A Christmas Party Pledge to Grow Stronger in Service
By Jawahar Malhotra
Last updated: December 19, 2008

HOUSTON: “It has been a tough year for Doctor’s Hospital,” said Dr. Willy Aramayo, Chairman of the Board as he addressed the guests at the annual Christmas Party, “and the leadership has done the best that we could.” He was referring to the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Ike this past September on the Parkway Hospital (on Parker Rd off I45) which constitutes the second campus for the physicians-owned group.

“But it is a different situation now,” he continued. “We own the hospital and make our own decisions for the future”.
The Doctor’s Hospital 2008 Christmas Party was all about the future and the work of many people was recognized and rewarded at the warmly decorated function at the Omni Hotel off Woodway this past Sunday, December 14 and attended by a large number of employees and community activists from the Acres Homes which is located near the hospital.

Both hospitals – Parker and Tidwell – are located within range of Acres Homes and Ruth Moseley, the long time AH Citizen Council Secretary lamented the closure of Parkway Hospital . Mike Bullard, the CEO of Doctor’s Hospital, presented her with an award in recognition of her efforts to get both facilities up and running in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

The chief guest of the evening was Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee who also received an award for her continued support of Doctor’s Hospital. “We couldn’t have fought …. without your help,” said Dr. Asaf Qadeer, President of the General Partners, as he introduced Lee, who was instrumental in restoring electricity to the hospital after Ike.

Representative Lee acknowledged that the hospital represented “working hands” and that she was glad to do her part to help with the Acres Homes community that she represents. “Doctor’s Hospital has been unique in using medicine for service to Acres Homes,” she said.

She pledged to help with the legislative language for physician owned hospitals and believed that the restructuring of medicine in the US required the “helping hands” concept. Lee later went from table to table meeting with the guests before leaving.

At the awards ceremony, many were recognized for their service and a door prize was also handed out by random draw.
The evening carried on with excellent tango and salsa dances presented by a local troupe, which also performed two belly dances and later paced many interested guests through a short salsa class, much to their delight.