Brave Hearts: Pioneering Cardiologists Join Forces

Texas Heart Institute’s first-ever clinical cardiology practice promises to further Denton Cooley’s legacy.

Dr. Denton Cooley

At the, ahem, heart of Houston’s world-renowned Medical Center is a commitment to research, education and patient care, as exhibited by surgeons like Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley. The latter — the surgeon responsible for implanting the world’s first artificial heart — founded the Texas Heart Institute in 1962, and today, THI announces that Cooley’s legacy of historic breakthroughs and innovative research and education programs will be furthered through the Texas Heart Medical Group.

The new clinical practice, helmed by a dozen of the city’s best cardiologists with specialties that range from electrophysiology to cardiac imaging, begins seeing patients today at its office in the St. Luke’s Medical Tower. Collectively, the doctors speak nine languages fluently, a multicultural makeup that speaks to the Med Center’s glowing global reputation.

The founding physicians are “eager to blaze a new trail and practice top-tier cardiovascular medicine,” says THI Medical Director Emerson Perin. “In the spirit of the Cooley legacy, we are joining together as a body of clinicians, surgeons and scientists with a unified ethos to take Dr. Cooley’s core mission far into the 21st Century.”

AT TOP: Dr. Denton Cooley

Business+Innovation
music

With New Concept Album, Jacob Hilton Processes Mental-Health Struggles

Dakota Garrett

Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

Al Torres

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less