A Direct Imperative

A high school student who has only learned about surgery in a classroom or on a screen can today step into a simulation lab at Houston Methodist and experience the reality of an operating room in full motion. Such opportunities to introduce tomorrow’s workforce to the medical field expand horizons and open doors — and they are urgently needed. With the nation facing critical health care shortages, early exposure is essential, especially for students from disadvantaged communities, who often lack access to such opportunities.

In reality, only 17% of U.S. college freshmen on a pre-med track ultimately matriculate into medical school, with even lower rates among under-resourced students. Limited mentorship, minimal hands-on experience and uncertainty about college all contribute to this gap. Houston Methodist is uniquely positioned to change this trajectory through structured, early-introduction programs.

Philanthropic partners like Richard “Dick” Bergmark and his wife, Toni, amplify this impact. Dick’s enduring commitment to education — shaped by his understanding of barriers faced by students and inspired by the retirement of his longtime physician, Dr. Wade R. Rosenberg — led to conversations with Dr. A. Osama Gaber. Dr. Gaber, the John F., Jr. and Carolyn Bookout Presidential Distinguished Chair and chair of the Houston Methodist Department of Surgery, is also the founder of the Clinical and Surgical Opportunity Academy. Together, Dick and Dr. Gaber envisioned a meaningful, scalable way to cultivate the next generation of health care professionals, much like the Rosenberg Fellowship, which offers opportunities for college students to spend time with surgeons and deepen their interest in medical school and surgery.

To help ensure these programs reach their full potential, the Bergmarks made a gift that will establish the Bergmark Endowed Directorship in Clinical Education and Advancement. The directorship will enable Houston Methodist to recruit and retain a distinguished academic leader who will work to unify a sweeping educational mission — integrating curricula, securing resources, attracting faculty mentors and building strategic partnerships. By deepening relationships with schools in neighborhoods with limited resources, the endowment’s impact will also help remove barriers and expand the health care talent pool. “If you look at education across the Houston Methodist system, it’s more important to me to focus on the front end, the high schoolers and undergraduates, to show them what’s possible,” says Dick.

Initial funding is slated to accelerate the growth of the Clinical and Surgical Opportunity Academy, with future expansion extending across all early-introduction programs. Ultimately, the growth made possible through the Bergmarks’ foresight and Houston Methodist’s commitment will transform promising programs into lifechanging opportunities, preparing those who will guide the future. Trevor M. Burt, EdD, chief education officer and vice president of system education at the Houston Methodist Academic Institute, says, “The Bergmarks’ generosity will have a profound impact on Houston Methodist’s commitment to developing the next generation of health care talent for our community.”