMES TELLINGYOUR DOCTOR ABOUTDIGESTIVE DISORDERSIS HARD TO STOMACH

67821houD1R1.indd 24 3/17/14 4:01 PM

67821houD1R1.indd 25 3/17/14 4:01 PM

67821houD1R1.indd 26 3/17/14 4:01 PM

“PATIENT CARE IS DONE IN AN ENVIRONMENT

T H AT F O ST E R S E D U C AT I O N , T R A I N I N G A N D

R E S E A R C H . T H R O U G H L I N K A G E W I T H

TH E R E S E A R C H I N ST I T U T E , PAT I E N T S C A N

B E C O M E I N VO LV E D I N T R I A L S O F N E W

T H E R A P I E S A N D D I AG N O ST I C S .“

we’re grateful to have the opportunity to provide such

a service in Houston,” says Mr. Underwood, who also

serves as chairman of the board of directors for the

Texas Medical Center.

The Fondren Foundation Program for

Inflammatory Bowel Disease was established in

December 2013 through a generous gift from

The Fondren Foundation. This support

enabled the creation of the program that is

focused on fully integrated patient care,

education and translational research in IBD.

“We are pleased to continue our long

tradition of supporting the important work of

Houston Methodist,” says Robert E. Fondren

of The Fondren Foundation. “The Underwood

Center for Digestive Diseases and the

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center will provide much

needed research and support for those afflicted with

Crohn’s, colitis and other digestive disorders. The

Fondren Foundation is proud to be a part of this

important effort to find a cure for these diseases.”

The Underwood center ’s integration

of specialists -– including gastroenterologists,

gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgeons, body

imaging radiologists and molecular pathologists -–

is crucial to effective management of disorders of

the digestive system. The center was founded by

Dr. Barbara Bass, John F. and Carolyn Bookout

Distinguished Endowed Chair of Surgery, and

Dr. Richard Robbins, Charles and Anne Duncan

Distinguished Endowed Chair in Medicine at Houston

Methodist. They in turn recruited Dr. Quigley.

“This integrated approach not only ensures

access to the best current care, but also to therapies

being developed and introduced to the clinic from

our scientist and research partners,” Dr. Bass says.

“Our hope is that it will be a one-stop treatment

center for digestive disease and serve as a beacon

for pioneering research and exemplary education

for gastroenterology professionals.” Adds Dr.

Robbins, “We are very grateful to David and Lynda

Underwood for allowing us to realize this vision.”

Dr. Quigley says that medical science is

making rapid advances in the study of “microbiota,”

the microorganisms that inhabit the human digestive

system. “This is the hottest area in biological science

at the moment,” he says. “We already know of several

instances where disturbances in the microbiota led

to disease stage, and where restoring the microbiota

can alleviate that disease stage.”


RESEARCHERSHUNGRY TO FIND ANSWERS

67821houD1R1.indd 27 3/17/14 4:01 PM

ST U DY I N G “G U T F LO R A“ O R “M I C R O B I OTA“

IS THE HOTTEST AREA IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

AT THE MOMENT, ACCORDING TO DR. QUIGLEY.

HE SAYS, “R E STO R I N G T H E M I C R O B I OTA C A N

A L L E V I AT E D I S E AS E .“

The classic example is what happens when

we take antibiotics, says Dr. Quigley, and we’re

learning more and more about changes in the

microbiota that may well play a role in the causation

or the continuation of diseases such as colitis,

Crohn’s disease, fatty liver and other liver diseases.

“It’s not very far away when we will be able

to give specific therapies to modulate microbiota,

to restore it to ‘normal’ and hopefully alleviate the

condition,” he says.

Dr. Quigley works with biomarkers to

improve diagnosing irr itable bowel syndrome.

“Right now, the only way we can diagnose irritable

bowel syndrome is by excluding other conditions that

might cause the same symptoms,” Dr. Quigley says.

“There has been a concerted effort to

identify physical changes, which might better

identify patients with irritable bowel syndrome

without several negative tests.”

One of the most controversial areas in the

treatment of digestive disorders has been the subtle

relationship between psychological and biological

conditions. The Underwood center is pursuing an

integrative approach to treatment, working in

tandem with dietitians from the Houston Methodist

Wellness Center as well as

evaluating psychological factors.

For decades, doctors assumed

that disorders originated in the

patient’s mental state and then

manifested physically. “I want to

say very firmly that is not the

case. There’s been a major shift

away from that idea,” Dr. Quigley

explains. He believes that Houston

Methodist’s ability to provide comprehensive care

makes the Underwood center unique.

“The center’s state-of-the-art diagnostic

and therapeutic facilities and personnel set Houston

Methodist apart,” he says. “Gastroenterology and

digestive surgery collaborate hand-in-hand with

imaging, pathology, allied diagnostics and other

disciplines. We have the ability to pull together a

whole range of diagnostic and therapeutic options

and to have those handled by people who really

are experts in the field.”

For more information about the services available at the Underwood center, or to schedule

an appointment, call 713.441.9770 or visit houstonmethodist.org/underwood-center.


MEDICAL ADVANCES ON GUT FLORAARE GROWING

67821houD1R1.indd 28 3/17/14 4:01 PM

67821houD1R1.indd 29 3/17/14 4:01 PM

L I V I N G P R O O F

P R O F E S S I O N A L W E D D I N G P H O T O G R A P H E R

H E AT H E R S T E R L I N G S U R V I V E D A

R U P T U R E D B L O O D V E S S E L I N H E R B R A I N

T H AT C O U L D H AV E B E E N FATA L .

H E R E ’ S H O W S H E A N D H E R FA M I LY

A R E M O V I N G O N A N D G I V I N G B A C K .

Fro

m C

ake

s B

y G

ina

67821houD1R1.indd 30 3/17/14 4:02 PM


When Heather Sterling moved back to Houston

in 2009 after art school in Chicago, the

headaches she’d been experiencing weren’t

getting better. “I had just started my photog-

raphy business,” recalls Heather, now 26.

“Late one night in January 2011, I experienced

massive pain, like something fell on my head

from the ceiling.”

That was her last memory for several

days. Heather had an arteriovenous malforma-

tion (AVM), a defect in a blood vessel in the

brain that ruptured. Fortunately, an astute

paramedic recognized that Heather was

experiencing brain trauma. He re-routed the

ambulance to Houston Methodist Hospital,

where neurosurgeon Jonathan Zhang, MD,

performed emergency, life-saving surgery to

remove the huge blood clot that had formed.

Dr. Zhang eventually removed the entire AVM.

“Surgically removing the AVM reduces

the chances of redevelopment,” explains Dr.

Zhang. “Since we don’t know the underlying

cause of AVMs, we will continue to monitor

Heather. If she ever develops another AVM in

the years ahead, we’ll have even better tech-

nology to treat it.”

“There are many people to thank for

Heather’s survival, including the paramedic,

the staff of the ICU, where Heather received

fabulous care from the moment she arrived,

and Dr. Zhang, who gave us confidence and

hope every day,” says Mrs. Tamie

Oden, Heather’s mother.

