DESTINATION KNOWN

Retired oilfield services businessman Terry Hall says he and his wife, Henri, travel quite a bit among their residences in New Mexico, Houston and Louisiana. But one thing keeps them coming back to Houston and inspired them to make a major gift to support its future: the quality health care they receive at Houston Methodist. Hall says he heard a myriad of praise about Houston Methodist for years. Then, saddled with a difficult-to-treat staph infection after undergoing an orthopedic surgery in Santa Fe, he reached out to some friends who arranged for him to come to Houston Methodist for treatment. Hall met orthopedic surgeon Dr. Shari Liberman after being admitted to the hospital. After several interactions and telling her he didn’t have a primary care physician, he recalls she offered to be his doctor. “We were getting older and realized we needed to have relationships with first-class health care providers,” says Hall. “Houston Methodist was the perfect fit.” When Henri jumped off her horse and broke her ankle, that new connection paved the way for her to meet Dr. Kevin Varner, chair of the department of orthopedic surgery, who oversaw her care and treatment.

AVID TRAVELERS SEEK CARE, MAKE ORTHOPEDICS GIFT IN HOUSTON

“We were very lucky that Houston Methodist opened these doors for us,” she says. “Had we not had this relationship, we would’ve been in a bind. I love the medical staff and all the people we’ve met there. It has been wonderful.” Their admiration led them to establish the Henrietta and Terence Hall Distinguished Centennial Chair in Orthopedic Surgery, a position held by Dr. Liberman. “It was out of gratitude and respect for the institution,” Terry says. “The quality of the care and the people and the systems seemed top-notch, and we wanted to support Houston Methodist.” The Halls’ endowment is a blended gift of current-use funds and planned giving. Terry says: “When considering giving through estate planning, if you’re blessed enough to have something to give, you wonder: ‘Where would my gift best be placed?’” Their answer was Houston Methodist. As the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program director and the department’s vice chair of education, Dr. Liberman says she uses proceeds from the endowment to teach residents and fellows how to be exceptional doctors and surgeons, take good care of patients and feel pride in their work. “The Halls are my heroes,” Dr. Liberman says. “They have been very generous. Their endowment will make this a top-tier place to train residents and fellows. Their gift will elevate our status in the world of orthopedics and help us continue to attract the best candidates to apply to our program.” Terry says he was surprised at the time to learn there was only one endowed chair in orthopedics, and he hopes others will consider endowing orthopedics chairs. “It’s a diverse department that treats more than just elbows, shoulders and hands,” he says. “There are a lot of places in this country where people don’t have access to a facility like Houston Methodist, and they need those of us who can to get behind it with our support.”

Terence and Henrietta Hall

Houston Texans Bolster Outreach Efforts to Student Athletes

In 2021, the Houston Texans Foundation generously committed to strengthen student athlete outreach programs with philanthropic funding for the next six years. These initiatives in partnership with Houston Methodist include:

• Houston Texans Scholars Program, which offers intensive training in advanced sports medicine for the best and brightest orthopedic surgeons

• Student physicals for young athletes at schools in and around Houston

• Concussion Center Community Outreach to educate the public about concussion prevention, awareness and treatment

• Houston Methodist Concussion Center’s Telemedicine and Virtual Care assessments for student athletes with concussions in rural areas, with advice on treatment and returning to play

• Houston Methodist Outreach Athletic Training Program provides education for athletic trainers and sports equipment for children and schools in need

This support from the Houston Texans Foundation allows us to continue to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of young athletes in rural areas for years to come.