From gratitude to generosity: Patients honor caregivers with gifts

From left to right: Deepa Iyengar, MD, Michael Altman, MD, Carlos Moreno, MD, and Shira Goldstein, MD. (Image by UTHealth Houston)

The relationship between a patient and their physician is built on trust, compassion, and vulnerability. It’s a bond formed during life’s most uncertain moments, when the healing presence of a caregiver becomes a source of hope and reassurance.

To thank the exceptional caregivers at UTHealth Houston who made a lasting impact on their well-being, grateful patients gave 335 financial gifts to the university for Doctors’ Day, honoring the physicians who made a meaningful difference in their lives.

Supporting caregivers and their departments

Donations from the Honor Your Caregiver program are being distributed through the end of July to the departments of the recognized physicians.

Each department has the flexibility to use the funds in ways that will make the greatest impact — whether enhancing patient care, supporting staff, or investing in innovative resources. Contributions range in size from a few dollars to the largest totaling $15,000.

In addition to the financial support, honored caregivers receive a custom-designed commemorative pin, created by UTHealth Houston’s Branding and Creative Services team, as a visible symbol of the gratitude they’ve inspired. Each pin is accompanied by a personal thank you note from the patient, along with a return envelope so the caregiver can respond in kind.

Meaningful recognition

“All of us in the Department of Family and Community Medicine were pleasantly surprised and touched by the generosity of our patients,” said Carlos A. Moreno, MD, MSPH, professor and C. Frank Webber, MD, Chair in Family Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and family medicine doctor with UT Physicians. “We do our work because we love it.”

For caregivers, being recognized by the people they serve is both humbling and affirming.

“Being recognized by my patient through the Honor Your Caregiver initiative was deeply meaningful,” said Bindu Akkanti, MD, the Graham Distinguished Professor in Pulmonary Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine at McGovern Medical School, as well as a board-certified pulmonologist with UT Physicians. “It’s a profound reminder that the connections we build in medicine go beyond clinical care — our patients see us, value us, and believe in our mission.”

Marianne Cusick, MD, associate professor and H. Randolph Bailey, MD, Chair in Colorectal Surgery in the Department of Surgery at McGovern Medical School, as well as a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon with UT Physicians, agrees.

“Being recognized by patients in the Honor Your Caregiver program holds deep meaning for members of the Department of Surgery,” Cusick said. “It symbolizes more than appreciation — it reflects the impact our team has on the lives of patients and their families. In a field where precision, compassion, and resilience are essential, this gesture serves as a genuine reminder that our efforts are seen, valued, and remembered. It reinforces our shared commitment to excellence in care and strengthens the human connection at the heart of everything we do.”

About the program

By tying personal gratitude to institutional support, the Honor Your Caregiver program through the Office of Development and Public Affairs fosters a culture of compassion and collaboration that resonates throughout the health care system.

It is a meaningful way for patients to say thank you and recognize caregivers who have made a significant difference in their lives while supporting research, education, and technology that enables UTHealth Houston to deliver high-quality patient care in the community.

“At UTHealth Houston, the Honor Your Caregiver program is more than a gesture, it’s a powerful expression of gratitude that fuels progress,” said Tanya Gee, director of the Grateful Patient Program at UTHealth Houston. “Each gift made in honor of a physician not only celebrates their compassion and expertise but also advances the research and care that shape the future of medicine. On Doctors’ Day and every day, we are proud to recognize the extraordinary impact our caregivers make in the lives of their patients and our community.”