As Heather’s life started returning

to normal, her parents considered ways to

show their appreciation. “Dr. Zhang’s bill

seemed minor compared to what he did for

us,” says Mrs. Oden. “When Jim (Tamie’s

husband) asked Dr. Zhang how we could

help, Dr. Zhang said ‘research.’ Heather

benefited from past research, so we hope

our contribution will help someone else.”

The Odens’ initial gift was matched by Jim’s

employer, Apache, and the Odens hope to

continue to raise more money.

The Odens’ gift will go toward

helping Dr. Zhang find answers to difficult

questions about AVMs. “We’re trying to

understand why AVMs occur,” says Dr.

Zhang. “We’re working on the physics and

hemodynamics of blood vessels, research

that incorporates advanced mathematics

and computer modeling.”

“We know Heather was saved for a

purpose, and we also have purpose for our

giving,” says Mrs. Oden. “We plan to stay

involved with Houston Methodist, and con-

tinue speaking on behalf of the hospital and

Dr. Zhang.”

Currently, Heather lives and works

in California, and she often travels back to

Houston to photograph weddings. But she

knows her life has changed. “I have a new

perspective on what’s really important to

me,” she admits. “Life is too short to worry

about anything else.”

JAMES ODEN, DIRECTOR APACHE CORP. AND HEATHER’S FATHER

HEATHER STERLING ANDHER MOTHER TAMIE ODEN

For additional information or to schedule an appointment with the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, visit houstonmethodist.org/ni or call 713.441.3850.

Y. JONATHAN ZHANG, MD,HOUSTON METHODISTNEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE

67821houD1R1.indd 31 3/17/14 4:02 PM

Regenerative Medicine


67821houD1R1.indd 32 3/17/14 4:02 PM

If an octopus loses an arm, the tentacle will grow back,

or “regenerate.” Today, researchers at Houston Methodist

Research Institute are discovering regenerative

treatments to bring patients new hope for healing.


67821houD1R1.indd 33 3/17/14 4:02 PM

The ideas sound like the stuff of a science fiction movie:

• A hydrogel that can be injected into

an injured spine to regenerate bone tissue,

similar to the way a salamander grows a

new tail or a starfish grows a new arm.

• The use of “nanoscaffolds” –- imagine

Russian nesting dolls made up of tiny nano-

particles, one inside the other –- to allow

the reconstruction and recovery of nerve

connections from the spinal cord to

urological functions.

• A computerized exoskeleton that allows

paraplegics to stand up and walk while

directing the computer with their brain waves.

It is the Neuroregenerative

Medicine Program and the Regenerative

Medicine Program at Houston Methodist

Research Institute. And the time frame is not

centuries in the future, but now, or very soon.

In 2013, The Cullen Trust for

Health Care awarded $3 million to establish

the Regenerative Medicine Program. Two

years earlier, in 2011, Houston Methodist

was awarded a $500,000 challenge grant

from The Brown Foundation toward the

launch of the Neuroregenerative Medicine

Research Program. In 2013, the Cullen

Foundation and The Institute for

Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR)

Foundation, through Mission Connect,

awarded grants totaling $695,000

for a robotics research collaboration

between the University of Houston and

Houston Methodist Research Institute.

(See the story on page 37.)

“Houston Methodist is at the

forefront of the burgeoning field of

regenerative medicine,” says Dr. Cullen

Geiselman, board chair with The Cullen

Trust for Health Care. “Regenerative

medicine holds great promise for new

therapies and treatments for a host of

diseases and conditions, and we look

forward to the pioneering work underway

by these brilliant researchers as they tap

into the ability of cells and tissues to heal

and defend themselves. This research

represents the future of medicine.”

“A number of things have made

a start on these projects possible,”

says Dr. Robert Grossman, professor of


Dr. Tasciotti I S O P T I M I ST I C A B O U T T H E T I M E I T W I L L TA K E F O R N A N O -

MEDICINE TREATMENTS TO PROGRESS FROM THE BENCH TO THE BEDSIDE.

67821houD1R1.indd 34 3/17/14 4:02 PM

neurosurgery and Robert

G. Grossman Chair in

Neurosurgery. “First and

foremost, we appreciate

the tremendous generosity

of The Brown Foundation,

The Cullen Trust for

Health Care, TIRR

Foundation, The Cullen

Foundation and numerous

others who have provided

funding for this leading-edge research.

We are truly grateful for their vision and

investment to make this work a reality.”

Dr. Grossman says the timing

is right for other reasons as well.

“The tremendous growth of computer

programming, with the miniaturization

of electronics, and the development

of molecular biology allow us to have

a much better understanding of the

structure and chemistry of the nervous

system.” The Neuroregenerative

Medicine Program links three comple-

mentary components: spinal cord

injury and other neurological dis-

orders; urological (bladder and

kidney) dysfunction; and biomaterials

engineering and stem cell technology.

Dr. Grossman is joined by colleagues

Dr. Timothy Boone, chair of the Depart-

ment of Urology at Houston Methodist,

and Dr. Ennio Tasciotti, associate

member, Houston Methodist Research

Institute, and co-chair, Department of

Nanomedicine.

“Neuroregeneration implies

that there is some damage or

injury to the nervous system

that needs to be repaired,”

says Dr. Boone. “The best

forms of repair are inherent to

your own body.” Many things

stand in the way of that

normal repair mechanism, Dr.

Boone says. It’s particularly

difficult in the nervous system,

because the cells are less apt

to regenerate centrally than

they are peripherally.

“Regenerative med-

icine is trying to understand

the natural processes and

the barriers to natural recovery, and

based on those two factors, figure out

a way to facilitate the natural repair by

dealing with the barriers,” he explains.

The program’s specific focus

involves the use of nanotechnology-–

nanoparticles are, in effect, a bridge

between bulk materials and molecular

structures -–for spinal cord repair and

bladder reconstruction after a spinal cord

injury (SCI). It is difficult to overstate the

trauma that follows an injury to the spinal

cord. SCI often results in the loss of

everyday neurological functions, causing

varying degrees of motor, sensory,

bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction.


Dr. Grossman C R E AT E D A N A N ATO M I C A L

ATLAS OF THE HUMAN SPINAL CORD, HELPING

SURGEONS WITH NEUROREGENERATIVE THERAPY.

Dr. Boone S AY S T H AT “T H E B E S T F O R M S O F

R E PA I R A R E I N H E R E N T T O YO U R O W N B O DY.”

67821houD1R1.indd 35 3/26/14 4:38 PM

Starfish can regrow limbs. For humanity, regenerative medicine is the “next evolution of medical treatments..”


The adjustment to this stark new reality

brings with it a barrage of physical and

emotional challenges.

Among Dr. Grossman’s top

priorities has been the creation of an

anatomical atlas of the human spinal cord.

The atlas is currently being prepared for

publication, but it is available to surgeons

who are engaged in human clinical trials

for neuroregenerative therapy.

“I think it will be a major step

forward in clinical trials involving the

injection of stem cells into the spinal

cord,” he says. “You have to have an atlas

to know the exact position of where to

inject, and how deep you should go.

“For example, we now know that

Parkinson’s Disease can be treated with

deep brain stimulation,” Dr. Grossman

says. “That discovery was made possible

by an atlas of the human brain created in

Germany. Until now, we have not had a

similar atlas for the spinal cord.”

