Baylor Reunion celebrates enduring impact of alumni
Over 160 Baylor College of Medicine alumni, leadership and guests gathered in person, April 3-5, for three unforgettable days of reconnecting and reminiscing at the 2024 Alumni Reunion. Held at Hotel ZaZa – Houston Museum District, the event celebrated the milestone classes of ’64, ’74, ’79, ’84, ’89, ’94, ’99 and ’14.
during the Welcome Reception
As part of the Reunion programming, Paul Klotman, M.D., president, CEO and executive dean, delivered remarks recounting Baylor’s major accomplishments in the last year, including the May 2023 opening of the Baylor St. Luke’s O’Quinn Medical Tower on the McNair Campus, the launch of the new School of Medicine curriculum, the opening of Baylor’s first regional School of Medicine campus in Temple, TX, and a very successful Match Day 2024. He also shared the College’s future plans for the Lillie and Roy Cullen Tower, which will be the new home for the schools of Health Professions and Medicine when it opens in 2026, and Baylor’s role as the anchor tenant for the Dynamic One Building, opening in the fall of 2024 in the Texas Medical Center Helix Park development.
Additional programming included a presentation by Vamshi Punugoti, M.S., executive director of Research and Data at Baylor, who explored the topic of “Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and at Baylor,” touching on how to best balance the potential benefits and drawbacks of incorporating artificial intelligence into medical care.
Pavan Reddy, M.D., director and professor of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, gave a presentation on how Baylor is addressing cancer care disparities to deliver life-saving cancer treatments to patients, regardless of socioeconomic position.
During the Keynote Luncheon, “Leading Transformational Global Health Through Public Private Partnerships,” alumni heard the inspirational story of how Baylor, in partnership with Texas Children’s Hospital, Bristol Meyers Squibb Foundation and the Government of Botswana, helped Botswana to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
A Student Research Poster Session featured an impressive array of Baylor students presenting their insightful research projects, and attendees also had an opportunity to participate in a campus tour, which focused on the legendary Human Genome Sequencing Center and the Michael E. DeBakey Library and Museum. An Alumni Reception provided a fitting conclusion to a full and rewarding day.
On Friday, Baylor’s Ricardo Nuila, M.D. ’06, associate professor, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, and director, Humanities Expression and Arts Lab, read from his book, “The People’s Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine.” In this work, Dr. Nuila uses his experiences as a hospitalist at Harris Health’s Ben Taub Hospital to explore the challenges and triumphs of delivering healthcare to underserved, uninsured Houstonians.
“I have been to many reunions over the years, and this was the best,” said Ray Rhodes, Jr., M.D. ‘74. “All of the speakers were fascinating and outstanding, the tour of the TMC campus was amazing – the transformation over the past few years is just incredible. And it was nice to have Dr. Klotman at so many of the events and hear his perspective.”
Ever mindful of the next generation, many 2024 Alumni Reunion attendees joined other fellow alumni and Baylor supporters to help raise over $87,000 to date toward a $100,000 goal, and gifts up to $150,000 will be matched by the John P. McGovern Foundation in support of scholarships for Baylor students. If you’d like to join them in support of this goal, please click here.
To see more pictures from the Reunion and to stay connected with Baylor alumni and news, visit Alumni Connect.