H.R. No. 1658

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Dr. Larry R. Kaiser concluded his tenure as president of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston on April 1, 2011, and it is indeed fitting to honor him for a job well done; and

WHEREAS, Since becoming the fifth president of UTHealth in 2008, Dr. Kaiser worked tirelessly to enhance the stature of the health science center and its partners in the Texas Medical Center, guiding the launch of the UTHealth brand and continuing to strengthen the relationship with Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, the Harris County Hospital District, and other institutions in the Texas Medical Center; during his tenure, UTHealth was named a top workplace by the Houston Chronicle; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kaiser held the Alkek-Williams Chair and served as a professor of surgery and of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery at the university; moreover, he demonstrated a commitment to the community as a member of the boards of the Greater Houston Partnership, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, BioHouston, the Houston Technology Center, the Texas Heart Institute, the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science, and the American Heart Association in Houston; he chaired the 2009-2010 Houston March of Dimes March for Babies Walk as well; and

WHEREAS, This esteemed surgeon and dynamic executive earned his medical degree from Tulane University and performed his internship and surgical residency at the University of California at Los Angeles; completing his education in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, he served as senior resident in thoracic surgery at the University of Toronto; he then joined the faculty on the Thoracic Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and was recruited in 1988 by Washington University School of Medicine, where he rose to become an associate professor; and

WHEREAS, Before joining UTHealth, Dr. Kaiser distinguished himself at the University of Pennsylvania as associate professor of surgery, chief of general thoracic surgery, founder and director of the Lung Transplantation Program, and director of the Center for Lung Cancer and Related Disorders; he is a pioneer in the technique of video thoracoscopy, for which he designed and patented a set of instruments; elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science in 2005, he is the recipient of numerous accolades; he has published more than 250 original papers and authored or coauthored more than a dozen books, and he serves on the editorial boards of the Annals of Surgery, Contemporary Surgery, ACS Surgery, and other notable publications; and

WHEREAS, A native of Philadelphia, Dr. Kaiser is returning to his hometown to become chief executive of the Temple University Health System, senior executive vice president for Health Sciences, and dean of the School of Medicine; as he begins his new responsibilities at that prestigious institution, he may reflect with pride on his contributions to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the surrounding community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby commend Dr. Larry R. Kaiser for his accomplishments as president of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his career; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Dr. Kaiser as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

S. Davis of Harris

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1658 was adopted by the House on May 12, 2011, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House