Dr. Tasciotti, in whose spinal

technology lab the clinical trials are taking

place, says he is optimistic about the time

it will take for nanomedicine treatments to

progress from the bench to the bedside.

“Nanomedicine is the application

of nanotechnology to the biomedical

arena, to problems that we couldn’t find

solutions for with current techniques,

whether they are pharmacological or

surgical,” Dr. Tasciotti says.

“Nanomedicine offers a lot of

Holy Grails, from the magic silver bullet

that attacks the cancer cell and spares

the other tissues, to a lot of other fields,”

he says. “In this case, with regenerative

medicine, the big advantage of nano

is that we can create materials that

are closer to the actual architecture

and structure of the tissues that we

want to regenerate.”

Dr. Tasciotti points to a clinical

trial in which bone tissue was successfully

regenerated in rats. Another revolutionary

research project involved bone regenera-

tion in a sheep’s leg. By implanting a

polymeric scaffold reinforcement in

the injured leg, researchers averted

amputation and the sheep was running

and walking normally within weeks.

“Ten years ago, we would have been

talking about science fiction,” he says.

“With the right team and the right

resources, we can solve these problems.”

OUR DEEPEST THANKS TO THE LEAD CONTRIBUTORS TO THESE PROGRAMS

The Cullen FoundationThe Cullen Trust for Health CareTIRR FoundationThe Brown Foundation, Inc.The Society for Leading MedicineBecker Family FoundationMr. and Mrs. R. Drayton McLane Jr.Mr. and Mrs. William N. MathisHarriet and Joe Foster FoundationMr. and Mrs. Steven R. SelsbergMr. Darrell RosenthalE. J. and Wilda GrivettiMr. Bobby K. NewmanShadywood FoundationAnonymous

67821houD1R1.indd 36 3/17/14 4:02 PM

37

In 2007, Dr. Eugene Alford, a respected

surgeon at Houston Methodist, was

clearing brush on his family’s ranch in

Bellville, Texas, when a dead tree fell

on him, resulting in a severe spinal cord

injury. After months of intensive therapy,

he eventually recovered well enough to

use a wheelchair and resume his surgical

practice, but his legs were permanently

paralyzed.

Five years later, Dr. Alford walked

into a room full of doctors and scientists at

the Houston Methodist Research Institute.

He is still paralyzed from the waist down,

but he is able to stand upright and move

with the help of Rex, a robotic exoskeleton

that relies on an external brainwave/

machine interface.

In other words, Dr. Alford thinks

about moving, and Rex moves.

Rex is the result of a partnership

between Houston Methodist Research

Institute’s Neuroregenerative Medicine

Research Program, under the direction of

Dr. Robert Grossman, and University of

Houston computer engineering professor

Jose Contreras-Vidal, PhD. It takes its

name from its manufacturer, Rex Bionics

of New Zealand.

“Dr. Contreras is leaps and

bounds ahead of what they are doing in

surgery,” says Dr. Alford.

Houston Methodist recently

purchased the latest version, nicknamed

NeuroRex, with the support of a grant

from TIRR Foundation. “This version

has integrated circuitry that makes

it possible to communicate with

our brain-machine interface (BMI)

system based on a high-density scalp

electroencephalogram (EEG),” says

Dr. Contreras.

“Facilitating research that will

improve and restore neurological functions

in individuals with spinal cord and brain

injuries is what TIRR Foundation’s

neurotrauma research program, Mission

Connect, is all about,” says TIRR executive

director Cynthia Adkins. “When you see

a person who is completely wheelchair

dependent stand and walk, assisted only

by the Rex, it is wonderful.”

REX

houstonmethodist.org/foundation

67821houD1R1.indd 37 3/17/14 4:02 PM

It started with Eddy Scurlock and

William Blanton, who served together

on the board of The Methodist Hospital.

Their children married in 1928.

1

38 MethodistHealth.com/Foundation

FAMILYTIES

FOR GENERATIONS, THEBLANTON/SCURLOCK/WAREINGFAMILY HAS HELPEDHOUSTON METHODIST GROW AND THRIVE

67821houD1R1.indd 38 3/17/14 4:02 PM

The late Jack S. Blanton Sr. and Laura Lee Scurlock Blanton,

who died in 1999, were tireless supporters of Houston

Methodist. Jack and his widow Ginger continued their

involvement.

Jack S. Blanton Sr.’s three children

continue the family legacy.

Elizabeth Wareing, Jack Blanton Jr.

and Eddy Blanton all give their time,

talent and treasure to support

Houston Methodist.

A fourth generation

continues the work,

with involvement in

The Society for

Leading Medicine

and other organizations

at Houston Methodist.

2

3

4


67821houD1R1.indd 39 3/19/14 5:51 PM


THE TOWERING REDWOODS IN CALIFORNIA, THE CATHEDRALS OF EUROPE

AND EVEN THE CURRENT TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES LIFE EASIER, ALL

HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON: THEY TOOK GENERATIONS OF EFFORT TO

CREATE. GREAT STRUCTURES AND ADVANCES ARE NEVER THE RESULT OF

A SINGLE GENERATION.

AT HOUSTON METHODIST, MANY FAMILIES WHO HAVE SUPPORTED

THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH PHILANTHROPY HAVE SECOND OR THIRD

G E N E R AT I O N S I N VO LV E D . H O W E V E R , T H E S C U R LO C K / B L A N TO N /

WAREING CLAN IS NOW ON ITS FOURTH GENERATION OF SUPPORTERS.

Elizabeth and Eddy C. Scurlock

67821houD1R1.indd 40 3/17/14 4:03 PM


The Foundations of the Past The story begins in the late 1940s

with two early trustees on Houston Methodist’s board of

directors: William N. Blanton and Eddy C. Scurlock.

William’s son, Jack S. Blanton Sr., married Eddy’s daughter,

Laura Lee Scurlock, and they carried on the tradition of giving

of their time, talents and treasure to Houston Methodist. Jack

and Laura Lee’s three children, Elizabeth Blanton Wareing,

Jack Blanton Jr. and Eddy Blanton-–and many of their children-–

continue the family’s involvement with Houston Methodist today.

Elizabeth, who volunteered as a teenager in the

BlueBird Clinic, worked in Houston Methodist’s social services

department as her first job, under the direction of former

hospital administrators Ted Bowen and Larry Mathis.

Like her father and grandfathers before her, she currently

serves on the board of directors at Houston Methodist.

Jack Jr. previously served on the Houston Methodist

Research Institute Government and Community Affairs

Committee. Eddy is active on the Houston Methodist

Neurological Institute National Council.

“I don’t remember a time when our family was not

involved with Houston Methodist,” Elizabeth explains.

“Although I never specifically asked my grandfathers why

they were involved, they were both active in the United

Methodist Church, so it was a natural outreach. My

parents also had that sense of service. My father, in

particular, had an enthusiasm about the hospital which

was contagious. One of the gifts he had was bringing

people together and solving problems. He would always

say 'How can I help you?’ He and my mother always

wanted to be of service.”

“I think both my grandfathers learned early on from

their parents to be generous and caring – simply living

biblical values, including caring for the sick and less fortunate,”

continues Eddy. “Also, our father ’s involvement with

Houston Methodist was a great example of leadership and

philanthropy. It’s given Jack, Elizabeth and me a foundation

for helping others in our community.”

