A Letter from Our CEO Barclay Berdan
At Texas Health Resources, we're devoted to keeping people healthy. Our focus is on people, and supporting their health through innovative programs, research and education, advanced technology and care of the highest quality. An impressive example of this commitment to health is the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine (IEEM) at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.
The IEEM exemplifies Texas Health's commitment to our community-focused Mission. Its focus is on treating the whole person with a personalized care experience. It is dedicated to expanding the knowledge of integrative human physiology, leading to the improvement of the health of our communities. Through the years, IEEM researchers have made great strides, building an international reputation for innovative research efforts and clinical applications that are directly applicable to this goal. By melding high-quality clinical care and advanced research, IEEM has grown to the nation’s largest center for the study of human physiology.
This life-changing work on behalf of consumers and patients requires significant resources. In today’s challenging healthcare environment, there has been a substantial reduction in federal and state government funding for medical research. In addition, corporate and industry support for medical research is decreasing, placing future growth and viability for the IEEM in jeopardy. In this economic climate, even a brief hiatus in funding could result in the loss of critical patient treatment or research programs — both of which are working toward developing important healthcare advancements and cures.
IEEM research has spawned numerous advances that improve the health and vitality of our community. These advances have historically been supported by prestigious National Institutes of Health grant funding, national scientific and educational grants, federal and state sponsored healthcare grant funding, corporate and foundation grants, grateful patients and individual donors. It is imperative to maintain and increase support of the IEEM as it benefits our community, providing more efficient and effective ways to treat disease and improve health-related quality of life to meet the challenges presented by our extended life span. The consumers of North Texas expect and deserve the personalized care that Texas Health provides with the help of the IEEM.
I encourage you to learn more about the IEEM, its people (who are its greatest strength) and its many funding needs. Your support can play a significant role in improving the quality of life for you, your family and friends, and your community. By doing so you are helping to ensure that the clinical research programs of the IEEM will continue beyond your lifetime.
Barclay Berdan, FACHE, CEO, Texas Health Resources