her own . It ’ s obvious that the people are what Dr . Gunby loves most about his job .
When he is not helping families bring new life into the world , he enjoys time spent with his own family . Dr . Gunby and his wife , Elizabeth , have two children and five “ perfect ” grandchildren . He enjoys skiing and collecting — coins , stamps and information for his own family tree .
Chair in charge : Dr . Christy Littrell
In a remote village in Nicaragua that could only get electricity two hours a day , Dr . Littrell found her calling .
One day , a woman came in to the clinic , having a miscarriage . She also had malaria and was losing a lot of blood . It was a gynecologist who saved her life , Dr . Littrell remembered . “ That experience dug into my heart . When I did my rotations as a third-year medical student , it was women ’ s health for me .”
Working in the field of women ’ s health was not something Dr . Littrell expected she would pursue . Following her passion for all
things science , she specialized in chemistry before earning a bachelor ’ s in pharmacy from The University of Texas at Austin .
“ I really flourished in science ,” Dr . Littrell said . “ I started off studying chemistry and ended up going into pharmacy , but then realized I enjoyed my interactions with my patients .” That grew into going to medical school , and Dr . Littrell earning her medical degree from UTMB Health School of Medicine . “ I love combining the science of medicine with the relationships you develop with patients and the care developed from that combination ,” she said .
That perspective is something she leads with as chair of obstetrics and gynecology at BUMC , a role she took on in 2021 after a year serving in an interim capacity .
“ We have a fantastic department : the providers , the nursing staff , the quality and process improvement — our charge is to continue to support it ,” she said . “ We look forward to growing the educational aspect of what we do and developing more research .”
Educating the next generation of providers is important , she feels , as is enhancing the quality of care for women everywhere . “ We can promote women ’ s
Perhaps it ’ s no surprise that a man so dedicated to helping families enjoys doing genealogy . “ It gives me a feeling of completeness to understand how my family developed the way they are and why I am the way I am ,” Dr . Gunby said . “ It ’ s interesting to know what happened in your family and why things turned out the way they did .”
health and move it forward ,” Dr . Littrell said . Quality and process improvement initiatives she and her colleagues work on in the BUMC OB-GYN department help Baylor Scott & White Health remain at the forefront of women ’ s care . “ It ’ s wonderful when you take care of patients , but I also want to make a difference for all patients who walk through Baylor ’ s doors .”
The spiritual aspect of the care that Baylor Scott & White offers is also very important to providers like Dr . Littrell , who see people as whole individuals . “ In my training here at Baylor ,” she said of her residency , “ my mentors showed me that treatment is all-encompassing for the patient and their family . We don ’ t just do the medicine part ; we take the person as a whole and consider the spiritual part as well .”
Four years into her practice on the medical staff at BUMC , Dr . Littrell was diagnosed with breast cancer . The mother of two young children , she came face to face with the fears any patient with cancer battles . Dr . Littrell remembers how her priorities in life were made crystal clear , and that the physical , mental , emotional and spiritual support she received from her Baylor family was second to none .
“ People I barely even knew were bringing meals to my house ,” she said . “ I kept practicing medicine — it was healing for me — and when my partners commented on how strong I was , I said , ‘ I got that strength from you guys .’”
In remission but forever grateful for what she calls “ her Baylor family ,” Dr . Littrell feels a deep connection to the mission and people of Baylor Scott & White Health . When she ’ s not helping save and improve lives at the hospital , she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children , growing organic fruits and vegetables , enjoying the outdoors with their three dogs and doing service projects as a family .
“ Giving back to the community is important to us ,” Dr . Littrell said . “ We want to take care of those around us .”
Q & A with Dr . Gunby
& Dr . Littrell
What makes Baylor Scott & White a unique place to practice medicine ?
Dr . L : I was struck by the teamwork that I encountered at Baylor when I first came as a resident . We have an amazing combination of quality doctors and staff to provide the care for our patients both physically and spiritually . As providers , we are so lucky to have the nursing staff and innovative technology to provide this quality of care that addresses each person as a whole .
Dr . G : Baylor Scott & White provides a wonderful work environment . The people you share medicine with here are so helpful , and the system assembles the best nursing teams and all the equipment and supplies needed to allow us to do the best we can possibly do . We have every thing at our fingertips we need to practice here . It ’ s a very special place .
What role does philanthropy play in your work ?
Dr . L : We are in the process of growing and improving our department . When I met with the Foundation just the other day , they asked what other things we thought we might need . A current focus of the Foundation is on our Women & Children ’ s units with updates to help provide advanced care for our patients . Philanthropy is an integral part of the care we provide .
What do you see as the future of women ’ s care in the next 50 years ?
Dr . G : The last 50 years have already been an unbelievable transition , and that will continue . People will have babies the sway they used to , but everything is so high-tech that we concentrate on maintaining the human nature of this process , too . That ’ s very important .
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THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE FOUNDATION NEWS / WINTER 2021