Moving Forward For both the Blanton and Scurlock families,

supporting Houston Methodist has always been about more

than just financial giving. “The gift of time is the most valuable

thing that anyone can offer. I admire my dad and my grandfathers

for giving their time and talents, as well,” says Elizabeth. “They

supported the hospital with all their resources. It wasn’t about

just having their name listed on the board.”

“Yes, both our father and grandfathers had a hands-on

approach,” agrees Eddy. “They believed that when you built

something, you were required to be involved, not just write a check.

A good example is how one of our grandfathers acquired the

property where the Scurlock Tower and Marriott Hotel now sit.”

For years, the board of Houston Methodist had

discussed purchasing the property from Bill Williams, who

owned the restaurant located there. In 1971, Eddy Scurlock

learned through business contacts that Williams was in talks

with another party to buy the property.

Jack S. Blanton Sr. (See our In Memoriam article on page 57.)

67821houD1R1.indd 41 3/17/14 4:03 PM


Scurlock-–fearing the hospital would not be able to

raise the money in time-–negotiated to buy the property himself.

This gave the hospital time to raise the money and purchase

the property from him. The medical tower was named after

Scurlock in appreciation of his efforts to secure the future of

Houston Methodist.

“Our grandfather had a different way of think-

ing about things because he was a visionary,” says Jack

Jr. “Because of his vision and our father’s vision,

Houston Methodist expanded significantly over the

years, and we are very proud that they were so actively

involved in the history of this great institution.”

“Daddy had an expression: ‘I’m for you,’” says

Elizabeth. “He was ‘for’ Houston Methodist for over 50

years. We hope we can contribute a little bit of what he

did over the years for the hospital.”

Working in the Present The Scurlock and Blanton

names are prominent elsewhere across the Houston Methodist

Hospital campus in support of numerous causes. Two of these

causes include stroke and neurodegenerative disorders.

The Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center at Houston

Methodist Hospital is one of the nation’s first certified com-

prehensive stroke centers and the only one in Texas. This

means that in Harris County-–where the stroke death rate is

twice the national average-–patients who receive care at the

Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center have better outcomes with

fewer complications than at other area hospitals. Dr. David Chiu,

medical director of the center, helped develop the certifica-

tion standards now used by accrediting agencies nationwide.

The Blanton family has also created the Jack S. Blanton

Distinguished Endowed Chair at the Houston Methodist

Neurological Institute, a position currently held by Gustavo C.

IT SEEMS THAT

GIVING BACKIS IN THEIRGENES

Elizabeth Wareing

67821houD1R1.indd 42 3/17/14 4:03 PM

Román, MD. Dr. Román is a renowned expert in memory

problems, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

“We are so honored to be part of the Stroke Center’s

accomplishments and Dr. Román’s work,” explains Eddy.

“We’ve had friends who’ve suffered strokes and were treated

at the Stroke Center, and of course Alzheimer’s is affecting so

many people these days. It’s gratifying to support this world-

class institution right here in Houston.”

Planning for the Future Looking to the future,

the Blanton and Wareing families are well aware of the

challenges that lie ahead. Current changes in health care

reimbursement are not only affecting patient care, but they

are affecting critical research as well.

“Every medical procedure you have ever had started

with research,” explains Jack Jr. “People take it for granted

that research will always continue, and new cures will be

found. However, that isn’t necessarily the case today.

So ‘Leading Medicine’ isn’t just a slogan; it’s a plan to

continue being a world leader in medicine and research.”

Giving to Houston Methodist can also hit close to

home. “Recently, I encouraged a friend not to wait until he

developed an illness to consider giving money for research,”

says Eddy. “Give now while you are in good health, and the

research might make a difference in your life.”

“Houston Methodist really is an exciting place,”

agrees Elizabeth. “My view is that a contribution to Houston

Methodist is ‘leveraged,’ because we already have such

amazing infrastructure and physicians. We are literally making

discoveries that make life better for human kind. Who wouldn’t

want to be part of that?”


Eddy Blanton

Jack Blanton Jr.

67821houD1R1.indd 43 3/17/14 4:03 PM

67821houD1R1.indd 44 3/17/14 4:03 PM

If you are driving across town and are not sure how to

get where you’re going, you can go online to get directions.

Easier still, just punch the address into your GPS and

a soothing voice will guide you along the way.

BUT FOR PATIENTS WHO’VE RECENTLY

R E C E I V E D A D I A G N O S I S T H AT R E Q U I R E S

H O S P I TA L I Z AT I O N O R A T E A M O F

P H Y S I C I A N S , T H E R E I S N O R O A D M A P.

T H E Y O F T E N F E E L LO S T.

At Houston Methodist, however, there is a Care Navigator

program designed to assist patients and their physicians

and nurses with coordinating plans of care, to ensure

that patients are receiving the right care in the right

setting at the right time. Care Navigator nurses maintain

detailed documentation of each interaction with a patient

and of any interventions and referrals provided to the patient.

“If you have a new health problem, you are at the mercy

of the system,” says Dr. Paul Hodgins, Chief Medical

Officer at ConocoPhillips. “The Houston Methodist Care

Navigator Program is designed to help patients through

this process-–improving the outcomes for patients by

ensuring access to the right specialists,” he says. The

program has received strong support including a generous

unrestricted contribution from ConocoPhillips.


67821houD1R1.indd 45 3/17/14 4:03 PM

67821houD1R1.indd 46 3/17/14 4:03 PM

The Society F O R L E A D I N G M E D I C I N E

Houstonians have long been famous for

their generosity, especially when it comes

to supporting bold, visionary ventures

such as the Texas Medical Center. Houston

Methodist in particular has benefited

from a strong legacy that has made it the

national leader in medicine it is today.

This tradition of giving has been

handed down through many Houston

families, and today there are new gener-

ations of Houstonians who want to continue

that legacy of support in a way that can be

sustained for years to come. These aspira-

tions led to the creation of The Society for

Leading Medicine, Houston Methodist’s

new annual giving society.

The Society for Leading Medicine

was formed not only for the people who

have supported Houston Methodist over

the years, but with a vision of significantly

expanding membership to include first-

time contributions. There are several levels

of participation, allowing contributors

to join The Society for as little as $1,000,

and increase their participation as the

years go on.

Society members at all levels have

access to many programs and opportunities

designed to educate members about the

excellence of Houston Methodist. For

example, Leadership Grand Rounds and

House Calls events offer personal conver-

sations and interactions with renowned

physicians and researchers at Houston

Methodist. Society members enjoy

facilitated access to care at Houston

Methodist and fun events such as the

Houston Texans Family Field Day and

member appreciation parties.

The Society for Leading Medicine

was founded by an exceptional group of

community leaders with enthusiasm and

dedication to Houston Methodist, and

you will read about some of them in the

following pages. At this critical moment

in health care, we invite you to join these

leaders to help fulfill Houston Methodist’s

vision for the future.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O NO N T H E S O C I E T Y,

please contact Amanda Harris

at 832.667.5813 or

[email protected].

Please mail membership gifts to:

Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation

Attention: The Society

P.O. Box 4384

Houston, Texas 77210-4384

houstonmethodist.org/thesociety

P R E S I D E N T ’S C I R C L E M E M B E R S

Carolyn J. and Robert J. Allison Jr.

