Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Recognizes Exceptional Doctors At Annual Celebration

Houston (January 29, 2002) –At its annual Doctor dinner dance, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic board chairman, Dr. Spencer Berthelsen, honored four of the Clinic’s doctors with awards.

Dr. F. James Boland was conferred a “Fellow of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic” for his work in Pediatrics. Dr. Boland has been with the Clinic since 1974. He established the Clinic’s first suburban office in Quail Valley proving the concept of bringing medical center care to Houston’s local communities, ultimately inspiring the establishment of 25 additional Kelsey-Seybold Clinic locations in the community. His early understanding and promotion of information technology in medicine has resulted in revolutionizing the way that Clinic physicians apply information and knowledge for the benefit of their patients.

Fellow distinction is the highest honor bestowed by the Clinic and is reserved for those rare individuals who give their professional lives to serve at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic and leave a lasting legacy of excellence that will continue to shape the Clinic’s future. In the Clinic’s 53-year history, there have only been seven other Fellows named before this year; including, Mavis Kelsey, Jim Kemper, Stan Fischer, Jim Smith, Don Owens, Vicki Buxton and Breaux Castleman.

The Medical Staff Development Committee also awarded Dr. Susan Brown with the “Most Valuable Physician Award” and Dr. Merlene McAlevy with the “Community Service Award.”

Dr. Brown, an internal medicine physician at Kelsey-Seybold Willowbrook Clinic and recently named Chief of Staff at Methodist Hospital - Willowbrook was recognized for her dedication, hard work and commitment to her patients and Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. Among her successes, Dr. Brown was instrumental in establishing an inpatient service and triage system at Willowbrook Hospital and is always striving to improve continuity of care for all her patients.

Dr. McAlevy, a pediatrician at Kelsey-Seybold West Clinic, was recognized with the “Community Service Award” for her volunteering throughout the community and making a difference in many people’s lives. Among her good deeds, Dr. McAlevy helped establish the Search Homeless Center, served on its board of directors for eight years and was a frequent volunteer there. She also volunteers at a well child clinic at St. Cecilia’s Church and has made three trips to a medically underserved area of Bolivia as a member of an eye team with Benevolent Missions International, doing refractions and tonometry.