Letter from the President and CEO October 2026

Dear Reader,

Every year there comes a day in Houston when there is just a faint whisper of fall in the air, forecasting a reprieve from the summer heat. I am pleased to acknowledge that that day occurred this week. This time usually signals to me that we are well underway in our programming season, and that is certainly true this year.

I am especially pleased to report that, last week, we hosted the inaugural meeting of our second cohort of the Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Faith Community program. Thirteen faith communities from across Houston were competitively selected to join our unique two-year process, which leads participants through intensive capacity-building exercises and 1:1 support as they seek to build robust, evidence-based, sustainable health programs. This work is housed in the Novo Nordisk-funded Cities for Better Health-Houston initiative, and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on this journey together.

Separately, it is with great sadness that I report the loss of one of our long-time collaborators, Dr. Judy McFarlane. Dr. McFarlane, representing Texas Women’s University, was a steadfast supporter of our annual Spirituality in Nursing Conference and served on the planning committee until her passing. She was known for contributing creative ideas that provided the conference with its characteristic spark and innovative approach to continuing education for nurses. At the upcoming 2026 Conference, we will remember her fondly and celebrate her legacy as a singular ambassador for the profession.

Thank you for your continued support of the Institute! Please see below for all we have coming up - I look forward to seeing you soon.

Warmly,
Stuart

Stuart C. Nelson
President & CEO
Loise Henderson Wessendorff Chair