Message From the Chief Executive Officer

Any accomplishment requires passion, dedication and perseverance. In this issue of the journal, we’re pleased to recognize eight individuals whose accomplishments stand out from the crowd.

Among them is our chief medical officer Gerard Francisco, MD, who has devoted nearly two decades to improving the care we provide at our institution and advancing research and education at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. In October, Dr. Francisco was recognized with the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s Distinguished Member Award, which honors AAPMR members who have provided invaluable service to our specialty through contributions to PM&R-related organizations.

This year four physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists received McGovern Medical School Dean’s Teaching Awards, an annual recognition presented to faculty for outstanding teaching performance. Joel Frontera, MD; Jacob Joseph, MD; Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD; and Judy Thomas, M.D., were recognized for inciting intellectual curiosity in their students, engaging them in the learning process and helping them develop lifelong skills.

In April, occupational therapist Sarah Cupit, OTR, MOT, winner of the 2014 Mary Joyce Newsom Award at Texas Woman’s University (TWU), delivered the annual lecture to occupational therapy students at the university’s Houston Center and presented the 2015 award. Sarah and other new graduates who already have been recognized at the top of their fields help sustain TIRR Memorial Hermann’s legacy of clinical, research and teaching excellence.

In this issue we also recognize the work of two former patients who are championing the cause of people with disabilities: James Durham III, who founded TBI One Love to “end the silence of TBI” and offer a forum for others recovering from TBI to share their stories, and Jason Roy, who launched the Zero 2 a Hundred Foundation to support children and young adults with spinal cord and/or brain injuries.

Leaving a legacy is often associated with putting the needs of others before our own and, in so doing, creating lasting positive change. Our affiliated physicians, staff members and patients are paying it forward, using their accomplishments as a springboard to bigger and better things and creating a lasting legacy that will benefit others and generations to come.

TIRR Memorial Hermann, a leader in rehabilitation medicine, does more than provide therapy. We provide rehabilitation beyond the health care setting for children and adults with a disabling injury or illness, and change lives by helping people regain the skills and confidence they need to reintegrate into the community and continue living full and meaningful lives. Our highly trained rehabilitation teams see the potential in every person they work with, and develop that potential to the fullest through customized goal setting and treatment planning.

We work to maximize independence, restore function and improve the quality of life for our patients. To achieve these goals, we put the individual patient and family at the center of the rehabilitation team and provide them with the information and skills they need to transition successfully to community settings. Simply put, we’re the best at getting you back to the life you love.

TIRR Memorial Hermann is the best rehabilitation hospital in Texas and the second best in the United States, according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital rankings for 2015-2016. The rehabilitation hospital’s ascent to the No. 2 spot marks its 26th consecutive year among the magazine’s Best Hospital rankings.

Carl E. Josehart
Chief Executive Officer
TIRR Memorial Hermann
System Executive for Rehabilitation Services
Memorial Hermann Health System