The John P. McGovern Foundation recently contributed $2.5 million to UTMB to increase the number of endowments it awards to UTMB physicians who provide highly compassionate care, teach medical students to do likewise, and serve as role models for their peers. The McGovern Foundation grant will also establish a new scholarship category for medical students who emulate such physicians.
In 2001, Houston physician John McGovern gave $5 million to the university to create endowments for five William Osler Scholars—practicing faculty physicians who were selected for their devotion to the art of compassionate care and for excelling as role models for students and other physicians. Sir William Osler (1849-1919) was a Canadian doctor who pioneered many innovative approaches to teaching clinical medicine, most notably championing the cause of patient-centered medicine. He also instituted the modern medical residency program and the practice of bedside teaching for medical students. Above all, Osler stressed the importance of caring and having strong ethical principles in becoming a physician.
McGovern's recent contributions to UTMB resulted from his observations of the growing emphasis on medical technology and research at medical schools across the country. While medical science is essential to health care, McGovern has said its prominence in classrooms has downplayed the importance of developing caring relationships between physicians and patients.
McGovern's latest grant will provide $1 million to create an endowment for a sixth Osler Scholar. Together, the Osler Scholars make up the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine. Income from the endowments helps fund activities related to promoting and advancing the concepts of Oslerian medicine.
Two new scholars will join the academy next year--the holder of the sixth endowment and another to replace Dr. Francis B. Quinn Jr., who will be concluding his membership in the academy. One Osler Scholar rotates off the academy every two years to give other physicians the chance to participate. The names of the two new Osler Scholars will be announced during an Oct. 3 faculty awards luncheon.
In addition to bolstering the Osler Scholars, McGovern's contribution will establish an endowment to support the Osler Students, medical students who demonstrate Osler's compassionate ideals. The endowment will fund activities to help integrate these students into the McGovern Academy, such as discussions with the Osler Scholars about patient-centered medicine.
McGovern said he has been encouraged by the positive effect the Osler Scholars have had on education at UTMB.
"I'm very pleased with the way in which UTMB has integrated Sir William Osler's ideals of humane medicine into the curriculum," said McGovern, a longstanding supporter of the university. "As far as I know, no other medical school in the country has been doing as much with Oslerian teaching as UTMB has over the last two years."
President John D. Stobo said McGovern's latest contribution would reinforce the university's commitment to teaching compassionate and patient-centered care.
"Dr. McGovern's enduring confidence is allowing us to thoroughly incorporate Sir William Osler's ideals into UTMB's culture and curriculum," Stobo said. "His vision is helping us ensure that future generations of physicians will be trained to treat their patients with the utmost care and respect."
Stobo held the Sir William Osler Professorship in Medicine at Johns Hopkins University immediately before becoming UTMB president in 1997. He met McGovern shortly after arriving at UTMB and quickly discovered that both he and McGovern admired Osler and his principles. Stobo instituted an Osler Scholars program at Johns Hopkins, one of two American universities where Osler served on the medical faculty, while McGovern co-founded the American Osler Society in 1969.
A generous UTMB supporter, McGovern is founder emeritus of the McGovern Allergy Clinic, which he established in 1956 in Houston. It rapidly grew to become the nation's largest in that specialty. In 1957, he founded the fellowship program in allergy and immunology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, the first in Texas and the second in all medical schools south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
In 1961, McGovern established the Texas Allergy Research Foundation, which later became the John P. McGovern Foundation. Today, the foundation is the 10th largest in Houston and has supported various health and cultural organizations.