C3 CHAIRS

C3 Chairs

About Centennial Chairs A $101 million gift from Paula and Rusty Walter in 2017 recognized Houston Methodist’s century of service. This transformational gift became a central part of the Leading Medicine to the Power of M: Campaign for Our Second Century. A portion of the philanthropic commitment created the Walter Centennial Chair Challenge (C³) that helps support, recruit and retain the most brilliant physicians and scientists in the world. The C³ challenge contributed a $500,000 match toward a total of 54 new endowments of $1 million or more to establish an endowed chair. The endowed chairs are awarded to Houston Methodist’s most prestigious scientists and clinical faculty. The chairs also provide financial support for research, teaching and clinical care programs. By the end of 2020, the Walter Centennial Chair Challenge helped bring the total number of chairs to 110 — surpassing the goal of having 100 endowed chairs by Houston Methodist’s 100-year anniversary.

Judith Helmle Shaw and Roy Gordon Shaw Jr. Centennial Chair in Urology

Supporters: JUDITH HELMLE SHAW AND ROY GORDON SHAW JR.

This is the first chair established by Judith Helmle Shaw and Roy Gordon Shaw Jr. and was the second endowed chair established in support of the Houston Methodist Department of Urology. This commitment will help recruit and retain a leader in the Department of Urology. The Shaws are Lifetime Members of The Society for Leading Medicine and have previously supported Dr. Brian J. Miles’ prostate cancer research. One of the Department of Urology’s founding faculty members, Dr. Miles also established the Men’s Health Center at Houston Methodist. The Department of Urology offers cutting-edge urological treatments and advanced research — delivering care in a compassionate, patient-focused environment. Urology specialists have access to the latest technology, which allows them to provide minimally invasive surgical options — including robotic surgery — to treat urinary tract conditions such as urinary incontinence and urologic cancers when needed.

Dr. and Mrs. Alan L. Kaplan Centennial Chair in Cellular Therapeutics and Organ Bioengineering

Supporters: ANONYMOUS

Established with an anonymous gift, this Centennial Chair is named after Dr. Alan L. Kaplan and his wife Cissie, who are longtime benefactors of Houston Methodist. This gift honors innovative philanthropists, Cissie and Alan, who themselves established funds in obstetrics and gynecology, cancer and cardiology. The Dr. and Mrs. Alan L. Kaplan Centennial Chair in Cellular Therapeutics and Organ Bioengineering will support organ rejuvenation and restoration research in the Houston Methodist Department of Surgery. This chair will support the Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center’s goal of making organ transplants obsolete by restoring diseased or damaged organs to full health using precision, regenerative and restorative medicine. The anonymous supporter also has contributed to obstetrics and gynecology, neurological restoration, cancer and transplant medicine.

Everett E. and Randee K. Bernal Centennial Chair for the Neurological Institute

Supporters: EVERETT E. AND RANDEE K. BERNAL

This Centennial Chair was established by Everett E. and Randee K. Bernal to support an endowed position in the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute. The Bernals are Lifetime Members of The Society for Leading Medicine and serve on the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute National Council. They are also dedicated neurosurgery research supporters, establishing the Regenerative and Restorative Neurosurgery Fund. Additionally, the couple made contributions to the Collaboration Fund for Schizophrenia Research and Spark Grant gifts to Dr. Philip Horner’s laboratory and cancer immunotherapy research. They are Translational Research Initiative (TRI I and TRI II) Founding Members. The couple supported continuing education for nurses through the Randee and Everett Bernal Nursing Education Endowment.

Selected Additional Centennial Chairs Created in 2020

St. Francis of Assisi Centennial Chair in Immunology (see page 44) Cynthia Pickett-Stevenson and Donald E. Stevenson Chair in Health & Nature in honor of Dr. Robert E. Jackson (see page 42)