Town Hall Conversations
Dr. Marc Boom began hosting Town Hall Conversations with other leading Houston Methodist physicians, researchers and clinician-scientists in April 2020 to provide the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and answer the most pressing questions from the community about the virus, including testing, treatments, vaccines and the latest research. The Town Halls have since transitioned into discussions about the latest advancements and innovations in a variety of medical areas. Each program ends with contact information if you would like to learn more about the topics covered in that Town Hall.
LEADING MEDICINE: TOWN HALL CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. MARC BOOM - 2025
Town Hall Conversation L
(April 15, 2025)
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Rev. Stacy Auld, MDiv, BCC, Senior Director of Spiritual Care and Values Integration, and Rev. James Adams, MA, MDiv, BCC, Senior Chaplain in the Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center, for a discussion about the role of Spiritual Care at Houston Methodist. The pair also shared their personal journeys to where they are now. Dr. Boom closed the program with news about our new Cypress Hospital and its 3i model of nursing care (innovation, integration and interaction), our new Ambulatory Surgery Center in Bellaire, and our Comprehensive Care Center coming to Cinco Ranch.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
LEADING MEDICINE: TOWN HALL CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. MARC BOOM - 2024
Town Hall Conversation XLIX
(December 12, 2024)
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Jordan A. Dale, MD, our Chief Medical Information Officer, and Stephen L. Jones, MD, MSHI, Director of the Center for Health Data Science and Analytics, for a discussion about how Houston Methodist uses Artificial Intelligence to advance academic research and improve patient care. With all of the technological breakthroughs, the main takeaway is that “there’s always a human in the loop” in whatever we use AI to assist us with. Dr. Boom closed the program with news about our new Chief Academic Officer and President of the Houston Methodist Academic Institute, results from our annual Employee Opinion Survey, and recent awards and accolades.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Town Hall Conversation XLVIII
(October 30, 2024)
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Pedro T. Ramirez, MD, FACOG, chair of our Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and M. Kathleen Borchardt, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician and gynecologist in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, for a discussion about improving women’s health at Houston Methodist. Dr. Boom closed the program with an update about how we are working around a potential shortage of intravenous fluids due to Hurricane Helene as well as our participation in two national studies on vaccines.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Town Hall Conversation XLVII
(September 26, 2024)
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD, FACC, medical director of the Houston Methodist Center for Health and Nature, and Eleonora Avenatti, MD, DABOM, a leader in preventive cardiology in the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, for a discussion about the power of nature in the healing process as well as strategies for staying healthy and preventing cardiovascular disease. Dr. Boom closed the program with news about Houston Methodist’s patient quality metrics as assessed by Vizient and welcomed the hospital system’s new Chief Financial Officer.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Leading Medicine: A Town Hall Conversation with Dr. Marc Boom
Town Hall Conversation XLVI
(August 15, 2024)
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Gail Vozzella, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive, and Nicole Twine, PhD, APRN, ACNP-BC, NE-BC, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, for a robust discussion about nursing excellence and the role of Nurse Practitioners at Houston Methodist. Dr. Boom closed the program by sharing that we were again recognized on the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll as one of the top 20 hospitals in the nation as well as the No.1 hospital in Texas for the 13th consecutive year.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Leading Medicine: A Town Hall Conversation with Dr. Marc Boom
Town Hall Conversation XLV
(June 4, 2024)
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by two leaders of The Bookout Center for Medical Innovation, Technology, Research and Education: Dr. Alan Lumsden, Medical Director, and Dr. Stuart Corr, Director of Engineering Innovation. They discussed the latest advances in robotics, imaging and digital surgery. Dr. Boom closed the program with a few updates on recent celebrations and accolades, including a heartfelt story from one of our nurses. If you would like to tour The Bookout Center, please email us at foundation@houstonmethodist.org.
Click here to view the program.
Clickhere for the materials presented during the discussion.
