Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: Health Care

  • UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Dr. Helen Hobbs receives Harrington Prize

    UT Southwestern Medical Center geneticist Dr. Helen Hobbs is the 2018 recipient of the Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine for her discovery of a novel way to reduce cholesterol. Dr. Hobbs, Director of the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, Professor of Internal Medicine and Molecular Genetics, is the fifth recipient of the Harrington Prize and the first woman to be honored.

    The award is being presented to Dr. Hobbs, who is an Investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, for her discovery of the link between a mutation in the PCSK9 gene and low levels of cholesterol. Not only did her discovery lead to the swift development of a drug to lower refractory high cholesterol and thus prevent heart disease, but her research also changed the methodology used by many genetic researchers.

    A committee of members of the ASCI Council and the Harrington Discovery Institute Scientific Advisory Board reviewed nominations from leading academic medical centers from three countries before selecting Dr. Hobbs as the 2018 recipient. The prize carries an honorarium of $20,000. As the winner, Dr. Hobbs will present the 2018 Harrington Prize Lecture at the Harrington Discovery Institute in Cleveland on April 20, and an essay composed by Dr. Hobbs will be published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

    Previous awards recognizing Dr. Hobbs’ research include the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the 2015 Pearl Meister Greengard Prize, and the 2016 Passano Award.

    For the original press release, click here.

    ABOUT UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER

    UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 22 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 17 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The faculty of more than 2,700 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients, 600,000 emergency room cases, and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year. Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • Baylor University Medical Center’s oldest volunteer highlighted in WFAA feature

    Clarence Griffith, Baylor University Medical Center’s oldest volunteer, was featured in a WFAA story recently, where he shared why he continues to volunteer every week at the age of 105.

    Griffiths first came to Baylor University Medical Center as a patient, when he had triple bypass surgery at the age of 94, but has volunteered consistently with the organization for the past 10 years. He told WFAA that he started volunteering to help patients and comfort families after the death of his wife. He stated, “When you’re with people you’re not lonely.”

    Baylor University Medical Center thanked Griffiths for his 10 years of volunteer service by throwing him a 105th birthday party, where Baylor chaplain Mike Davis shared, “He’s a rock star when it comes to volunteering.”

    The organization shared this via its Facebook page:

    “This week we celebrated the 105th birthday of one of our most dedicated volunteers, Clarence Griffith! For the last 10 years, he’s selflessly given his time to support patients and families at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital. Wish Clarence a happy 105th birthday!”

    Read the full story here.

    *Photo courtesy of Baylor University Medical Center – Dallas Facebook Page

    ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

    Founded in 1903, Baylor University Medical Center was the first hospital of Baylor Scott & White Health – North Texas. As a not-for-profit hospital, we are devoted to serving everyone through exemplary health care, education, research, and community service. Our legacy of caring for the North Texas community is reflected in our accomplishm​ents in both healthcare and community ser​vice. Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Health to receive $1M from MMK Foundation

    The MMK Foundation, founded by Mark and Marcia King, has pledged $1 million to be split equally between Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center for the purpose of enhancing the pediatric hospital’s neonatal ICU, furthering groundbreaking research at UT Southwestern and providing unrestricted funds for the critical needs of children. The gift was announced via a press release.

    It is the largest gift ever made by the MMK Foundation, which was established in 2007 to effect positive, sustainable change in the lives of children, citizens and communities globally.

    “Providing these gifts fulfills our Foundation’s goals of addressing important issues that impact childhood development and the future of our community’s citizens,” said Mark King in a press release. “There is no better place to make an impact on a child than as a newborn in intensive care. Helping that child by helping him or her develop fully into a healthy adult is good for everyone.”

    Marcia King added: “And funding medical research is a solid investment in the future for us all. UT Southwestern physician-scientists are among the best in the world, and we are pleased to play a small part in helping them push their ideas to the next level.”

    “We are grateful that the Kings have made an even deeper commitment to helping us make life better for children,” said Brent Christopher, President of Children’s Medical Center Foundation. “Their desire to help our tiniest, most vulnerable patients is indicative of their Foundation’s mission to improve the lives of children everywhere. The impact of this gift will be felt for generations.”

