Forging International Relationships
News of Note (November 14, 2008) — On August 12, 2008, just after Dr. James T. Willerson assumed the position of President of the Texas Heart Institute (THI), he crafted a document entitled, “Looking Forward” (see
UPDATE newsletter). He articulated his vision for the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital (SLEH), including the importance of serving as an institution without walls or boundaries, not only in the Texas Medical Center, but around the world as well.
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Visitors from Nanjing (top) and Shanghai (bottom), China
meet with Dr. Willerson at Texas Heart Institute. |
Dr. Willerson believes that there are three parts of the world that are particularly important in terms of growth and opportunity for sharing our expertise, for training health professionals and for expanding the scope of research. Those areas are the Middle East, China and Mexico.
Over the summer, Dr. Willerson traveled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai, China; and Mexico City, Mexico. In China, he was joined by THI cardiovascular surgeon William Cohn, M.D., and Irene Helsinger of SLEH’s Administration. Warren Whitehead of SLEH’s International Services accompanied him to Abu Dhabi.
They met with members of royal families, high ranking government officials, medical leaders, and influential individuals interested in improving health care in their countries. All were interested in collaboration, ranging from the development of a medical village, similar to the Texas Medical Center, to the establishment of heart institutes that would bear the Texas Heart Institute name.
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Drs. Bud Frazier and Billy Cohn receive
mementos from Nanjing, China. |
In October, representatives from hospitals in Shanghai and Nanjing visited the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital to meet with medical and administrative leaders and to explore opportunities for working together. Memorandums of Understanding were signed to help facilitate continuing discussions.
Dr. Willerson believes strongly that forging new international relationships will provide the foundation for a larger engagement in teaching and research and expand the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital’s impact and reputation.
For Texas Heart Institute media profiles, see Public Affairs.
