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Discovering Solutions for Health Problems
UT Health Science Center faculty present varied work to UT System’s top donors
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston put its best foot forward as James T. Willerson, M.D., president, hosted the Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee Winter Meeting Jan. 27 and 28.
About 200 council members from around the state – who are among the top donors to the 15 UT System campuses – visited the UT School of Nursing at Houston, the UT School of Public Health and the UT Medical School at Houston.
Focusing on the theme of “Innovative Solutions for Global Problems,” 12 health science center faculty presenters covered topics including the nursing shortage, childhood obesity, crisis in the emergency room and medical errors, among others. Another meeting highlight was a moving video presentation about the health science center’s faculty, staff and student response to Hurricane Katrina.
Saturday morning council members heard reports from the Chancellor and others at UT System about current system activities and issues.
“This is one of the finest Chancellor's Council meetings I’ve ever participated in,” said Mark G. Yudof, chancellor of the UT System. “The presentations were superb – important, timely and engrossing. UT Health Science Center at Houston deserves tremendous credit.”
Among the guests on campus were Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Kenneth Shine, M.D.; Council Chair Melinda Perrin, also a member of the UT Health Science Center Development Board; other Development Board members; and Texas Medical Center leadership.
Perrin, who was instrumental in bringing the meeting to the health science center, said, “The American health care system is in need of a major overhaul, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is positioned to be a leader in discovering solutions for our society’s most pressing health care problems. I believe it’s a combination of being pioneers in research, but also looking at public health issues that are huge.”
Because of her “long allegiance” to the health science center, Perrin said she wanted the Chancellor’s Council members to “see what we’re doing on our campus. I was so proud of the health science center for the quality of the program presented.”
The Chancellor’s Council consists of donors who have given $10,000 or more to the UT System or to a UT institution. These supporters not only help financially, but also champion the institutions in their communities and among civic and state leaders. Executive Committee members meet three times a year, and several years ago the location of the winter meeting began rotating among the UT campuses. Houston-area members of the Chancellor’s Council were invited to join the Executive Committee for the Houston meeting and dinner.
“I want to thank Melinda Perrin for her leadership in bringing the Chancellor’s Council to our campus,” Willerson said. “The meeting was a huge opportunity for the UT System leadership and donors to learn what we are all about and to hear about specific programs here. I am very proud of all the speakers, who were great examples of our faculty and their work.”
Members had a break from the seriousness of the program to enjoy the wit and wisdom of James “Red” Duke, M.D., the featured speaker at the Friday evening dinner, attended by almost 400. Duke, who is professor of surgery and the John B. Holmes Professor of Clinical Science at the Medical School, received a longhorn statue from Willerson in recognition of his many contributions to the Medical School and the UT Health Science Center.
Also at the dinner Chancellor Yudof recognized Development Board member and New Frontiers Campaign Chair Beth Robertson for hitting the $200 million goal of the campaign on behalf of the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases.
Yudof also had a gift for Willerson, who is a big University of Texas football fan. It was a football signed by Coach Mack Brown, with the inscription, “Thank goodness we had a cardiologist in the Rose Bowl. Hook ‘em.”
UT System Regents Robert Estrada of Fort Worth and John Barnhill of Brenham attended the dinner.
The Office of Public Affairs orchestrated the two-day program with help from the Office of Development and staff of the various schools.
Topics and Speakers
- “Stem Cells Repair Damaged Hearts,” James T. Willerson, M.D., president, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
- “Emergency in the ER: A New Paradigm,” Guy L. Clifton, M.D., professor of neurosurgery and holder of the Nancy, Clive and Pierce Runnells Distinguished Chair in Neurosurgery, UT Medical School at Houston.
- “Rapid Response: Stroke Prevention and Treatment,” James C. Grotta, M.D., director, Stroke Program, and holder of the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Distinguished Chair, Medical School.
- “Reducing Childhood Obesity,” Steven H. Kelder, Ph.D., associate professor and director, Centers for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, UT School of Public Health.
- “Enhanced Technical Skills for Future Physicians,” Brent King, M.D., chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical School.
- “Ready, Set, Learn! Preparing Our Children for Success in School,” Susan Landry, Ph.D., director, Children’s Learning Institute, and the Michael Matthew Knight Memorial Professor in Pediatrics, Medical School.
- “Contemporary Health Threats: Epidemics and Bioterrorism,” Scott R. Lillibridge, M.D., professor of epidemiology and director, Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness, School of Public Health.
- “Hurricane Katrina: Response and Relief,” Michael D. McKinney, M.D., senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, UT Health Science Center.
- “Strategic Solutions for the Nursing Shortage,” Patricia L. Starck, D.S.N., dean and the John P. McGovern, M.D., Distinguished Professor in Nursing, UT School of Nursing at Houston, and Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., executive vice chancellor for health affairs, UT System.
- “Minimizing Medical Errors,” Eric J. Thomas, M.D., associate professor of medicine, Medical School, and Jack Smith, M.D., Ph.D., dean, UT School of Health Information Sciences at Houston, and professor, UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston.