News & Updates

HEARST FOUNDATION GRANT BOOSTS UROLOGY, BREAST CANCER EDUCATION

Houston Methodist’s Department of Urology and the Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center implemented effective multimedia outreach efforts this past year with generous grant funding from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

Houston Methodist is dedicated to making education and research accessible, and the high-quality series of videos shown on social media sites — including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn — were viewed by nearly 100,000 subscribers across the various channels.

Educational priorities for the videos include surgical training, patient education, expert overviews, and instructive lectures. More videos are planned for 2023.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Celebrates Bhalla Main Pavilion

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital renamed its main pavilion the Col. Raj and Kanwal Bhalla Main Pavilion in 2022 after a generous donation from longtime patients Col. Raj and Kanwal Bhalla. The two have been patients at the hospital since it opened in 1998.

“Kanwal and I have found the doctors and nurses extremely caring, courteous and professionally outstanding,” Col. Bhalla says. “We are thrilled to support this hospital and its work in caring for the community.”

The Bhallas’ unrestricted gift will be used to support various programmatic efforts across the hospital. “I am deeply grateful for the generosity of the Bhallas,” says Chris Siebenaler, CEO of Houston Methodist Sugar Land and regional senior vice president of Houston Methodist.

Katz Academy of Translational Research Symposium, Dinner Honors Investigators

Dr. Khurram Nasir, Dr. Trisha L. Roy, Evan Katz, Dr. Rodney J. Folz and Dr. Nestor F. Esnaola

The Houston Methodist Jerold B. Katz Academy of Translational Research, which seeks to recruit and retain the world’s most promising scientists in health care, celebrated four Katz Investigators at an inaugural symposium and dinner on November 3, 2022.

Dr. Nestor F. Esnaola (2019 appointee) is studying geographical areas served by the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center and analyzing racial and ethnic cancer health disparities in underserved communities.
Dr. Khurram Nasir (2019 appointee) is building a robust cardiovascular disease prevention and education program.

Dr. Trisha L. Roy (2020 appointee) is developing and studying the use of the most advanced imaging techniques to evaluate blood vessel blockages.
Dr. Rodney J. Folz (2021 appointee) will research asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the identification of biological markers that can help determine treatments.

Millican Gift to Houston Methodist Clear Lake Supports Scholars

The Monica and Larry Millican Education Endowment at Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital will be matched by the Inspire Fund Challenge, doubling the gift’s philanthropic impact.

The endowment supports education and training opportunities for Houston Methodist Clear Lake employees. These may include scholarships for employees in entry-level and midlevel positions as well as programs that foster a connection with the community to help cultivate a talent pool for careers in health care at Houston Methodist Clear Lake.

Scholarship recipients may use the funding to support their education costs, including tuition, books, lab fees, parking, transportation, and other course fees.

Wintermann Foundation Gift Benefits Nursing Education in Greater Houston Area

The David and Eula Wintermann Foundation made a generous gift to establish the Houston Methodist West Nursing Faculty Endowment at Houston Methodist West Hospital. The gift was matched dollar for dollar by the Inspire Fund Challenge.

The Wintermann Foundation’s important support will provide protected time for master’s-degreed nurses who wish to serve as adjunct faculty at area nursing schools. These adjunct professors will help cover a shortage in nursing faculty caused by budget constraints, an aging faculty, and increasing job competition from clinical sites, as noted in 2022 by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Nurse Amanda McElwee with Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital’s emergency department

Glasscock Foundation Funds Nursing Excellence at Houston Methodist Cypress

The Melbern G. and Susanne M. Glasscock Foundation made a generous commitment to establish the Crowning Achievement Awards for Excellence in Nursing at Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital. The endowed fund supports educational, training and research programs. The Crowning Achievement Awards provide nurses with the advanced tools and knowledge to deliver healing and comfort when patients need it most.

“Nurses are the lifeblood of our hospitals, and we are grateful for this support for their ongoing education in the latest techniques and practices,” says Dr. Marc L. Boom, Houston Methodist president and CEO.

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