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CHRISTIAN MESSA Houston physician contributes $5 million to support endeavors that foster compassionate care Dr. John McGovern’s commitment will create scholarships, awards that recognize compassionate ideals GALVESTON, Texas — Houston physician John P. McGovern has contributed an additional $5 million to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to bolster the academic health center’s commitment to humane, patient-centered care. Of that commitment, $2 million will fund endowments for two more William Osler Scholar positions in UTMB’s John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine, increasing the total number of scholars to eight. McGovern established the academy in 2001 by giving $5 million to create endowments for five 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. He added another Osler Scholar endowment to the academy in 2003. 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 the practice of medicine. Income from the Osler Scholars’ endowed positions supports them as they work to integrate Osler’s influence throughout the university, whether through individual projects to promote Oslerian ideals, teaching electives in Oslerian medicine, conferring student essay awards and scholarships, or annually bestowing the John P. McGovern, M.D., Award in Oslerian Medicine — a career achievement award — to a faculty member. Every two months, the scholars also host a campuswide meeting of the university’s Osler Club, featuring a presentation and discussion related to Osler’s teachings. McGovern’s latest contribution to UTMB includes $1.5 million for six additional Osler Student Scholarships, which are awarded to medical students who exemplify the renowned physician’s compassionate ideals. The prestigious scholarship provides an annual $10,000 stipend for the rest of the student’s expected medical school career. McGovern originally established the first six Osler Student Scholarships in 2003, which are bestowed to two students of each second-year, third-year and fourth-year medical school class. An additional $1.5 million will be used to promote the practice and teaching of humane, patient-centered care. Some of that commitment is reserved for Excellence in Bedside Teaching awards, annual prizes that recognize UTMB faculty who epitomize excellence in this form of education. Osler returned bedside teaching to prominence after 19th-century medical education had become dominated by lectures and laboratory work. McGovern’s overall contribution will augment UTMB’s efforts to foster caring relationships between physicians and their patients. Prior to McGovern’s establishment of the Academy of Oslerian Medicine, the academic health center was already engaged in a variety of patient-centered educational initiatives. The Integrated Medical Curriculum, for example, directly relates science learned in the classroom to medicine as it is practiced in the clinic. The program also trains students in the human dimension of care in the first week of medical school. Dr. John D. Stobo, UTMB president, lauded McGovern’s commitment to compassionate care. “Dr. McGovern’s vision is helping us ensure that future generations of physicians will be trained to treat their patients with the utmost care and respect,” Stobo said. “We are truly fortunate to have him as a staunch supporter of Oslerian principles in the teaching and practice of medicine as well as one of the university’s most committed benefactors.” McGovern became the principal founder of the American Osler Society in 1969 after noticing that medical schools across the country were becoming heavily focused on research. While he appreciates the importance of medical science, McGovern said that teaching students how to develop caring relationships with patients was equally important. McGovern has generously contributed nearly $14 million to UTMB programs over the last 30 years. He is founder 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 among all medical schools in the South. UTMB |
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