Randee and Everett Bernal

James G. Floyd and Glenna S. Floyd

Ann and Johnny Johnson

Matthew and Rosemarie Johnson

Doug Pitcock

C O R N E R S T O N E M E M B E R S

The Cockrell Foundation

Estela and David A. Cockrell

Janet and Ernest Cockrell

Stephanie and Ernest Cockrell

Carol Cockrell Curran

and Richard B. Curran

Christy and J. Webb Jennings

Laura Jennings Turner

and John A. Turner

Michael M. and Joann H. Cone

Jenny Elkins

Karen and David Haug

S P E C I A L T H A N K S T O T H E S O C I E T Y F O R L E A D I N G M E D I C I N E F O U N D I N G L I F E T I M E M E M B E R S


67821houD1R1.indd 47 3/19/14 5:55 PM

Estela and David A. Cockrell, chairs of

The Society for Leading Medicine, exemplify

the past and the future of philanthropy at

Houston Methodist.

For five decades, The Cockrell

Foundation has supported health care and

medical research, and Houston Methodist

is a long-time beneficiary. Most recently,

this support includes the Cockrell Center

for Advanced Therapeutics at Houston

Methodist Research Institute.

Over the years, Cockrell family

members have also generously donated

their time. For example, Ernest H. Cockrell,

David’s father, is a life member of Houston

Methodist’s Board and past chair of

Houston Methodist Research Institute.

The next generation of Cockrells leading

the next generation of philanthropy is a

powerful testament to the idea that long-term

relationships can produce remarkable results.

“The decision to chair The Society

was influenced by our relationships with

Houston Methodist President and CEO

Dr. Marc Boom, the Houston Methodist

Hospital Foundation team, and David’s

longtime involvement with the institution as

a director of The Cockrell Foundation,” says

Estela. “We believe the annual fund model

can support Houston Methodist’s mission

to expedite the translation of research into

clinical care. We would especially like to

see progress in converting regenerative

medicine and stem cell research into

patient therapies more quickly. By combining

this work with precision medicine, Houston

Methodist physicians and researchers

have the potential to create tailored,

preventative health plans for patients,

which is the future of medicine.”

“Estela and I also believe the

future of philanthropy at Houston Methodist

is well served by The Society’s multigen-

erational focus, and we are thrilled to be

involved in the collaborative research pro-

grams that are advancing medicine,” adds

David. “Houston Methodist Hospital is the

number one clinical care hospital in Texas,

and we think The Society’s efforts can help

make Houston Methodist the number one

hospital and research facility in America.”

“Additionally, The Society will

help share Houston Methodist’s message,”

says Estela. “In years past, the community

wasn’t always aware of the hospital’s

numerous achievements. But now, we’re

showcasing these accomplishments,

and The Society is helping throw the

‘coming out party.’ David and I are excited

to be part of that.”


theCockrellsC H A I R S O F T H E S O C I E T Y F O R L E A D I N G M E D I C I N E

67821houD1R1.indd 48 3/17/14 4:03 PM

F O U N D I N G M E M B E R S O F T H E S O C I E T Y F O R L E A D I N G M E D I C I N E

theCones


The Cone family, starting with patriarch

Mike Cone, has supported Houston

Methodist for many years. Scott Cone,

Mike’s son, has continued the tradition by

serving on the board of Houston Methodist

Research Institute, among other roles.

When discussions began about creating

The Society for Leading Medicine, the

whole family, including Scott and his wife

Dru, and mother Joann, were on board

with the plan from the beginning.

“One of the purposes for creating

The Society was to give us a way to

engage younger generations, the 30- to

45-year-old demographic,” explains

Scott. “These folks have the ability to

give, but not at the highest levels yet.

So, involving this younger group in The

Society expands our contributor base,

and grows it for the future.”

Society members have access

to many programs that are unique to

Houston Methodist. “I think one of

the most interesting opportunities is

participating in the Leadership Grand

Rounds,” Mike says. “It’s an exclusive,

behind-the-scenes tour of a world-

renowned medical center from the inside.

An up-close and personal experience

such as viewing live open-heart surgery

allows people to see their contribution in

action in a powerful way.”

“Another popular feature of The

Society is the facilitated access to Houston

Methodist,” adds Scott. “It’s good to

know you can call the hospital, and get

help in finding the best physicians for

you and your family.”

One area of medicine that the

Cones have supported includes the area

of robotics. “Houston Methodist surgeons

are leaders in the use of robotic tech-

nology, expanding the surgical options

available to patients while improving

the quality of patient care,” says Mike.

“Additionally, Houston Methodist trains

surgeons from all over the world in the

latest robotic techniques. We are glad

to support forward-looking initiatives like

these, because they truly embody the

mission of ‘Leading Medicine.’”

Furn

itur

e in

thi

s ar

ticl

e pr

ovid

ed b

y A

lyso

n Jo

n.

67821houD1R1.indd 49 3/17/14 4:03 PM


When Rosemarie and Matt Johnson

moved to Houston in 2009 for Matt’s

job, the former New Yorkers didn’t waste

any time getting involved in philanthropic

causes across the city. They have supported

numerous causes including children’s

health initiatives, the arts and others.

However, two very personal experiences

led the Johnsons to join The Society

for Leading Medicine.

“Our first exposure to Houston

Methodist Hospital was through our

personal experience with our physicians,”

explains Matt. “We were very impressed

by their expertise and knowledge, and

they made us feel comfortable right away.”

Then, through the Johnsons’ friendship

with Estela and David Cockrell, they

learned about The Society for Leading

Medicine. “Estela is so passionate about

both Houston Methodist and The Society,”

explains Rosemarie. “Her passion sparked

a great deal of curiosity about the hospital

and its mission, so we were interested in

learning more.”

It was a natural decision for the

Johnsons to get involved, both because of

the excellence of the hospital and the

multigenerational focus of The Society.

“We have small children, and we are

looking forward to the educational and

family programs offered by The Society,”

says Matt. “We also believe it’s a chance

to teach our children about philanthropy.”

The Johnsons are also intent on

learning more about the various research

and clinical initiatives at Houston Methodist

surrounding genetics and genetic testing.

“All families have inherited diseases,

including ours,” says Rosemarie. “So it

follows that genetic research could even-

tually benefit every human being. That’s

powerful.”

Not long ago, Rosemarie wrote

Estela Cockrell to thank her for introducing

the Johnsons to The Society. “I wanted to

let Estela know how grateful we were for her

invitation to get involved,” says Rosemarie.

“Supporting Houston Methodist will

continue to be very important to our family

in the years ahead.”

the JohnsonsF O U N D I N G M E M B E R S O F T H E S O C I E T Y F O R L E A D I N G M E D I C I N E

67821houD1R1.indd 50 3/17/14 4:03 PM


F O U N D I N G M E M B E R S O F T H E S O C I E T Y F O R L E A D I N G M E D I C I N E

the Bissos

The history of Houston is filled with people

who came from elsewhere but went on to

make important contributions to the city.

Eva and Beau Bisso are two great examples

of this long Houston tradition.

