OUT OF MaNY, One Houston Methodist

Hometown pride in Houston encompasses much more than just the city itself. From Cypress to Sugar Land and Clear Lake to The Woodlands, each region of Greater Houston is a reflection of the vibrant community that calls it home. While Houston Methodist Hospital has stood as a flagship institution in the internationally renowned Texas Medical Center since 1951, the need for premier healthcare across the nation’s fourth-largest city has boomed alongside its population.

In response, Houston Methodist’s trusted system of network hospitals today brings foremost medical expertise and groundbreaking research directly into patients’ neighborhoods. Together, these seven acute care network hospitals pair with a long-term acute care campus to operate as sites for Houston Methodist’s nationally regarded centers of excellence. This means patients in every corner of Houston benefit from first-rate experience in cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological and orthopedic medicine — extending the range of leading research, clinical trial access and novel treatment options.

“Houston is such a big place that each of our network hospitals serves a community with its own unique demographics,” says Chris Siebenaler, executive vice president of network hospitals at Houston Methodist. “It’s essential for us to take into consideration the specific health needs of our local populations, which is why each hospital’s board of trustees includes leaders who are members of those communities.”

One such community member is Dr. Sippi K. Khurana, who serves on the board of both Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital and the Houston Methodist Academic Institute. Dr. Khurana and her husband, Ajay, recently made a gift to establish the first endowed position at a Houston Methodist network location: the Sippi and Ajay Khurana Endowed Directorship in Neurosurgery at Houston Methodist Willowbrook. “The Khurana family has been tremendously generous in supporting stroke and neurological care in Northwest Houston,” Siebenaler notes. “Their most recent investment will provide permanent backing to a specialist who will fulfill their vision of advancing stroke care in their community.”

It is a similar love of community that inspired Margret and Mike Wilson. Margret regularly brings her therapy dog, Raylan, to visit patients and staff at Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital as a volunteer with Faithful Friends Animal-Assisted Therapy. After many years of receiving exceptional medical care, volunteering and building relationships there, the Wilsons decided to include the hospital in their estate planning. Their bequest will be dedicated to an Excellence Endowed Fund for Houston Methodist Clear Lake, which will support the hospital’s strategic priorities as a permanent philanthropic resource.

The quality of Houston Methodist’s network hospitals was a driving force behind Dr. Subodh and Leela Debnath’s latest commitment. Motivated by gratitude for the outstanding care their family received, they chose to support the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Cancer Fund. Their dedication to ensuring others in Sugar Land continue to receive leading oncology services will be recognized through the naming of the Debnath Breast Care Center at Houston Methodist Sugar Land.

In partnership with the city’s diverse communities — and its visionary philanthropists — Houston Methodist shares a commitment to provide the 8 million residents of Greater Houston with the same world-class service offered in the Texas Medical Center. “All of our hospitals have an awareness, sensitivity and passion at the local level and are focused on improving access to unrivaled care,” concludes Siebenaler. “That is the core of our institution — no matter where you go, we are truly one Houston Methodist.”