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Patient Experience
a gift through the ages
Eric Brueggeman's gift carries forward a family tradition of giving back
The unique bond between grandmother and grandson transcends age, time and space. Blurring the lines of family structure, that intergenerational relationship is often founded on a distinct kind of forbearance and acceptance nurtured through common interests.
Such is the story of Eric Brueggeman and his beloved late grandmother, Janice Hood Barrow, who instilled in him a love of music and a passion for the impact of charitable giving. A founding member of Houston Methodist’s Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM), Barrow established the Janice H. Barrow Endowment for Artist Treatment, Research and Injury Prevention at CPAM for the orthopedic care of injured ballet dancers and other artists, in addition to her support of other specialties, such as cardiology and neurology — and specifically concussion care.
MUCH LIKE HIS GRANDMOTHER AND PARENTS, BRUEGGEMAN IS VERY PURPOSEFUL IN selecting THE INSTITUTIONS HE SUPPORTS
Upon his grandfather’s passing, Brueggeman became Barrow’s plus-one. Escorting his grandmother to special community events opened the door to a world of art and music, but more important, a culture of goodwill and philanthropy.
“I feel very blessed to have had a family and an upbringing that have afforded me a life in which I can do my part to benefit my city,” says Brueggeman. His parents, Barrow’s daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, Mark, impressed upon Eric and his siblings the value — indeed, the obligation — of paying forward their good fortune to effect positive change in their community.
Thus began Brueggeman’s foray into supporting causes important to him — music, the arts and medicine. Having suffered three concussions playing competitive sports in high school, he is a longtime supporter of concussion research. Of particular interest to Eric is the work of the team at the Houston Methodist Concussion Center, led by Kenneth Podell, PhD. Dr. Podell, a neuropsychologist and the John M. O’Quinn Centennial Chair in Concussion Research and Care, specializes in brain injury and disease, lending his expertise in sports concussion to several professional, college and high school athletic teams. Brueggeman’s own perspectives on the topic have contributed to Dr. Podell’s concussion research efforts.
As a proud seventh-generation Texan, legacy and heritage mean something special to Brueggeman. In the spirit of benevolence Barrow instilled in him, he committed a planned gift to Houston Methodist that will support concussion, behavioral health and CPAM to help those who will come after him.
Much like his grandmother and parents, Brueggeman is very purposeful in selecting the institutions he supports: “I want to anchor myself with the best nonprofit organizations Houston has to offer because I want to help make the city the best it can possibly be.”
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