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Why EnMed Represents the Best Texas A&M University Has to Offer

How visionary support and collaboration are powering the future of health care at Texas A&M University.

By Tyson Voelkel ’96

Photography by Case Rhome

At the Texas A&M Foundation, we believe that innovation—grounded in humility and hard work—has the power to improve lives. You’ll see this belief brought to life in this issue of Spirit, particularly through the story about Texas A&M’s School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed)—a program unlike any other in the nation. 
 

Tyson Voelkel ’96, Texas A&M Foundation President and CEO

EnMed exemplifies what it means to be both elite and accessible because it combines a world-class engineering and medical education with a land-grant mission to serve. It is a place where brilliant students, many of whom are Brown Scholars thanks to the generosity of Craig Brown ’75 and Sue Smith, are not only studying the human body and its diseases but also engineering solutions to heal and improve it. These “physicianeers” reflect the very best of Aggie values: integrity, selfless service and a deep commitment to the well-being of others. 

We are deeply grateful to Dr. Robert Pettigrew, the founding father of EnMed, whose world-renowned vision and pioneering leadership laid the foundation for this extraordinary program, and to its current interim dean, Dr. Timothy Boone, whose passion and tireless dedication continue to shape EnMed into a model for how we can integrate medicine, engineering and service to humanity. 

We also extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of Houston Methodist, for his unwavering drive to improve patient outcomes through innovation and service. His leadership has made Houston Methodist an invaluable partner in EnMed’s success and a critical part of every student’s journey. And we are equally thankful to Texas A&M University President General (Ret.) Mark Welsh III for his steadfast support and belief in the bold vision and potential of EnMed. His leadership reinforces the alignment between academic excellence and purpose-driven innovation. 
 

Students at EnMed work alongside leaders at Houston Methodist to develop solutions already reshaping health care—innovations like smart pacifiers that detect infant dehydration, models for congenital heart surgeries, minimally invasive approaches to esophageal treatment and tools for regenerative stem cell therapy. These are real-world breakthroughs powered by collaboration and compassion. 

I see so many parallels between their motivations and our own work at the Foundation: humility, hard work and a desire to serve others through meaningful innovation. Like these graduates, we believe being elite should never mean being elitist. As a land-, sea- and space-grant institution, Texas A&M carries a distinct responsibility to use our knowledge and resources to serve the greater good. 

Every day, I remind our students, faculty and staff that we have the ability, obligation and opportunity to improve the world. At the Foundation, we are proud to advance that mission through best-in-class philanthropic support, disciplined investment management and a relentless passion for education. 

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are building a brighter future. 

Tyson Voelkel ’96 
President & CEO 
Texas A&M Foundation 

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  • Call: 979.690.2300

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