Put on your tux (or sparkling evening gown) and boots as the American Heart Association throws its annual Galveston Island Heart Ball, "Black Tie and Boots". This year they will honor UTMB Health's Department of Family Medicine chair, Dr. Barbara L. Thompson.
"Dr. Thompson has made a true investment to our community with a focus on family medicine, internal medicine, preventative medicine and community health. She has seen the effects of heart disease first hand, so ensuring the Galveston community has a focus on taking care of their health is a top priority. Spending her entire medical career in Galveston, her dedication is evident. We are thrilled to have Dr. Thompson serve as the 2012 American Heart Association Black Tie & Boots Gala Honoree," says Katie Gallagher of the Galveston Division of the American Heart Association.
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke — America’s No. 1 and No. 4 health threats. They team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. Locally, over the past year, the AHA has funded over $1.2 million in research grants to UTMB Galveston and nearly $10 million in Houston. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke
The Galveston and Bay Area chapter of the American Heart Association hosts the Galveston Island Heart Ball and silent auction each year to raise money to support its mission. The 2011 Galveston Island Heart Ball raised more than $165,000 and the group plans to raise more than $180,000 at this year's event.
The Galveston Island Heart Ball will take place the evening of Saturday, May 5 at the Tremont House in Galveston, Texas.