Best-selling author addresses 2009 PARTNERS Spring Luncheon March 23
Patricia L. Starck, D.N.S
HOUSTON – (Jan. 8, 2009) – Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D., who is a brain scientist, a stroke survivor and a best-selling author, will be the keynote speaker for the PARTNERS 2009 Spring Luncheon on Monday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m. in the Hilton Americas - Houston Hotel, 1600 Lamar Street. Proceeds from the event benefit programs and services for The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston.
Taylor’s recent New York Times best-selling book, “My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey,” reveals how Taylor, a neuroanatomist (one who studies the nervous system), experienced a stroke in 1996. It initially left her unable to walk, talk, read, write or remember her life. After the removal of a blood clot from her brain, it took Taylor eight years to recover from the stroke. She is now a national spokesperson for the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center.
Also during the luncheon, Patricia L. Starck, D.N.S, dean of the UT School of Nursing, will be honored for her 25 years of service to the school as dean. Starck is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and holder of the John P. McGovern, M..D., Distinguished Professorship in Nursing She serves as co-chair of the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Study Advisory Committee. Her work has been instrumental in bringing awareness of the nursing shortage to the Texas Legislature and initiating nationally-recognized academic programs to the school.
Brad and Sara Howell are the event’s honorary chairs. Brad Howell is an ex-officio member of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston Advisory Council, an emeritus member of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Development Board, where he served as chair for 2004-2005, and a current member of The University of Texas System Chancellor’s Council. Sara Howell is a lifetime member of PARTNERS and a member of its board of directors. She chaired PARTNERS from 1997 to 2002, and chaired the 2006 Spring Luncheon, which raised more than $135,000.
PARTNERS stands for “Promoting Advancement Resources to Nursing Education, Research and Students.” The organization was formed in 1994 to lend support and encouragement for students and faculty of the UT School of Nursing through scholarships, endowments, faculty research grants and student services. The luncheon is PARTNERS’ largest fund-raising activity. In the last two years, the event has garnered more than $250,000. To date the organization holds a $1.5 million endowment to support its projects.
Since its beginning, PARTNERS has provided 79 full nursing scholarships, 34 faculty research grants and three PARTNERS endowed professorships. PARTNERS provides the traditional UT School of Nursing pins each year for the Bachelor of Science Pinning Ceremony at commencement. Other contributions have included a student lounge in the school and support to the Center for Nursing Research Biological Sciences Laboratory and the Pre-Clinical Critical Care Laboratory.
Individual ticket prices start at $125. For information, call 713-500-2075 or email to: partners@uth.tmc.edu.