Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston Methodist Hospital opened its doors in 1919 during the height of the Spanish influenza epidemic. It began as an outreach ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church near downtown Houston. The initial facility served a city reeling from a global health crisis that claimed millions of lives worldwide. This early establishment laid the groundwork for what would become a major medical center decades later. The hospital operated in a small building before expanding to meet growing community needs.
Michael E. DeBakey performed the first removal of a carotid artery blockage at the hospital in 1950. He conducted the first aorto-coronary bypass surgery there in 1964. A ventricular assist device used to pump blood and support a diseased heart debuted in 1966 under his direction. Some of the earliest U.S. heart transplants occurred at this location in 1968 and 1969. DeBakey also created the first Dacron graft in 1953 while working as faculty at Baylor College of Medicine.
Unusually heavy rains caused more than $20 million in flood-related damage across the Texas Medical Center in 1976. Six feet of water filled Methodist's basement during that event which knocked out power at three hospitals. Tropical Storm Allison dropped up to 37 inches of rain on parts of Houston on the 8th of June 2001. About 40 feet of water entered the neurosensory building and filled the basement again. The hospital discharged 400 patients and did not fully reopen until five weeks after the storm caused an estimated $360 million in damage.
The Institute for Biomedical Imaging Science formed through a joint effort between Houston Methodist, the University of Houston, and Weill Cornell Medical College. This institute creates interdisciplinary programs in biomedical imaging while developing joint training for scientists. Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine launched the EnMed program in 2019 offering combined MD and master's degrees in engineering. Rice University maintains partnerships including the Digital Health Institute and the
Center for Neural Systems Restoration.
U.S. News & World Report routinely names Houston Methodist Hospital as one of its Best Hospitals. In 2021 it ranked number one regionally in Texas and number 16 nationally according to their annual survey. The hospital achieved maximum points for superior performance in 17 out of 17 common adult procedures and conditions. It earned worldwide recognition in multiple specialties including cardiovascular surgery cancer treatment epilepsy care and organ transplantation. These
rankings reflect consistent clinical excellence across diverse medical fields.
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Common questions
When did Houston Methodist Hospital open its doors?
Houston Methodist Hospital opened its doors in 1919 during the height of the Spanish influenza epidemic. It began as an outreach ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church near downtown Houston.
What major medical procedures did Michael E. DeBakey perform at Houston Methodist Hospital?
Michael E. DeBakey performed the first removal of a carotid artery blockage at the hospital in 1950 and conducted the first aorto-coronary bypass surgery there in 1964. Some of the earliest U.S. heart transplants occurred at this location in 1968 and 1969 under his direction.
How much damage did Tropical Storm Allison cause to Houston Methodist Hospital on the 8th of June 2001?
Tropical Storm Allison caused an estimated $360 million in damage when about 40 feet of water entered the neurosensory building and filled the basement again. The hospital discharged 400 patients and did not fully reopen until five weeks after the storm.
Which universities partner with Houston Methodist Hospital for biomedical programs?
The Institute for Biomedical Imaging Science formed through a joint effort between Houston Methodist, the University of Houston, and Weill Cornell Medical College. Rice University maintains partnerships including the Digital Health Institute and the Center for Neural Systems Restoration while Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine launched the EnMed program in 2019.
What national ranking did Houston Methodist Hospital achieve in 2021 according to U.S. News & World Report?
In 2021 it ranked number one regionally in Texas and number 16 nationally according to their annual survey. The hospital achieved maximum points for superior performance in 17 out of 17 common adult procedures and conditions.