One Denton A. Cooley Plaza Dedicated
News of Note (November 24, 2008) — On Thursday, November 6, 2008, dignitaries and guests gathered at the Texas Heart Institute (THI) at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital (SLEH) for the formal dedication of One Denton A. Cooley Plaza. Located in front of the main entrance to SLEH, One Denton A. Cooley Plaza, which features a prominent sign and a bas-relief of Dr. Cooley, will stand in perpetuity as a reminder of Dr. Cooley’s remarkable contributions to medicine, to SLEH, to THI, and to the Texas Medical Center.
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From left to right: Dr. Denton A. Cooley, Morton A. Cohn,
David Fine, Meredith Long, and Dr. James T. Willerson. |
Tributes to Dr. Cooley were paid by: Dr. James T. Willerson, President & Medical Director of THI; Dr. Richard E. Wainerdi, President of the Texas Medical Center; Mr. David Fine, President & CEO of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System; Mr. Meredith Long, chairman of THI’s Board of Trustees; and Mr. Morton A. Cohn, a member of the THI Board of Trustees.
Dr. Willerson highlighted Dr. Cooley’s extraordinary accomplishments, including the founding of the Texas Heart Institute, and he recalled with fondness their first meeting when he was 14 years old—a meeting that fortified Dr. Willerson’s interest in medicine.
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| Dr. Richard E. Wainerdi. |
Dr. Wainerdi shared his pride in having Dr. Cooley associated with the Texas Medical Center and the appropriateness of One Denton A. Cooley Plaza. He recalled a visit several years ago by the President of Italy. The president had an opportunity to meet with Dr. DeBakey and Dr. Cooley. Following his meeting with Dr. Cooley, during an interview with Italian television, he said that he had just met the two greatest men in the world.
Mr. Fine shared a story about Ignatius IV Hazim, Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, who returned recently to the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital for medical evaluation and care. Patriarch Hazim, who had been turned down by the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic, was operated on by Dr. Cooley 15 years ago. Following Patriarch Hazim’s check up, during a dinner that evening, Mr. Fine was reminded how many people have enjoyed longer and more productive lives because of Dr. Cooley’s expertise.
Mr. Long stated that the location of One Denton A. Cooley Plaza at the entrance to St. Luke’s will provide reassurance to the thousands of patients who come to St. Luke’s for their care because they will know there is an unequaled standard of excellence, dedication and compassion as exemplified by Dr. Cooley.
Dr. Cooley expressed his gratitude for the honor and conveyed his thanks to all involved. He noted that the bas-relief, at his urging, had him facing the Texas Heart Institute, which he considers his crowning achievement. He thanked Mr. Cohn and his family for their financial support of the plaza and asked Mr. Cohn to say a few words.
Mr. Cohn expressed his admiration for Dr. Cooley, noting that it had long been his desire to do something special for him. When he learned about the plans for One Denton A. Cooley Plaza, he and his family were delighted to help.
For Texas Heart Institute media profiles, see Public Affairs.
