This month we celebrate Jewish American Heritage and recognize their contributions to American culture. At Houston Methodist, Debra Sukin, PhD and Dr. Milton Boniuk have both made their undeniable mark on our institution.
A longtime humanitarian, philanthropist, author and ophthalmologist, Dr. Boniuk lives by a simple but amazing belief: Differences among individuals should be celebrated, not feared. His dedication to an inclusive community includes the creation of Holocaust Museum Houston’s Boniuk Library and Boniuk Center for the Future of Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Studies; and Rice University’s The Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance. Dr. Milton and his wife, Laurie gifted $28.5 million to The Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance to conduct research, public outreach and educational programming. Its mission is to foster multidisciplinary research that leads to innovative ways to understand and achieve religious tolerance. Dr. Boniuk’s service of promoting tolerance, compassion and respect for multiculturalism and diversity led to the Holocaust Museum Houston honoring him with the 2020 Guardian of the Human Spirit Award. The Boniuks are known throughout the city of Houston for their commitment to service and building an open-minded society.
As Regional Senior Vice President of Houston Methodist, Dr. Debra F. Sukin has responsibility for four suburban hospitals in addition to her role as Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, Dr. Sukin designed, developed, and implemented Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital as a greenfield project that opened in 2017 and is now undergoing a $250 million expansion to be completed in 2022.
Prior to joining Houston Methodist, Dr. Sukin served as Senior Vice President of CHI St. Luke’s Health System as well as Chief Executive Officer of CHI St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital.
A Houston native, Dr. Sukin is an active community advocate and public speaker. She is past Chair for both Interfaith of The Woodlands and The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors. In 2007, Dr. Sukin was recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s “Up & Comers” in health care leadership. The American College of Healthcare Executives honored her with the Regent’s Early Careerist Healthcare Executive Award in 2010. She was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2013 as one of the top Women Hospital and Health System Leaders in the country, and by Montgomery County Women’s Council on Organization as a 2014 Woman of Distinction. In 2016, Dr. Sukin was named a Hometown Hero in The Woodlands. The Houston Business Journal recognized Dr. Sukin as an “Outstanding Business Leader in Healthcare” for Women Who Mean Business and “Business Woman of the Year” in 2017.
We want to celebrate with you for all awareness months and holidays. Please email theofficeofdei@houstonmethodist.org if we have regrettably overlooked any.
Join the conversation on Twitter @HMethodistCares.
Are you interested in learning more about our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)? Text ERG to 45991.
Leave a Reply