The Bissos came from New

Orleans during the evacuation of Hurricane

Katrina, and they didn’t know anyone when

they arrived. “But it was incredible how

Houston embraced us so warmly,” says

Beau, who eventually moved the head-

quarters of his company, Bisso Marine, to

Houston. “Philanthropy has always been

important to our family, because it provides

balance in life, and helps keep your

priorities straight. So it was a natural

choice for us to join The Society for

Leading Medicine when we were asked.”

“We also were attracted to the

multigenerational approach, because

we have young children and also aging

parents,” says Eva. “While we enjoy the

fun family-oriented events like meeting

the Texans football players, we also want

to support an outstanding hospital like

Houston Methodist because chances

are we’ll eventually need their services.”

However, for the moment,

the Bissos are interested in Houston

Methodist’s efforts to promote well-

ness and avoid hospital stays. “The

research and the clinical programs that

aim to keep people healthy are critical,”

explains Beau. “Most hospitals can

fix your problem, but it takes a special

place to want to keep you healthy.”

“One example is the Executive

Wellness Program, because it promotes

a proactive relationship with a health care

provider,” continued Eva. “However, if you

are diagnosed with something, Houston

Methodist offers access to the same

medical specialists that attract people

from all over the world.”

The Bissos are gratified their

contributions to The Society will benefit the

Houston community, but they recognize that

these efforts could impact their own health.

As Beau points out, “The research happening

today at Houston Methodist just might

save our own lives someday in the future.”

67821houD1R1.indd 51 3/17/14 4:03 PM

1 JANUARY 9, 2013NANTZ NATIONAL ALZHEIMER CENTER SECOND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION In celebration of the Nantz National Alzheimer Center’s second anniversary, Jim Nantz, his wife Courtney and mother Doris joined Houston Methodist for a celebration and unveiling of the new Nantz Friends wall. At the time of the event, the Nantz Center had raised over $8.2 million for Alzheimer’s disease research.

3 MAY 23, 2013 UNDERWOOD CENTERHouston Methodist honored the Underwoods for their generous gift to create the Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Disorders. The center brings together extensive resources in the field of digestive disease to provide patients with an unparalleled level of quality care.

SPECIAL EVENTS

2FEBRUARY 6, 2013THE SOCIETY FOR LEADING MEDICINE LAUNCH PARTY Hosted by Chairs Estela and David A. Cockrell, Houston Methodist launched The Society for Leading Medicine at the Houston Ballet Center for Dance. The evening featured remarks by Drs. Marc Boom, David Baskin, Patrick McCulloch and Ennio Tasciotti, and a sneak peek of Houston Ballet’s La Bayadère. As of December 2013, The Society has raised over $1.4 million through 229 memberships.


67821houD1R1.indd 52 3/17/14 4:04 PM

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 BATTING PRACTICEDr. Jeremy Finkelstein, Eddy Blanton and Larry Dierker attended batting practice at Minute Maid Park. Guests swung for the fences in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in a Major League park. Batting practice was followed by dinner in the Diamond Club and remarks by Houston Methodist Orthopedics and Sports Medicine physicians.

6

4 JUNE 29, 2013 TABLE ROCK RANCHPaula and Rusty Walter generously hosted Houston Methodist guests for a mid-summer adventure at their beautiful ranch in Colorado. The day included fly-fishing, hayrides, hiking and much more.

5 JULY 10, 2013 PEAK PERFORMANCESRod and Cam Canion, Pat Cooper, Julie and Marc Boom, Nancy and Jack Dinerstein and Susan and Dick Stasney hosted Peak Performances, Houston Methodist’s summer event in Aspen. Held in Pat Cooper’s beautiful home, the event featured Houston Methodist medical leaders and their insights on achieving and maintaining optimal human performance.

7 OCTOBER 21, 2013 FAITH & MEDICINE LUNCHEONIn partnership with the Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology, Houston Methodist Hospital hosted the first annual Faith & Medicine Luncheon. With introductions by Most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza, Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston, and Dr. William Lawrence, Dean of the Perkins School of Theology, Drs. Mauro Ferrari and William Abraham addressed the convergence of spirituality and health care.Pictured from left to right: Cathy Jodeit, Paula Walter,Rev. Charles Millikan and Libby Nelson.


67821houD1R1.indd 53 3/17/14 4:04 PM

NOVEMBER 7, 2013 CELEBRATING 94 YEARS OF LEADING MEDICINE

Guests at Houston Methodist’s “Rendezvous in Blue” gala enjoyed dinner, an electrifying floor show and a high-energy dance party at the Hilton Americas – Houston on November 7. Jenna Bush Hager and Marc Vandermeer emceed the festivities which raised $1.7 million for research, education and patient care throughout the system. The evening included a special performance by St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Chancel and Handbell Choirs, remarks from Houston Methodist President and CEO, Dr. Marc Boom; Houston Methodist Vice President of Spiritual Care and Values Integration, Dr. Charles Millikan; and Weill Cornell Medical College Board of Overseers Chairman, Sanford Weill. The gala, which was presented by Weatherford, also honored six couples whose outstanding stewardship has helped Houston Methodist achieve success:Ginger and Jack S. Blanton Sr.; Carolyn and John Bookout; Janet and Ernie Cockrell; Anne and Charles Duncan; Lynda and David Underwood; and Paula and Rusty Walter.

RENDEZVOUS IN BLUE 1

2

7

6

6

543


67821houD1R1.indd 54 3/17/14 4:05 PM

1. David UnderwoodMichael LinnRusty WalterJohn Bookout John Bookout III

2.Denis DeBakeyLavonne CoxMorrie and Rolaine Abramson

3.Ernie D. Cockrell, David A. Cockrell

4.Anne and Charles Duncan

5.Dr. Dick Stasney, Spencer Stasney,Jack and Ginger Blanton,Allison Stasney and Susan Stasney

6. David Underwood, Trina Murray, Lynda Underwood, Christine Underwood, David Underwood and Fulton Murray

7.Sanford I. Weill, Drs. Julie and Marc Boom and Dr. Antonio Gotto

8. Rusty and Paula Walter, Greg and Libbie Nelson, Paola and Dr. Mauro Ferrari

9. Jenna Bush Hager and Marc Vandermeeremceed the festivities.Shown here with photosof the evening’s honorees.

10Chairs Emily and Holcombe Crosswell and Loretta and Bob Moseswith Jenna Bush Hager

8

9

10

RENDEZVOUS IN BLUE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS, in part because of our honorees. Their families and friends all joined together to recognize and celebrate their legacy of service to Houston Methodist,” saysgala chairs Emily Crosswell and Loretta Moses. “Additionally, we expanded our circle of supporters to include many generous Houstonians who are now engaging with us and learning about the excellence of Houston Methodist.”

“


67821houD1R1.indd 55 3/17/14 4:05 PM

56 Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation56 Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation

I N M E M O R I A M

D. Gibson “Gib” Walton

ON FEBRUARY 7, 2013, the Houston Methodist family

lost a cherished friend with the passing of Gib Walton.

GIB WAS VITALLY IMPORTANT to the growth and

evolution of Houston Methodist. He joined the Board of

Directors in 1997 and served as the vice chair of the Board

in recent years. A brilliant legal mind, he shared his skills as

chair of the Governance Committee and at the time of his

death was chair of the Houston Methodist Research Institute

Board. Gib also served as an Advisory Board Member for

the Center for Performing Arts Medicine, and worked on

a number of other committees. In addition, he was a great

champion for creating and nurturing the I CARE values

across the Houston Methodist system.