Town Hall Conversation XLIV
(April 23, 2024)
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Dr. Abdul Rahman Alchaki, Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Clinic, and Dr. Jun Li, Chairman of the Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, for a discussion about our latest understanding of and treatments for Multiple Sclerosis and peripheral neuropathy, respectively. If you would like to continue the conversation or reach either of the presenters, please email us at foundation@houstonmethodist.org.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Town Hall Conversation XLIII
(February 15, 2024)
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Tesha Montgomery, Senior Vice President of System Patient Access, and Michelle Stansbury, Vice President of Innovation and IT Applications, for a discussion about improvements Houston Methodist is implementing to improve delivery of and access to our exceptional patient care. They also answered multiple questions from the audience about scheduling appointments, coordinating care, and advances in technology. If you would like to continue the conversation or reach either of the presenters, please email us at foundation@houstonmethodist.org.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Town Hall Conversation XLII
(January 23, 2024)
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Dr. Ken Podell, Director of the Concussion Center in the Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, and Dr. Pat McCullouch, Co-Director of the Center for Human Performance, for a discussion about sports concussions and human performance. Dr. Podell discussed the latest research on concussions, equipment used to prevent them, and how to properly treat one if it occurs. Dr. McCulloch talked about the Center for Human Performance, a new collaboration with Rice University, that will benefit athletes in understanding and optimizing their skills and abilities. Dr. Boom closed the program with updates about hospital leadership and two new facilities, Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital and Centennial Tower.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
LEADING MEDICINE: TOWN HALL CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. MARC BOOM - 2023
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Dr. Cindy Martin for a discussion about genetics and heart failure, and Dr. Miguel Valderrábano who talked about novel treatments for atrial fibrillation (AFib). Dr. Boom closed the Town Hall with news of recent accolades that Houston Methodist has received, as well as an update on the new COVID-19 booster and when the ideal times are to get it and other vaccines to protect you from the flu and RSV.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
LEADING MEDICINE: TOWN HALL CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. MARC BOOM - 2022
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Dr. Brian Butler, Chair of the Houston Methodist Radiation Oncology Group, Dr. Eleni Efstathiou, Section Chief of Genitourinary Medical Oncology in the Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center, and Dr. Andrew Farach, Director of Brachytherapy in the Department of Radiation Oncology, for a discussion about radiation treatments and prostate cancer. Dr. Butler detailed how we can improve cancer radiation therapy by using a patient’s own cancer cells to help fight the disease, Dr. Efstathiou discussed a paradigm shift away from drug development to personalized therapy development using precision medicine, and Dr. Farach spoke about shortening the amount of time brachytherapy takes. Following a roundtable discussion during which the three doctors answered questions from our viewers, Dr. Boom closed the program with an update on COVID-19 and influenza, encouraging everyone who has not yet received their flu shot to get one as soon as possible.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Dr. Marc Boom is joined by Drs. Eamonn Quigley, Rachel Schiesser and David Victor III for a discussion about gastrointestinal conditions, colorectal cancer screening and fatty liver disease. Dr. Quigley gave an overview of the Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Disorders and all that takes place within this Center of Excellence, Dr. Schiesser discussed the various tools that are available to screen for colorectal cancer and how often such procedures are necessary, and Dr. Victor explained the difference between Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and showed how to mitigate the risks associated with NAFLD, described as a “new epidemic.” Dr. Boom closed the program with a brief update on COVID-19 and news of Houston Methodist’s next two hospitals: Houston Methodist Cypress and the Centennial Tower, which will be a “companion building” to Walter Tower on the TMC campus.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Because of the size of the presentation materials, only some of the materials are available. Click here for those that are available.
Click here to view the program.
Because of the size of the presentation materials, only some of the materials are available. Click here for those that are available.
Click here to view program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
LEADING MEDICINE: TOWN HALL CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. MARC BOOM - 2021
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
LEADING MEDICINE: TOWN HALL CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. MARC BOOM - 2020
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Dr. Boom is joined by Liisa Ortegon and Dr. Ben Weinstein for a discussion on how Houston Methodist nurses are providing unparalleled care to our patients, as well as how COVID-19 is affecting mental health. Dr. Dirk Sostman also provides an update on COVID-19 treatments and potential vaccines, and we share how world-renowned musicians are performing one-on-one for our patients.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Dr. Boom is joined by Dr. Alan Lumsden, Dr. Dirk Sostman and Dr. Khurram Nasir for a discussion on COVID‑19’s impact on emergency care, the potential long-term impact of the disease and the latest on treatments and potential vaccines. The conversation also features “5 actions we need to take to stop COVID‑19."
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Dr. Boom is joined by Roberta Schwartz, PhD, Dr. Dirk Sostman and Dr. James Musser for a discussion on the innovative ways Houston Methodist is fighting COVID‑19 while keeping all patients safe, the latest information on testing and treatments and a recap of what we learned from participating in the national trial of the repurposed drug Remdesivir. The program also includes a performance from the Houston Methodist Singers.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Dr. Boom is joined by Dr. Ashley Drews and Dr. Dirk Sostman for a discussion about the hospital’s clinical response to COVID‑19 and the latest research into effective treatments for the disease. Dr. Boom also unveils a new initiative through which the community can support workers throughout the hospital system who are on the front lines of the fight against COVID‑19.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.
Click here to view the program.
Click here for the materials presented during the discussion.