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