These chairs provide lasting recognition to the donor and named honoree by supporting the academic work of the Chair Holder through care, research, and education. Endowed Chairs are one of the highest honors in academic medicine.
William H. Parry, M.D., Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nursing
Chair Holder: Barbara Vazquez, DNP, FNP, RN
Created by: Connolly Clark Trust, 2020
For more than 45 years, Dr. Parry spent his career as a pediatrician, educator, and administrator. He joined Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital (now CHRISTUS Children’s) as director of pediatric services in 1994 and was charged with improving and expanding outpatient and ambulatory services. He was instrumental in the creation of the David Christopher Goldsbury Center for Children and Families, a special outpatient facility with more than 38 different pediatric specialty clinics and programs, including primary care and dental facilities. Throughout his career, Dr. Parry credited excellence in nursing as essential to success in the care and treatment of patients, thus creating this endowed chair to provide perpetual funding for a leader in nursing.
Gary Dudley and Charlie Amato Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurology
Chair Holder: Melissa Svoboda, M.D.
Created by: SWBC Foundation, 2014
SWBC’s President, Gary Dudley, and Chairman, Charlie Amato, formed SWBC in 1976 with $1,500 of starting capital. Today, SWBC is an international financial services company, providing products and services to help businesses, families, and financial institutions meet some of their most critical goals. For nearly four decades, Gary Dudley has been instrumental in developing SWBC’s business model and dedication to customer service. Gary is known for his devotion to building and maintaining relationships at his alma mater and in the San Antonio community. Charlie Amato is known in the business community for his innovative, relationship-building approach that is based on nearly 40 years of experience in all aspects of insurance operations, underwriting, and product development. Throughout his career, he has received multiple awards and recognition for his work in the community. He continues to be an active participant in various charities and corporate leadership activities.
The SWBC Foundation seeks to identify and fund organizations that are making a positive difference in the lives of others and enhancing the quality of life in the communities where SWBC’s employees live and work.
Rowena C. Gorman Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Chair Holder: Daniel Nento, M.D.
Created by: Gorman Family Foundation, 2009
Rowena (Tena) C. Gorman has dedicated herself to giving back to her community and has served on more than a dozen non-profit boards. She has served on CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation’s Honorary Board of Directors since 2009, in recognition of her life-long service as a Children’s Hospital volunteer. Tena was introduced to CHRISTUS Children’s through volunteering with the Junior League. She fell in love with mission that the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word established in 1869. Tena became an instrumental volunteer at CHRISTUS Children’s, not only with the patients and families whom are served, but also in planning the 25th and 50th anniversary celebrations. In July 2009, the Rowena C. Gorman Chair in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery was established. The endowed chair gift makes a significant difference in the lives of children and enables CHRISTUS Children’s to lead and expand our pediatric cardiac surgery program.
John & Mary Ann Whalen Endowed Chair in Maternal Fetal Medicine
Chair Holder: James B. Hill, M.D.
Created by: Whalen Family Memorial Trust, 2009
Mary Mildred Whalen was a very humble and private person, never wanting attention. She was born in 1907 and passed away in 2004 at the age of 97. She was the youngest of three children born to John and Mary Whalen. Mary Mildred followed her mother’s footsteps and became a teacher, dedicating 39 years to the San Antonio school district teaching first and second grades. Mary Mildred was always willing to help, but also wanted to remain anonymous. She diligently managed the family’s properties. She never married and never had children, but was well known and loved by those close to her. People regularly spoke about Mary Mildred’s willingness to help others. When her attorney asked her where she wanted her property to go at her death, she chose CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital – now CHRISTUS Children’s, with the request that the bequest be from the family – John and Mary Ann Whalen. The gift totaled $6.3 million and, at the time, was the largest single gift ever given.
Howard A. Britton, M.D. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Chair Holder: Timothy Griffin, M.D.
Created by: The Children’s Hospital Endowment Fund Board of Directors, 2014
Dr. Howard Britton was widely recognized as the pioneer of pediatric cancer care in South Texas. Dr. Britton practiced general pediatrics and pediatric Hematology/Oncology out of his private office until 1980. He then entered full-time academic Hematology/Oncology practice at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital with the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) where he also served as the Medical Director of the Children’s Hospital. Dr. Britton was the Medical Director and Chair of the Department of Medicine for CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital from 1980-1991.
Richard S. Wayne, M.D. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiology
Chair Holder: Harinder R. Singh, M.D.
Created by: The Children’s Hospital Endowment Fund Board of Directors, 2009
Dr. Richard Wayne serves as an emergency room physician at CHRISTUS Children's, works in the pediatric outpatient wellness clinic, is a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and serves as an Ambassador-at-Large for CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation. Dr. Richard Wayne has a long legacy at CHRISTUS Children’s. His journey in pediatric medicine began in 1972. He became the Regional Vice President and Administrator in 1995 where he served for 13 years and continues his service to children today. Dr. Wayne earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Alabama in 1967. His professional training continued as he completed his internship and pediatric residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and has additional certification in Advance Trauma Life Support and Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS).
Sister Angela Clare Moran Endowed Chair in Pediatrics
Chair Holder:
Created by: An Anonymous Donor, 2009
Sister Angela Clare Moran, CCVI came to San Antonio in 1946 and joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Honoring her special gift in health care, Sister Angela Clare obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1950 from Incarnate Word College (now known as the University of the Incarnate Word), a Master in Healthcare Administration degree in 1960 from St. Louis University, and an Honorary Doctorate in Nursing in 1987 from the University of the Incarnate Word. Sister Angela Clare Moran was the last Sister CEO of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, serving from 1969-1970 and from 1972-1986. As a hospital leader of one of the largest Catholic hospitals in the country, she was constantly challenged with focusing on the patient’s health care needs within the complex world of physicians, nurses, employees, payer sources, charity care and constantly changing health care regulations. However, her vows and her care for the suffering took precedence. Sister Angela Clare devoted her life to caring for those who were ill, serving God and the people entrusted to her care as a nurse, a clinical instructor in pediatrics, a medical and surgical supervisor and a hospital administrator. Sister Angela Clare believed that what God asked of her was to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly. She once described her work simply by saying, “my work is prayer.”
Kaye E. Wilkins, M.D. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Orthopaedics
Chair Holder: Elizabeth Magnabosco, M.D.
Created by: Goldsbury Foundation, 2009
Kaye E. Wilkins earned a D.V.M. degree from Colorado State University and received his M.D. from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He did his orthopedic training at Southwestern/Parkland followed by a fellowship in pediatric orthopaedics in Toronto at the Hospital for Sick Children. He came to University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio (UTHSCA) in 1973 as a faculty member in pediatric orthopedics. For 23 years he was in private practice in San Antonio; throughout this time, he remained involved and served as the training director for pediatric orthopaedics at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital. In 2002, he returned full time to UTHSCA. Wilkins has served as president of the Texas Orthopaedic Association and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA). He has received the Distinguished Service Award from POSNA and a similar award from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Academy of Orthopaedics. Wilkins’ particular focus is in children’s fractures. He is currently involved in COUR (Children’s Orthopaedics in Underdeveloped Regions), an outreach program of POSNA. With this committee, he has been involved in organizing outreach orthopedic continuing education courses in many developing nations.