Connect Issues Fall 2021

HOUSTON HAS HEART! The Foundation’s first-ever Heartworks Gala in Houston, a Mask-erade Ball held on June 26, was a resounding success, bringing together the medical community and Marfan, LDS, and VEDS community and raising $212,500 for our life-saving programs and services. SPECIAL THANKS

Gala honorees: The Foundation honored two outstanding members of our community -- Dr. Joseph Coselli, Vice-Chair of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair, and Professor and Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, who is a long-time member of our Professional Advisory Board, and Aven McBride, principal of American Communication Construction, a major supporter of our Houston Walk for Victory every year as well as our Annual Conference.

GALA COMMITTEE • Joseph Coselli, MD, Baylor College of Medicine • Scott LeMaire, MD, Baylor College of Medicine • Dianna Milewicz, MD, PhD, UT Health • Shaine Morris, MD, Texas Children's Hospital • Alan P. Stolz, MEd • Irina Volguina, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine

CARNIVAL SPONSOR • Diaxamed, LLC • Medtronic Cardiac Surgery • Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, • Baylor College of Medicine • Dr. Dianna Milewicz • Terumo Aortic • Texas Children’s Heart Center The Foundation is also grateful to Aven McBride for his gener- ous donation in honor of Hunter Beckholt and Greg Yakim for his generous donation in honor of Callie Efurd.

VENETIAN SPONSORS • Martha B. Bute Charitable Fund

GRAND MASK SPONSOR • Dr. Joseph Coselli and Mrs. Kelly Coselli

Melissa Wilson, health reporter for Fox 26 Houston, was our master of ceremonies and, subsequently, aired a segment on Marfan syndrome to generate more awareness locally.

Several members of our community celebrated with us, including Justin and Jamie Efurd (left), whose daughter has Marfan, and generous supporters Jan Zhang and Greg Yakim with CastleRock Communities.

Dr. Firas Mussa, Northwell Health (left), and Scott Rush, Terumo Aortic (right), were among the many who were on-hand to honor Dr. Coselli.

Dr. Dianna Milewicz, President George H.W. Bush Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine, Director of the Division of Medical Genetics and Vice-Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Health and a member of our Professional Advisory Board (second from left), was on-hand with colleagues from her lab (L-R) – Haley Dostalik, a research intern who has Marfan, Bella Marin, a research nurse who has VEDS, and Bella's friend, Vanessa Chavez.

Dr. Shaine Morris, Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and pediatric cardiologist at Texas Children’s Hospital who is on our Professional Advisory Board (fourth from the right), brought her whole team from Texas Children’s Hospital to support the Foundation.

13

Fall 2021