Texas Exes Houston Chapter Honors Dr. Willerson
Dr. James T. Willerson with The University of Texas mascot Bevo.
On Saturday, April 25,
2009, the Texas Exes Houston Chapter honored Dr. James T. Willerson,
President and Medical Director of the Texas Heart Institute (THI), during its
Heart of Texas Excellence event. Proceeds from the evening were
directed to endowing the James T. Willerson, M.D. – Texas Exes Houston
Scholarship.
A specially prepared video featured Dr. Willerson's family,
colleagues, and patients to illustrate his contributions to medicine
and our local community, and his kindness and love for The University
of Texas. Dr. Willerson received a standing ovation as he shared
personal anecdotes and thanked the chapter and event attendees for
honoring him that evening.
The celebration, attended by a sold-out
crowd of 400 admirers and supporters, also featured KTRK-TV Channel 13
reporter Christi Myers as emcee and live entertainment by Grammy-winning country music artist Patty Loveless. Dr. Willerson was
presented with a Longhorn guitar signed and dedicated to him by Ms.
Loveless.
Attendees included State Representative Ellen Cohen; Harris
County Commissioner Jerry Eversole; former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier and
his wife and Texas Heart Institute Trustee, Elyse; and University
of Texas Regents, Janiece Longoria and James Dannenbaum.
Other Texas
Heart Institute representatives attending were THI Chairman
Meredith Long; and THI Trustees, David Carmichael, David Grimes, Jodie
Jiles, Kelli Kickerillo, and Roland Sledge; and THI physicians, Drs.
Ali Massumi and james M. Wilson. Dr. Denton A. Cooley, President Emeritus and Surgeon-in-Chief of THI, served on the event host committee.
