From classroom to career
In this issue
Beloved obstetrician Dr. Gunby retires
Having a heart for heart care
Mother-daughter dynamic duo
Physician profile: Jeffrey Kopita, MD
Caring for the future
Letter from the President
In my role, I have the privilege of visiting with donors and families across North Texas and hearing their stories—what brought them to Baylor Scott & White, and why they choose to give back. These stories often begin the same way: with a physician who made a lasting impression.
For many in our community, that physician is Dr. Robert Gunby.
His name comes up in conversations all over Dallas—sometimes with a smile, sometimes with a sense of awe, often with both: He delivered my daughter. He cared for my mother. He was there for our family.
I’m one of those stories.
When my son was born, and later when I welcomed my twin daughters, Dr. Gunby brought a steady, reassuring presence. He explained what was happening in a way that made it easier to take the next step. Even when things felt uncertain, he made the room feel calmer.
That’s what people remember—not just the delivery, but how he showed up for them.
This year, Dr. Gunby is retiring after 55 years of practicing medicine at Baylor University Medical Center. Over that time, he has cared for thousands of families, forming relationships that span generations and setting a standard for how medicine should be practiced.
At a recent event honoring Dr. Gunby’s career, Christina Littrell, MD, chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at BUMC, told him, “The mold was broken with you. You taught us all what type of person to be—not just a doctor.”
That belief in the impact of being present for patients extends beyond his own practice. Through his support of graduate medical education, he has helped prepare the next generation of physicians to carry that same standard forward.
As Dr. Gunby enters retirement, we’re honored to share his legacy more fully in this issue of The Compass. His story reflects the lasting impact one physician can have—on patients, colleagues and generations of care to come.
And to those of you who support Baylor Scott & White—thank you. For many of you, that generosity began with a moment like this: a physician who showed up, earned your trust and made a lasting impression. Because of that—and because you chose to give—this kind of care continues for others.
Christina Goodman
President,
Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation
Help fuel groundbreaking research, life-changing treatments and compassionate are for patients and families in our community.
Letter from the Chair
Innovation in healthcare is often associated with breakthrough technologies or first-of-their-kind procedures. And those advances certainly matter. But what stands out most to me is something even more important: a mindset.
At Baylor Scott & White, innovation is not only about what can be built, discovered or achieved. It is also about a willingness to ask better questions—what is possible, what could be done differently and how care can better serve the people and communities who rely on it.
That spirit is reflected throughout this issue of The Compass. You can see it in the legacy of physicians like Dr. Gunby, whose remarkable career reminds us that innovation and compassion are not separate ideas, but deeply connected ones. You can also see it in forward-looking partnerships like the work with Uplift Education, where Baylor Scott & White is helping reimagine how we prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.
What distinguishes Baylor Scott & White is not only a commitment to excellence, but a culture of collaboration, curiosity and purpose. It is a place where people are willing to think creatively, work together and pursue new solutions in service of better care.
As someone whose life has been impacted by the intersection of medical innovation, collaborative care and excellence in healthcare, I am deeply grateful for all things Baylor Scott & White. Its commitment to advancing medicine and willingness to reimagine how care can better serve patients, families and communities is inspiring. I hope the stories in this issue offer a meaningful glimpse into that work—and the spirit of innovation helping shape the future of healthcare.
Norm Bagwell
Chair, Board of Directors
Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation
Read Past Issues
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Winter 2025
This issue highlights transformational gifts from Ashley and Greg Arnold that will help bridge scientific discovery and care delivery; Christina Goodman, who now serves as the first woman president of the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation; and a Q&A with Dr. Javed Butler of the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute.Read More Winter 2025 -
Fall 2025
In this issue, we celebrate $1 Billion raised and distributed since the BSW Dallas Foundation's founding in 1978; offer a sneak peek at the 2025 Celebrating Women luncheon; and share a profile of board member Mark Palmer.Read More Fall 2025 -
Spring 2025
In this issue, we cover the York family's $7 million commitment to help launch the Texas Cancer Interception Institute; the new Lipid Metabolism Center at BUMC; and music therapy during end-of-life care.Read More Spring 2025