Honoring leadership and celebrating friendship, James Swanson’s support of Baylor
When Baylor College of Medicine announced the creation of the Klotman Innovation Fund—established to honor President, CEO and Executive Dean Paul Klotman, M.D., who will retire in June 2026—Baylor Board of Advisors Member James Swanson did not hesitate to lend his support. For Mr. Swanson, the Fund represents both a bold investment in Baylor’s future and a deeply personal acknowledgment of a leader he has come to admire as both a peer and a friend.
Mr. Swanson, a partner of Fishman Haygood and chairman of its governing board, first met Dr. Klotman nearly two decades ago, when he represented Baylor during a complex legal matter. Working side-by-side, they forged a mutual respect that grew into an easy camaraderie, built on trading professional advice as much as a shared appreciation for good food. Despite being based in New Orleans, Mr. Swanson spent many memorable evenings in Houston, often to learn about the work of Baylor researchers and physicians, which deepened his appreciation for the world-class research and patient care that Dr. Klotman was working to strengthen and elevate. His admiration for Baylor led him to join the Board of Advisors in 2023.
“He’s the best leader I’ve ever worked with,” Mr. Swanson said. “He meets you where you are. He has a formidable intellect and a great sense of humor. He puts people at ease, relates to anyone and engages with any topic in a constructive, transparent way. I always find him to be very willing to listen to new ideas and think about how they could be implemented.”
As Baylor marks 125 years of achievement, Mr. Swanson sees the Klotman Innovation Fund as a fitting tribute to its namesake—a way to preserve the Institution’s innovative leadership by empowering Baylor’s president with the flexibility to boldly invest in ideas that don’t usually receive traditional funding but have the power to transform healthcare. In short, the endowed Fund affords Dr. Klotman and future presidents a streamlined way to implement an ingenious idea.
For Mr. Swanson, supporting the Fund is both a gesture of gratitude and a vote of confidence.
“I’m very happy to help honor Dr. Klotman’s service and legacy,” he said. “I know the Fund will make a meaningful impact.”
Thanks to supporters like Mr. Swanson, Dr. Klotman’s contributions will be transformed into a vehicle that fuels innovation, drives discovery and helps create tomorrow’s medicine, today.
To support the Klotman Innovation Fund, click here.
