RELIABLE RESOURCES

COUPLE AIMS TO EXPAND HOUSTON METHODIST’S INTERNET PRESENCE FOR PATIENT, PHYSICIAN BENEFIT

When people receive a life-changing diagnosis — or any medical news — they want to learn more about their ailments and determine their treatment options. To find this information, most people turn to a convenient source: the internet. In the minds of Ben and Wendy Moreland, those researching a condition should have the ability to access informative videos from the experts at Houston Methodist. “Right now, quality health care content on the internet comes from the Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic. Why can’t it come from Houston Methodist?” asks Ben Moreland, a member on the Houston Methodist Urology Task Force. To that end, the Morelands established the Moreland Education Programs in Urology and Breast Cancer. The programs serve a dual purpose: supply reliable health care content to all internet users and provide continuing training opportunities to health care professionals. Physicians and researchers in both urology and breast cancer will have the chance to create videos on dedicated YouTube channels. Ben Moreland envisions some of these videos as existing content, such as speeches or lectures, that are repurposed and uploaded to YouTube. These videos also may help boost the national profile of Houston Methodist and serve as an investment in the independent academic medical center’s reputation, according to the Morelands. Since other nationally recognized peer medical institutions have their own videos and channels that show up on search results, Houston Methodist’s increased internet presence will expand its reach. “Houston Methodist is a top-tier institution, and we’re trying to serve the city and the state even more than what we’ve done before,” says Ben Moreland, who also serves on the Houston Methodist Board of Directors and the Houston Methodist Academic Institute Board.

“One of the ways to do that is to have a larger presence on the internet, specifically around patient education, so people can be exposed to what Houston Methodist has to offer.”

The educational aspect of these videos — both in terms of informing the public and allowing physicians to access peer-to-peer resources — appealed to the Morelands.

“Ben and I have used education as one of the founding pillars of our giving,” says Wendy Moreland, who is also a member of the Houston Methodist Urology Task Force. “These programs fell right into that category because they educate those searching for information and those looking for ways to stay updated on the latest medical advances.” The Morelands’ commitment also includes a matching aspect. Benefactors interested in extending Houston Methodist’s expertise to avid Googlers can make a gift, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar. It doubles the gift’s impact. “I think it’s compelling for a donor to realize that someone else has already matched their gift,” says Ben Moreland. “If they put up $100 and know someone is going to match that $100, that’s inspiring.” As part of their 2021 commitment, the Morelands also established the Ben and Wendy Moreland Distinguished Chair in Urology. The chair will help attract and retain the best talent, the couple shares. For the Morelands, the gift acts as another way to serve their community. “It’s a little bit of walking around money for the department to use to drive their mission,” says Ben Moreland. “The leaders in the Department of Urology can help bring in the best people to help care for those in Houston and beyond. It’s a thank you to them.”