Chairs

Chairs

Lou Houser, Libbie Nelson, and Wendy Moreland

Since 2016, Libbie Nelson, Lou Houser and Wendy Moreland have co-chaired Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation’s Faith & Medicine biennial luncheon; a collaboration that began when Libbie, co-chair of the inaugural 2014 event, handpicked her like-minded friends to help lead the popular event.

Bringing together individuals from across Greater Houston, the luncheon sparks thoughtful conversations about the profound intersection of spirituality and medicine. It reflects the heart of Spiritual Care and Values Integration, grounded in Houston Methodist’s I CARE values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence. It also affirms the hospital system’s commitment to the whole person — nurturing the mind, body and spirit of patients, families and employees.

While the event’s proceeds support spiritual care initiatives and education, Libbie, Lou and Wendy devote their time and energy because of what guests carry with them: a renewed belief in the many ways that spirituality serves as a cornerstone of Houston Methodist’s holistic approach to medicine.

This belief is embodied in the quiet compassion of a chaplain holding the hand of a patient whose loved ones can’t be there in his final moments, a presence bolstered in 2020 by an endowment for palliative care established by Libbie and Greg Nelson. It’s seen in the faith partner embedded in the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, walking alongside someone through the vulnerable journey of outpatient cancer treatment. It’s heard in the grounding words of a chaplain, offered virtually to a nurse or physician during a trying day. These moments of grace happen every day at Houston Methodist.