Baylor Alumni gather for Alumni Reunion 2026
From April 24-26, over 380 Baylor College of Medicine alumni, leadership, staff and guests gathered in person for a weekend full of connection and community at the 2026 Alumni Reunion. Over the weekend, Baylor celebrated its alumni—specifically the milestone classes ending in ’1s and ’6s—at Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District. The College also held the inaugural Luminaries Reception to commemorate the first inductees into the Luminaries Society.
Reunion began with a warm and inviting Welcome Reception on Friday evening to greet returning alumni and their guests. Senior Director of Alumni Affairs Annie Torres welcomed alumni and congratulated new members of the Luminaries Society, which Baylor created to honor the contributions of and preserve its connection with alumni who have celebrated their 40th anniversary of graduating from the College.
“The Luminaries Society exists because Baylor believes your legacy never retires and deserves a place of honor,” said Ms. Torres. “You are the living proof of your years of experience. The students and trainees walking through the halls today will become the healthcare leaders they’re meant to be, in part, because of what you’re willing to share.”
On Saturday morning, Reunion kicked off with a fireside chat between Baylor President, CEO and Executive Dean Paul Klotman, M.D., and Kelly Hackett, co-chair and executive committee member of Baylor’s Board of Advisors. Dr. Klotman reminisced about his tenure at the College, from managing the early days to seeing how far the College has come, to reflecting on the challenges he helped Baylor navigate (including but not limited to several hurricanes, floods and a global pandemic), to the accomplishments of which he is personally proud, such as democratizing expensive lab equipment in the College’s technology cores.
When reflecting on his leadership philosophy, he emphasized transparency and sustainability.
“I’ve always been transparent,” said Dr. Klotman. “I want to show people the numbers, and I’ve never tried to hide anything from anyone. You want Baylor to be great with you and without you—so no one becomes the key‑man risk of the organization.”
The address was followed by a fascinating presentation on Baylor’s technology commercialization titled “Advancing Health Through Innovation,” presented by Joseph Petrosino, Ph.D. ’98, Fel. ʼ02, Chief Scientific Innovation Officer, and Livia S. Eberlin, Ph.D., professor and vice chair for Research in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery. Dr. Petrosino explained the inner workings of Baylor’s Innovation Institute and how it helps drive innovation and bring groundbreaking advancements to the market. Dr. Eberlin, a stunning example of the Institute’s success, presented her game-changing work with the MasSpec Pen and how she has adapted this technology for use in breast cancer surgeries.
The Keynote Luncheon, a Reunion highlight each year, focused on one of Baylor’s most important priorities: advancing the vision of the Institute for Brain Health—an initiative that can be realized with the power of philanthropy. Serving as panel experts were Wayne Goodman, M.D., professor and chair of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Sameer Sheth, M.D., Ph.D., professor and vice chair of Research in the Department of Neurosurgery; and Josh Shulman, M.D., Ph.D., professor, Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Molecular and Human Genetics. Ganesh Rao, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, served as the panel moderator.
“The problems that can be solved within single disciplines have been solved,” said Dr. Shulman. “What remains are the problems that require neurologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, scientists and engineers working together. That’s exactly why Baylor is focused on ensuring we advance the Institute for Brain Health at Baylor—to bring all the neuro disciplines together as well as leverage all of Baylor’s strengths.”
Saturday’s programming also featured the always-popular Student Poster Session, which featured an outstanding selection of student research projects. The winners were Diego Quirarte, M.D. candidate ’27, in first place, Vikram Shaw, M.D. candidate ’27, in second place and Yannie Guo, M.D. candidate ’27, in third place.
“The alumni and faculty who attend reunion provide such a rich environment that I’m really able to connect with, and it gives me the opportunity to share my research and my journey in medicine,” said Ms. Guo. “I’m really quite grateful for this privilege to attend an event like Alumni Reunion.”
Rounding out Saturday’s programming was a highly anticipated bus tour of Main Campus and Helix Park, including the soon-to-open Lillie and Roy Cullen Tower, which will house the students from the Schools of Medicine and Health Professions in January 2027. Private Class Receptions were held for each of the milestone classes, providing additional time for former classmates to mingle and reminisce.
Reunion concluded on Sunday morning with breakfast and engaging conversation with Rola El-Serag, M.D., Res. ‘02, medical director of Concierge Services at Baylor. Dr. El-Serag explored healthy aging across the lifespan and showcased how Baylor is shaping the future of research and care to promote healthier lives for generations to come.
Several 2026 Alumni Reunion attendees, along with other Baylor supporters, helped raise over $76,000 and counting for scholarships for Baylor students. Baylor is grateful to everyone who generously contributed to this vital initiative.
If you would like to support Baylor students, please visit these links: School of Medicine, School of Health Professions and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
