In this issue
- Nursing excellence helps sustain our patient-centered culture
- Neurology expertise at Baylor University Medical Center helps stroke patients near and far get back on their feet
- Christa Brown-Sanford, patent attorney and BSW Dallas Foundation board member
- A new study led by Dr. Ronan Kelly that may detect cancer recurrence using a blood test
Riding toward the future
Healing through music therapy
Board member profile: Christa Brown-Sanford
Fighting cancer is in his blood—and ours
25 Years of hope
Letter from the President
In each issue of The Compass, we share stories illustrating how philanthropy helps the Baylor Scott & White Health community live out our core value of We make an impact. Many times, the impact is tangible, like investments in campus modernizations or in innovative clinical trials. At other times, the impact is impossible to quantify and no less meaningful to the patients, families and team members we are privileged to serve.
For example, there’s no way to put a number on how a patient’s mood is lifted when they walk through BSW Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and hear one of our artists in residence playing the harp or cello. While the impact isn’t easily quantifiable, its significance is undeniable.
“It’s like Dorothy going from the black and white into the Technicolor of Oz,” said Alison Read, one of two artists in residence in the Arts in Medicine program at BSW. “You have that beautiful color of sound around you, and it’s sometimes all you need.”
I’ve witnessed these Technicolor transformations firsthand as I’ve happened to catch Alison playing everything from Willie Nelson to Coldplay. The music momentarily takes me away from whatever stressors I’m facing to a more relaxed state.
These brief reprieves are meaningful for me—and they must be even more so for a patient facing a life-altering diagnosis or a team member who has just ended a challenging shift.
“To see in people’s faces the impact that the music has is remarkable,” Alison said. “People stop by when I play and comment about how wonderful it is to hear the music and what a difference it makes in their day.”
Generous donors enable us to make differences like these every day. You can read about many of them, including Kay Aylesworth, in this issue. Kay, a former music therapist, made a significant estate gift to support Arts in Medicine at BSW, which is fully funded by philanthropy and allows us to have artists in residence like Alison perform at BSW Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center.
As I consider all the ways our community of donors unite to make an impact, tangible and intangible, I have immense gratitude. Thank you for helping us create an environment where everyone can find comfort and hope—and a little music to their ears.
Ben Renberg
President,
Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation
Your generosity fuels groundbreaking research, life-changing treatments and compassionate care for patients and families in our community.
Letter from the Chair
In a world where constancy seems elusive, Baylor Scott & White Health stands as a beacon of stability, having dedicated over a century to its mission of advancing the health and well-being of our communities. Through two world wars, the Great Depression, the Great Recession, global pandemics and numerous modern-day uncertainties, we have remained steadfast, innovating, growing, evolving and serving with unwavering commitment. Philanthropy has fueled our ability to adapt and answer the call to lead.
This month, our cover story focuses on nursing excellence at Baylor University Medical Center, showcasing the dedication of a NICU nurse. This feature underscores the critical role nurses play and illustrates how philanthropic support provides these caregivers the knowledge and resources to adapt, innovate and enhance care for patients.
From NICU to neurology, BUMC is recognized for excellence in care. Under the leadership of Dr. Jennifer Rassmussen-Winkler and Dr. Dion Graybeal, the focus on improving outcomes for stroke patients has placed BUMC among the top 5% of hospitals in the country for stroke care and patient outcomes.
Additionally, we celebrate research led by Dr. Ronan Kelly, BSWH Chief of Oncology, recently published in Nature Medicine, that pioneers advancements in blood-based cancer detection. Generous donor support of research like this is crucial to advancing treatment and care for those facing a cancer diagnosis, and positions BSWH to help lead in the field of personalized medicine.
Each of these stories reflects our commitment to serving our community through changing landscapes. Generous donor support is the bedrock of our ability to invest in areas that enhance care and accelerate innovation—allowing us to adapt to the changes we will face in the future. Thank you for your continued support as we forge ahead on this journey together.
Norm Bagwell
Chair, Board of Directors
Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation
Read Past Issues
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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 -
Winter 2024
December 19, 2024In this issue: Celebrating Women marks its 25th anniversary; Dr. Shelley Hall and Dr. Guiliano Testa discuss 40 years of Transplant Services at BUMC; and BUMC launches a new Street Medicine program.Read More Winter 2024 -
Fall 2024
October 14, 2024In this issue: First patients enroll in Multi-Cancer Early Detection study at Baylor Scott & White, and intercepting breast cancer recurrence through weight lossRead More Fall 2024