    “Support from philanthropists like Mark and Marcia King is critical to advancing the most promising research to address the unmet needs of children, including chronic kidney disease and digestive diseases,” said Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern.

    ABOUT CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION

    Children’s Medical Center Foundation serves as the fundraising arm for Children’s HealthSM, the leading pediatric health system in North Texas. The Foundation works with individual donors, corporations and organizations to help the comprehensive team of physicians, scientists and medical professionals at Children’s Health fulfill its mission to make life better for children. Children’s Medical Center Foundation raises, manages and distributes funds to support Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Children’s Medical Center Plano, multiple specialty centers, Children’s Health Pediatric Group primary care practices, Our Children’s House rehabilitation facilities, home health, physician services, and the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern. For more information, please visit give.childrens.com.

    ABOUT UT SOUTHWESTERN

    UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 22 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 18 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators. The faculty of more than 2,700 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients, 600,000 emergency room cases, and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year. To learn more, visit utsouthwestern.edu.

    ABOUT MMK FOUNDATION

    The MMK Foundation is a private, nonprofit 501(c) foundation that provides donations and partners with other nonprofit organizations and causes to support initiatives that enhance the lives of children, citizens, and communities globally to achieve positive outcomes. The MMK Foundation’s efforts are focused on improving the lives of children through health, education and technology; helping individuals by providing necessary resources, skills and opportunities; and strengthening communities by responding in the time of extraordinary need and making investments and improvements in the environment and infrastructure. Based in Dallas, Texas, the MMK Foundation was established in 2007 by Mark and Marcia King. More information is available on the MMK Foundation at www.mmkfoundation.com.

  • Parkland Foundation recognizes 12 servant leaders through Community First Award

    Dallas’ Parkland Foundation has chosen 12 servant leaders who are making a difference in Dallas County to be honored with the Community First Award. The new award was created to shine a light on individuals who use their time and talent to help their neighbors in need.

    The individuals were announced via Parkland Foundation’s website on Feb. 26.

    “As the only public health system in Dallas County, the community is at the heart of everything we do at Parkland,” said David E. Krause, president and chief executive officer of the organization, in the announcement.

    The 2018 Community First Award recipients include:

    • Ashlie Alaman, counsel, Vistra Energy
    • Jayda Batchelder, founding executive director, Education Open Doors, Inc.
    • Lane Conner, founder and chief executive officer, Fuzse
    • Madhura Kulkarni, senior manager, global sustainability marketing, portfolio transformation, PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division
    • Loretta Landry, regional manager of child hunger outreach, Texas Hunger Initiative, Baylor University
    • Michael Laussade, partner, Jackson Walker LLP
    • Emily Ledet, senior vice president, private client manager, U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
    • Eric McConnell, principal, Sendero Consulting
    • Byron Sanders, president and chief executive officer, Big Thought
    • Jessica Smith, founder, Team Maddie
    • Staci Thetford, manager, Sendero Consulting
    • Jesse Trevino, senior business services coordinator, CBRE

    Throughout the year, recipients will attend a series of events to gain a better understanding about Parkland’s place in Dallas history, its responsibility as the only public health system in the county, cutting-edge discoveries developed at Parkland that transform healthcare around the globe, and how affordable, accessible preventive care is being delivered in every corner of the community.

    Parkland Foundation will begin accepting nominations for the 2019 class of recipients in fall 2018.

    To learn more about the Community First Award and the 2018 recipients, please visit: www.IStandforParkland.org/Community-First.

    ABOUT PARKLAND FOUNDATION

    Parkland Foundation is dedicated to securing substantial financial resources that advance the goals of Parkland Health & Hospital System. Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • Cattle Baron’s Ball Announces 2018 Date

    Dallas’ Cattle Baron’s Ball has revealed its 2018 date at a reveal party hosted by the event’s co-chairs, Jonika Nix and Katy Block (pictured above), according to a post on its Facebook page. 