PROFESSIONALLY, Gib was a highly respected

attorney and partner with the global law firm Hogan

Lovells, LLP and co-leader of its Global Projects,

Engineering and Construction practice. Previously

he was a partner and member of the Management

Committee at Vinson & Elkins. He was elected

President of the State Bar of Texas, and later served as

Chairman of the State Bar Foundation.

A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, Gib’s extensive service to the

community included serving as President of the Houston

Bar Association; chair of the Houston Bar Foundation;

member of the Committee on Admissions for the U.S.

District Court, Southern District of Texas; chair of the U.S.

Magistrate Judge Selection Committee, Southern District of

Texas; member of the Board of Directors at Brookwood

Community and Briarwood School; and trustee of the

Cullen Trust for Healthcare.

PRIVATELY, Gib was a deeply spiritual man. His faith inspired his

active role in the United Methodist Church, both locally and beyond.

He was a key lay leader in St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. He

served for nearly 20 years as Co-Chancellor and Chancellor of the

Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, in which

capacity he was the Conference’s legal advisor. He was an elected

delegate to numerous Annual, Jurisdictional and global General

Conferences of the denomination.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, Gib was ardently devoted to his

family. So it is with a heavy heart that the entire Houston

Methodist family offers its thoughts and prayers to Gib’s wife

Martha and their two children. There is no way to measure

how deeply he is missed.

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I N M E M O R I A M

Jack S. Blanton Sr.

O N D E C E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 3 , Houston Methodist, the city

of Houston and the state of Texas lost a champion, a civic

icon and a dear friend as Jack S. Blanton Sr. died peacefully

in his Galveston vacation home.

FEW HAVE BEEN MORE COMMITTED to leading

Houston Methodist toward growth and advancement than

Jack S. Blanton Sr. Jack joined the Board of Directors

in 1967 and served faithfully for 46 years. In 2008, he

was named a life member of the Board for his unflagging

commitment to Houston and his immense contributions

to the development of Houston Methodist. In 2009, he

received our Ella F. Fondren Award for his philanthropic

support of research and medical care programs,

particularly in neurology and the Center for Performing

Arts Medicine. His work and generosity made possible

the creation of the Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center,

nationally recognized as one of the region’s top centers

for the treatment of stroke. A member of The Society for

Leading Medicine, Jack was also an enthusiastic supporter

of our fundraising efforts. At the recent “Rendezvous

in Blue” gala, Jack and his wife Ginger were honored

as one of the institution’s legacy couples. He served in

a number of important roles on the Board, including vice

chairman and assistant treasurer.

HIS CAREER began in 1950 when he joined Scurlock Oil

Company in Houston, becoming its president in 1958 and then

chairman in 1983, after the company was sold to Ashland Oil.

H I S L E A D E R S H I P enhanced every aspect of the

Houston community, as Jack served on the boards of the

Houston Endowment, the Texas Medical Center and the

Houston Zoo, among others. He is known for diversifying

the investment portfolio of the Houston Endowment, helping

double its assets to more than $1 billion in the 1990s.

Jack’s other life-long quest was improving state education,

especially at his alma mater --- The University of Texas.

He was appointed to the board of regents of The University

of Texas System by Gov. Mark White in 1985 and expanded

the university’s presence to South Texas, establishing The

University of Texas in Brownsville.

HIS CHARACTER showed in business and in his personal

life. Jack rarely took himself seriously, except on the tennis

court where he always competed to win. He appreciated

the simple things in life, from Blue Bell vanilla ice cream to

cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals. He loved a good joke

and enjoyed wearing funny hats to amuse his grandchildren.

HIS FAMILY and his friends mourn the loss of such

a dynamic, caring human being. The entire Houston

Methodist family offers our condolences and prayers to

Jack’s wife Ginger, his children Elizabeth, Jack and Eddy,

and his nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Jack’s impact as a friend, a colleague and a true civic

leader will be remembered with deep gratitude.

67821houD1R1.indd 57 3/17/14 4:05 PM

H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST B OA R D O F D I R E CTO R S

Morrie K. AbramsonCarlton E. Baucum, TreasurerJohn F. Bookout, Senior ChairMarc L. Boom, MD, President & CEOEmily A. Crosswell Mary A. DaffinConnie M. DyerGary W. EdwardsEric J. Haufrect, MD, President of the Medical Staff Mark A. HouserBishop Janice Riggle HuieRev. Kenneth R. LevingstonVidal G. MartinezRobert K. Moses Jr., Asst. SecretaryGregory V. Nelson, Vice ChairThomas J. Pace III, DMinJoe Bob PerkinsKeith O. Reeves, MDC. Richard Stasney, MD, President-Elect of the Medical Staff (Advisory)David M. Underwood, Vice ChairJoseph C. “Rusty” Walter III, Asst. TreasurerElizabeth Blanton Wareing, SecretaryStephen Wende, DMinEwing Werlein Jr., ChairRev. B. T. Williamson (Advisory)Sandra Gayle Wright, RN, EdD

Life MembersErnest H. CockrellJames C. DishmanCharles W. Duncan Jr.Isaac H. Kempner IIINat S. Rogers

HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATIONBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Morrie K. AbramsonJohn F. Bookout, ChairMarc L. Boom, MD, President & CEOMichael M. ConeEmily A. Crosswell, SecretaryCharles W. Duncan Jr.John S. Dunn Jr.Marvy A. FingerJohn W. Johnson Raleigh W. Johnson Jr.Vidal G. MartinezRobert K. Moses Jr.David M. Underwood, Vice ChairJames V. WalzelElizabeth Blanton WareingEwing Werlein Jr.

H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST R E S E A R C H I N ST I T U T E B OA R D O F D I R E CTO R SMorrie K. AbramsonSteven D. ArnoldJohn F. Bookout, Senior ChairJohn F. Bookout IIIMarc L. Boom, MD, President & CEOGiorgio BorlenghiJoseph R. CanionAlbert Y. ChaoErnest D. Cockrell II, SecretaryMary A. DaffinDan O. DingesAndrew Von Eschenbach, MDJoe B. FosterMauro Ferrari, PhD, President & CEOLaurie H. Glimcher, MD, DeanAntonio Gotto, MD, DPhil, Retired DeanMark A. Houser, Vice Chair/Chair ElectCatherine S. JodeitGregory V. NelsonC. Richard Stasney, MDStuart W. StedmanJoseph C. “Rusty” Walter III, ChairElizabeth Blanton WareingEwing Werlein Jr.

