Last month, I was in Houston for PDC, and once again I came home reminded of just how important it is to gather in person. PDC is always a great opportunity for me to reconnect with friends, board members, and Symposium speakers, and it also happens at just the right time of year. As we’re pulling together the conference program, I get to have deeper conversations about what’s happening across the industry and what kind of educational content will be most meaningful—and most helpful—for everyone this fall.

One of the unexpected highlights of the trip was a driving tour of the Texas Medical Center. Patrick Casey and Daina Pitzenberger generously took several of us around and shared their insight and experience as we moved through what is, quite honestly, an incredible concentration of healthcare, research, and academic institutions. Seeing hospital after hospital, research facility after research facility, all packed into such a relatively small area, was pretty awe‑inspiring. The level of innovation and life‑saving work happening side by side there has an impact that reaches far beyond Houston—and in many cases, far beyond the U.S.

The day continued with a visit to an active construction site: the new LBL tower at Harris Health. We started in the project trailer, where we got an overview of the site through drone footage, which immediately put the scale and complexity of the project into perspective. From there, we looked through boards of selected finishes, which really helped bring the future building to life.

Standing there, it was hard not to reflect on the significance of what’s being built. This project will have a profound impact on an underserved community—one that truly needs access to high‑quality, compassionate healthcare. While the Texas Medical Center represents world‑class facilities with global reach, the LBL tower represents something just as important: care delivered close to home, designed with intention, and rooted in service.

Experiencing both in the same day was powerful. Two very different places, each essential in its own way. One pushes the boundaries of research and innovation on a global scale; the other meets immediate, local needs with dignity and purpose. Seeing them up close wasn’t just informative—it was deeply moving.

It was truly an honor to see this work firsthand, to learn from those leading it, and to be reminded of the many ways our collective efforts—large and small—shape the health and well‑being of communities near and far.

Be well,
Jenabeth

Jenabeth Ferguson
Vice President, Symposium Director
Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo

P.S. Have a thought about the Symposium? Please feel free to contact me at any time at [email protected].