    The 2018 Cattle Baron’s Ball will take place on Oct. 20. The event’s theme is “Sapphires & Spurs” and will be held at Gilley’s Dallas. The Ball will feature entertainment by Zac Brown Band and The Charlie Daniels Band.

    The American Cancer Society will be the beneficiary of the event.

    ABOUT THE CATTLE BARON’S BALL

    The Cattle Baron’s Ball relies on the spirit and generosity of the Metroplex to fund the fight against cancer. Since 1974, we’ve raised over $77 million for cancer research, the majority of which is conducted right here in DFW. True to Texas’ history of rising to the challenge, we’ve become the world’s largest single-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Find out more on the organization’s website.

    Image courtesy of Cattle Baron’s Ball Facebook Page.

  • Cook Children’s asks community to “Let Your Lights Shine Blue” Mar. 18-24

    Cook Children’s Health Care System is asking the community to join in its centennial year celebration during 2018 through a year-long series of commemorative events and activities.

    Cook Children’s was founded on March 21, 1918 after a baby had been abandoned at a local physician’s office. Fort Worth’s former postmistress Ida Turner ran into the physician carrying the baby and, after some investigation, found that there was no hospital in Fort Worth that would provide care for an abandoned child pro-bono. Turner was instrumental in opening the “Free Baby Hospital” just a few months later, and the rest is history.

    The organization is asking for supporters to be a part of the celebration and show their support for the kids Cook Children’s cares for by changing their porch lights or other outside lights to blue the week of its birthday, March 18-24. The organization shared this message:

    “During the week of March 18 – 24, we’re asking everyone who has been touched by Cook Children’s in the past 100 years to light the outside of their home up in our colors, blue and/or green. Whether it’s a porch light or a full on Christmas style display, we would love to see the impact Cook Children’s has on our community come to life visually. We’d also love to see photos/videos of the lights on social media using the hashtag #cook100years.”

    Find out more on the organization’s 100 Years Celebration webpage.

    ABOUT COOK CHILDREN’S

    Our not-for-profit organization is comprised of eight companies, including our Medical Center, Physician Network, Home Health Company, Northeast Hospital, Pediatric Surgery Center, Health Plan, Health Services Inc., and Health Foundation. With more than 60 primary, specialty and urgent care locations throughout Texas, families can access our top-ranked specialty programs and network of services to meet the unique needs of their child.

    Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • Legacy Senior Communities Announces Public Phase of Capital Campaign for Legacy Midtown Park

    Plano-based Legacy Senior Communities announced in a press release the kickoff of the public phase of its philanthropic capital campaign to build The Legacy Midtown Park, a new rental continuing care retirement community. The community is expected to begin construction in June and open in the fall of 2019.

    “Today’s seniors are living longer, and they deserve a community in Dallas where they can come together, worship together and surround themselves with the traditions and vibrant lifestyle they’re accustomed to living,” said Marion Glazer, co-chair of The Legacy Midtown Park capital campaign committee, in a press release.

    The Legacy Midtown Park will be a not-for-profit senior living community built on 10 acres in the Midtown Park development in North Dallas between Meadow Road and Royal Lane just off North Central Expressway. The community will be the only Jewish-sponsored rental retirement community in Dallas, but people of all faiths will live there. The community will serve a broad demographic of seniors and be a safety net that offers security and peace of mind.

    The community will have 184 independent living apartments and the highest quality of care in 50 assisted living apartments, 36 memory care suites, and 54 patient rooms for short-term rehabilitation or long-term care. In an urban setting with multiple dining options, a farm-to-table concept, cutting-edge programming and amenities around every corner, The Legacy Midtown Park will be a contemporary place for people to enjoy. The Legacy at Home, the organization’s not-for-profit home health care agency, will also provide home health care and personal care for residents if needed.

    For more information on the campaign, contact Andrea Statman, director of development for The Legacy Senior Communities, at 972-468-6161 or astatman@thelegacysc.org

    ABOUT THE LEGACY SENIOR COMMUNITIES

    The Legacy Senior Communities established a solid foundation of caring for seniors and their families 65 years ago. The organization currently serves seniors through The Legacy Willow Bend, Plano’s only not-for-profit life care retirement community, and The Legacy at Home, the largest not-for-profit home health care agency in Greater Dallas with Medicare-certified in-home health care, private duty nursing and personal assistance with daily living. The Legacy Midtown Park will help the organization better meet the needs of seniors in Dallas.

