Leading with gratitude, growing through service

When a 28-year-old patient came to see Steve Koo, DDS ’99, he did not realize how impactful the visit would be or how it would stay with him for years.

“We detected an oral cancer that was very unusual for someone her age and carried a very dire diagnosis,” he recalls. “But we caught it early and got her into treatment right away. Now, she is fully recovered. In fact, she just sent me an invitation to her wedding.”

For Steve, moments like that define the true meaning of impact.

“Seeing someone go from something so dark to something so joyous reminds me why I do what I do,” he says.

That drive to help others lead healthier, fuller lives has guided Steve in every part of his journey. As a surgeon, community leader, volunteer, and philanthropist, he strives to make a difference in many ways: through compassionate care for his patients, support for his alma mater, and the example he sets for his family.

Steve was raised in Houston after his parents emigrated from South Korea. He earned a chemical engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin, then found his calling in dentistry. After graduating from UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry in 1999 and completing his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery, he joined his mentor, Thomas Weil, DDS, to form Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

His commitment to giving back began even earlier. When he was a dental student, he volunteered on mission trips to Mexico, Honduras, and South America.

“Those trips gave me a broader perspective on helping others,” he says. “You always get more out of it than you put in.”

Today, Steve serves as Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Memorial Hermann Memorial City and owner and CEO of Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, which has three Houston-area locations. A leader in his field, he is President of the Houston Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Vice President of the Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Despite his demanding schedule, Steve remains closely tied to UTHealth Houston through volunteer service and philanthropy. “I believe that giving is a meaningful way to connect with others and build a vision of a better world,” he says. “Giving allows us to grow and become better versions of ourselves.”

In 2014, Steve became a leading supporter of the Thomas M. Weil Professorship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, established in honor of his longtime colleague and partner. Then in 2022, Steve and his wife, Jessica, created the Steve and Jessica Koo Endowed Fund to enhance the postdoctoral program in the Katz Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the school. The fund supports resident research, conferences, and educational resources.

That same year, they broadened their philanthropy across campus with the Steve and Jessica Koo Endowed Scholarship Fund at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston, benefiting students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in health informatics.

“Artificial intelligence and informatics are changing every aspect of health care, including dentistry,” Steve says. “McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics is on the cutting edge of that transformation, and I want to help prepare the next generation of leaders who will shape the future.”

Steve and Jessica regularly include their daughters in volunteer activities, from mission trips to community health events. “We live in a ‘me-me’ culture in many ways,” he says. “When kids see their parents giving back, it takes them out of that bubble and shows them the importance of community.”

For Steve, philanthropy and leadership are expressions of gratitude. “When you go back to your roots—to your education and the people who helped you get started—it gives you a better sense of direction,” he says. “Gratitude brings clarity. And part of that gratitude is giving back.”