H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST D E B A K E Y H E A RT & VAS C U L A R C E N T E RRobert J. Allison Jr.Seth M. BarrettJ. Denny BartellChristopher R. BlackMarc L. Boom, MD, President & CEOJohn R. Butler Jr.Philip J. CarrollGerardo A. ChapaMary A. DaffinRay DavisDenis A. DeBakeyProf. Lois E. DeBakey, PhDJoann P. DiGennaroWilliam J. Doré Jr.William J. Doré Sr.Connie Dyer, Co-Chair Eva K. FarhaLinda C. GillWilliam E. GipsonMarc P. GordonMiguel A. HernandezJo Ruth KaplanWilliam E. KingCynthia G. KostasGeorge J. KostasCarole E. LookeJohn M. McCormackRobert K. Moses Jr.Frank D. PerezCynthia Pickett-Stevenson, Co-ChairDouglas R. QuinnValentina Ugolini, MDElizabeth Walter

H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST P H YS I C I A N S O R G A N I Z AT I O NB OA R D O F D I R E CTO R S

Stanley H. Appel, MDBarbara L. Bass, MD, FACSTimothy B. Boone, MD, PhDGavin W. Britz, MBBCh, MPH, FAANSE. Brian Butler, MDStuart M. Dobbs, MDJaime Gateno, DDS, MDEric J. Haufrect, MDAlan L. Kaplan, MDAndrew G. Lee, MDAlan B. Lumsden, MDJames M. Musser, MD, PhDJoseph J. Naples, MDRobert A. Phillips, MD, PhD, Chair, President & CEO Miguel A. Quiñones, MD, MACCRichard J. Robbins, MDKevin E. Varner, MD

H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST N E U R O LO G I C A L I N ST I T U T E N AT I O N A L C O U N C I L

Morrie K. AbramsonJames R. BathEverett E. BernalRandee K. BernalEddy S. BlantonJohn F. BookoutJ. David CabelloGary W. Edwards, ChairThomas D. FriedkinKate H. Gibson, Co-ChairS. Malcolm Gillis, PhDRobert H. GrahamDorothy JenkinsMary F. JohnstonElise JosephThomas C. KnudsonGregory A. KozmetskyLeon M. PayneArthur A. Seeligson IIIDonna S. StahlhutHenry J.N. “Kitch” Taub IIAnne G. ThobaeDavid M. UnderwoodDancie Perugini WareElizabeth Blanton WareingW. Temple Webber III

H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST L I V E R C E N T E R TAS K F O R C E

Paula D. CrielBurt H. KeenanLawrence W. KellnerLinda G. LykosEugene A. O’Donnell

H O U STO N M E T H O D I STC E N T E R F O R P E R F O R M I N G A RT S M E D I C I N E A DV I S O RY B OA R D

Bobby R. Alford, MDE. William BarnettJanice H. BarrowVirginia BlantonAnthony K. Brandt, PhDPhilip J. CarrollAlbert Y. ChaoEvan D. Collins, MD, MBALavonne C. Cox, RPhJames W. CrownoverFrancoise DjerejianDeborah K. DuncanVictor Fainstein, MDJerry E. FingerJeremy Finkelstein, MDGina E. Fish, RNJ. Todd FrazierRobert Freeman, PhDElizabeth GhristSusanne M. GlasscockRichard L. Harper, MDEric J. Haufrect, MDPatricia P. HubbardRobert E. Jackson, MDChristof Karmonik, PhDTom Krouskop, PhD, PEMichael W. Lieberman, MD, PhDSharon Ley LietzowJudy E. MargolisHoyt T. “Toby” MattoxNicholas A. PhillipsKeith O. Reeves, MDAnn Scanlon McGinity, PhD, RNL. E. SimmonsJerome B. SimonLois F. StarkC. Richard Stasney, MDRon Tintner, MDLaura Jennings TurnerKevin E. Varner, MDRichard E. Wainerdi, PhD, PEMargaret Alkek WilliamsAline WilsonEd WulfeRobert A. Yekovich, DMA

H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST C A N C E R C E N T E R TAS K F O R C E

Ann H. ElvinMaryanne W. McCormackRick MooreLoretta B. MosesJane L. ParkerBetty A. SommerGlenn R. Smith

LEA

DER

SHIP

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H O U STO N M E T H O D I STC E N T E R F O R P E R F O R M I N G A RT S M E D I C I N E A DV I S O RY B OA R D

Bobby R. Alford, MDE. William BarnettJanice H. BarrowVirginia BlantonAnthony K. Brandt, PhDPhilip J. CarrollAlbert Y. ChaoEvan D. Collins, MD, MBALavonne C. Cox, RPhJames W. CrownoverFrancoise DjerejianDeborah K. DuncanVictor Fainstein, MDJerry E. FingerJeremy Finkelstein, MDGina E. Fish, RNJ. Todd FrazierRobert Freeman, PhDElizabeth GhristSusanne M. GlasscockRichard L. Harper, MDEric J. Haufrect, MDPatricia P. HubbardRobert E. Jackson, MDChristof Karmonik, PhDTom Krouskop, PhD, PEMichael W. Lieberman, MD, PhDSharon Ley LietzowJudy E. MargolisHoyt T. “Toby” MattoxNicholas A. PhillipsKeith O. Reeves, MDAnn Scanlon McGinity, PhD, RNL. E. SimmonsJerome B. SimonLois F. StarkC. Richard Stasney, MDRon Tintner, MDLaura Jennings TurnerKevin E. Varner, MDRichard E. Wainerdi, PhD, PEMargaret Alkek WilliamsAline WilsonEd WulfeRobert A. Yekovich, DMA

H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST C A N C E R C E N T E R TAS K F O R C E

Ann H. ElvinMaryanne W. McCormackRick MooreLoretta B. MosesJane L. ParkerBetty A. SommerGlenn R. Smith

H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST H AS B E E N B L E S S E D W I T H FA R S I G H T E D C O N T R I B U TO R S who possess the willingness to

generously give. We have benefited from philanthropic gifts

given by those personally touched by a particular illness as

well as from those who graciously want to contribute so

that others may benefit.

In 2013, our generous contributors helped raise

approximately $33 million through more than 4,000 gifts.

No matter the catalyst, I sincerely thank each

individual, family, corporation and foundation who has given

to Houston Methodist. I also recognize the dedication of

our boards, advisory councils, task forces and volunteers

who share their time and expertise with our institution.

Your commitment brings breakthroughs to light.

Your support saves lives daily. I N S H O RT, YO U R C O N T R I B U T I O N S E N A B L E U S TO C O N T I N U E L E A D I N G M E D I C I N E .

John Bookout, C H A I R

H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST H O S P I TA L

F O U N DAT I O N B OA R D

Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Magazine CreditsExecutive Director: Susan Coulter, JD

Managing Editor: Katelyn Furman

Editors: Patti Muck, Nathan Cernosek, Katie Lipnick

Creative: Richards/Carlberg, Art Director Karen Holland

Writers: Josh Powers, Rick Mitchell, Robin Phillips

Photographers: Terry Vine, Frank White, Mark Laita

Illustrators: Martin Leon Barreto, Matthew Cook, Chris Gall, Jack Molloy, Bruce Morser, Charis Tsevis

Online giving: houstonmethodist.org/foundation

Subscription information: houstonmethodist.org/foundation-magazine


67821houD1R1.indd 59 3/19/14 5:55 PM


Contributors are listed online at houstonmethodist.org/foundation.

M A N Y T H A N KS

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Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage

P A I DHouston, Texas

Permit No. 2034Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation

1707 Sunset Boulevard

Houston, Texas 77005

832.667.5816

[email protected]

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houston methodist 2013 foundation magazine

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