    For more information on The Legacy Willow Bend, visit www.thelegacyWB.org. For more information on The Legacy at Home, visit www.thelegacyathome.org. For more information on The Legacy Midtown Park services call (972) 468-6207.

  • Children’s Autoimmune Brain Disorder Association to Hold 5k Fundraiser

    Argyle-based Children’s Autoimmune Brain Disorder Association announced its first 5k Fundraiser to be held Feb. 10 in Highland Village.

    The run will raise funds for education and research for autoimmune brain disorders. A statement on the organization’s Facebook page says the event will be a “family-friendly fun run so children with autoimmune brain disorders can be diagnosed and treated promptly and once again lead healthy, productive lives!”

    To find out more or register for the event, click here.

    ABOUT CHILDREN’S AUTOIMMUNE BRAIN DISORDER ASSOCIATION

    Children’s Autoimmune Brain Disorder Association is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with autoimmune brain disorders through awareness, research, education and support. Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation Debuts Casual Friday Fundraising Program

    Dallas-based TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation recently created the Donate for Denim program that creates an opportunity for corporate employees to wear jeans to work for a good cause.

    The program allows employees to wear jeans to the office on Fridays when they make a donation of $5 or more to the organization.

    “This is a great program for companies that are looking for unique opportunities to involve their employees in philanthropic efforts without asking for large donations or a significant investment of time,” said Kathryn Copple, executive director of TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation in a press release. “Donate for Denim combines the trend of relaxing dress codes with a great cause, childhood cancer, and gives the employees freedom to work in comfort.”

    Dallas’ Northwestern Mutual joined the program last year, raising more than $1,500 in one corner for TeamConner, according to a press release.

    Companies looking to join the Donate for Denim program can find out more by emailing info@teamconnor.org

    ABOUT TEAMCONNOR CHILDHOOD CANCER FOUNDATION

    The TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation mission is to raise funds for national childhood cancer research programs, to build awareness that less than 4% of the NIH’s annual funding supports childhood cancer research, and to support inpatient programs.

    Connor was just a normal little boy when he was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma on May 15, 2005. Connor lost his four-year battle with cancer on July 10, 2009; but, TeamConnor continues to fight on in honor of Connor Cruse. TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation was founded as a non-profit 501(c)(3) by Connor’s mother, Joy Cruse, and shortly thereafter the first board of directors was established. Since TeamConnor’s inception in late 2008, the organization has donated more than $2 million to hospitals and research facilities around the country.

    Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • The Ruth Cheatham Foundation Announces First Annual Gala and Fundraiser to Support Adolescent Cancer Patients

    The newly launched Ruth Cheatham Foundation announced that the date of its first annual gala will be Friday, May 11. The Gala will be held in Dallas, TX at the Omni Dallas Hotel at 6:00PM.

    The event will include a silent auction provided by its corporate partners, dinner and drinks, musical performance by the Turtle Creek Chorale, presentations by celebrity speakers and much more. This year’s celebrity speakers, who are volunteering their time to be there, are: five-time Olympic medalist, Nastia Liukin and Emmy-nominated television host, Amy Vanderoef.

    Corporate sponsorships, group packages, VIP and individual tickets are available for purchase today on www.ruthcheathamfoundation.org/gala. They expect to continue to announce details of the night and its program in the coming months.

    ABOUT THE RUTH CHEATHAM FOUNDATION

    The Ruth Cheatham Foundation champions adolescents in their fight against cancer, while inspiring hope and providing resources for survivors to excel throughout their lifetime.

    Founded in 2016 to honor Ruth Cheatham, a remarkable woman who fearlessly fought cancer for over ten years. Ruth was an inspiration and mentor to many youth in North Texas. So in keeping with her fire and spirit, The Ruth Cheatham Foundation was established to give support and a voice to teens with cancer.

    Find out more on the organization’s website.