The Celebration

The Health Museum, who’s mission it is to “foster wonder and curiosity about health, medical science and the human body,” welcomed 200 guests to its 2025 Health Heroes Gala at the Hotel ZaZa-Museum District on November 1, 2025. The annual celebration honors health-care professionals who devote their lives to advancing the physical, mental, and social well-being of others. Proceeds from the evening will fuel the Museum’s innovative educational programs, interactive exhibitions, and community outreach initiatives—each designed to ignite curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists, healthcare professionals, and changemakers. Lynn and Ed Jones chaired the lavish evening, and CW39 H-Town Live Host, Maggie Flecknoe, emceed. The 2025 Health Heroes Honoree was Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale.

 

The Story

 Guests were welcomed with a spirited cocktail reception featuring art by well-known Houston artist Tafte McWhorter. His large collaborative piece title Note to Self was a coveted item during the live auction. During the reception, guests had the opportunity to add their own note to self to the piece. Summoned by melodic dinner chimes, diners made their way to the ballroom. The stunning décor and warm lighting cast by gold and crystal table lamps, courtesy of Artell Solutions, were reminiscent of an upscale speakeasy. And In Bloom’s sumptuous floral arrangements—generously underwritten by UT Health—of white roses, hydrangeas, and verdant greenery festooning the tabletops added to the vintage ambiance. Dinner featured grilled beef tenderloin and citrus-crusted red snapper, for the main course, and fresh berries with Chantilly cream and chocolate decadence cake with raspberry coulis, for dessert.

 

Guests were smitten as always by the “mystery boxes,” valued at up to $1000 each, which sold out in minutes. Treasures included Houston Astros and Houston Texans tickets, fine jewelry, luxury handbags, restaurant certificates, a Yeti rolling cooler, and exclusive experiences. Paddles Up, led by Auctioneer Dustin Wood of Johnny Bravo Entertainment, brought participants together to directly benefit the museum’s hallmark programs: discovery camps, doc dissections, free family Thursdays, health and healing workshops, and the nationally unique DeBakey cell lab—the only bilingual computer-guided lab of its kind in the United States. The live auction brought down the house with energetic bidding on unique items, like a Rocky Mountain getaway for a week in picturesque Estes Park; an All Around H-Town package packed with premier local experiences—from front-row seats to the Houston Rockets, Houston Dynamo, Houston Ballet, Broadway Across America, and the Houston Symphony, to private catering for eight; a Boots and Bourbon experience, offering two custom pairs of boots from Republic Boot Co. paired with a private VIP fitting and bourbon tasting; and the rare opportunity to name one of the museum’s learning centers.

 

The Moments

Flecknoe and The Health Museum president and CEO, John Arcidiacono, opened the program with a warm welcome and updates on the museum. The invocation was delivered by The Health Museum board chair, Susan Bickley. One of the evening’s highlights occurred when Houston icon Jim, Mattress Mack, McIngvale introduced his daughter, Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale, as the 2025 Health Heroes Honoree. During his deeply moving tribute, McIngvale shared their personal journey with mental illness and celebrated his daughter’s remarkable dedication to transforming her experience into purpose. Dr. McIngvale, who is serving as director of the OCD Institute of Texas, and who is also the founder of the Peace of Mind Foundation, spoke about her experiences working to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The Jones’ thanked the sponsors, underwriters, and donors for their support and debuted the Museum’s Impact Video, which put the spotlight on the tangible results of community support. Adding their voices, Vanessa Garcia, a Discovery Camp participant now pursuing nursing at Houston Christian University, and Mima Loppy, a DeBakey High School student and Global Teen Medical Summit contributor, told the audience about how the museum’s programs positively influenced their career paths in healthcare. Their testimonies brought the museum’s mission to life, underscoring its impactful role in nurturing future leaders in science and medicine. The lively evening ended with a rousing afterparty hosted by DJ London.

 

 The gala raised a record $430,000 and emphasized how science, compassion, and community can converge to improve lives and shape a healthier future for all. 

 

Health Heroes and Sponsors that helped make the event possible included: Dignitaries Sponsors HCA Houston Healthcare and United Healthcare; Luminaries Sponsors John P. McGovern Foundation and Kenneth and June Mattox;  Superstars Sponsors Susan Bickley and Robert Scott and Harris County Medical Society/ Houston Academy of Medicine; Exemplars Sponsors Beacon Capital Partners, The Faykus Foundation, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, and Houston Methodist;  Treasures Sponsors Dr. William S. Gilmer, David Gow, Linbeck Group, Jacqueline Macha and Brian Faulkner/Martha Walton, Memorial Hermann, Katherine and Brian Parsley, M.D., Tellepsen, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

 

Additional underwriters included: Entertainment Sponsor Bob Westendarp; Floral Sponsor UTHealth Houston; Mystery Boxes Sponsor Ann and Kenny Friedman; Décor Sponsor Artella Solutions/Sep Moshiri; Live Auction Sponsor Ascent Emergency Medical Center; Valet Sponsor Kelli Cohen Fein, M.D., and Martin Fein; and Photography Sponsor Dr. JoAnne Rogers-Sylve.

 

Guests: Board Chair Susan Bickley and Robert Scott; Lynn and Ed Jones; Linda Primrose; Dr. William Gilmer; Jackie Macha and Brian Faulkner; Martha Walton; Audrey and David Gow; Sherri and Dr. Pat Wood; Dr. Joanne Rogers and Theil Sylve; Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein and Martin Fein; Claudia and Sepand Moshiri; Dr. Rahki and Stephen Dimino, Denis and Susan DeBakey; Matthew Macky; Dr. Margaret-Mary Wilson; Richard Villanueva; June and Kenneth Mattox; Cynthia Pickett-Stevenson; and Dr. Robert Jackson.

 

About The Health Museum:

Located in the heart of the Houston Museum District, The Health Museum's mission is to foster wonder and curiosity about health, medical science, and the human body. The Health Museum is one of the most interactive and popular health science learning centers of its kind and is a favorite among Houstonians. Since the museum’s opening in 1969, visitors have benefited from the intriguing exhibits and unmatched programming developed in partnership with leading medical and scientific experts. As a member institution of the Texas Medical Center, and the only Smithsonian Affiliate Museum in the Houston Museum District, The Health Museum is a culturally significant educational asset that attracts learners of all ages.

For more information about The Health Museum, please visit thehealthmuseum.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.