Houston Methodist receives $6.5 million gift to name liver center

The Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation at Houston Methodist Hospital is now named the Sherrie and Alan Conover Center for Liver Disease & Transplantation.

The Conovers, who live in Estero, Fla., donated a $6.5 million gift to the center that will be used for research, outreach and education.
“Generous gifts from caring people like Mr. and Mrs. Conover allow us to make investments in Leading Medicine,” said Marc L. Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist. “We are deeply appreciative for this gift which will have a very positive impact on people battling liver disease.”

Part of the gift will also be used to develop after hours resources and support for caregivers and family members who spend many days and nights away from home caring for loved ones at the hospital. Sherrie Conover spent countless hours by her husband’s side when he came to Houston Methodist Hospital in May, 2013 to receive a liver transplant. The life-saving transplant was performed by center director, R. Mark Ghobrial, M.D., Ph.D., FACS, FRCS and Howard Monsour Jr., M.D.

“Alan was in very bad health when we got to Houston Methodist Hospital and Drs. Ghobrial and Monsour and the liver team saved his life,” said Sherrie Conover. “We wanted to do something to show our gratitude for the outstanding care he received from everyone in the liver center and throughout the hospital.”

“This substantial and thoughtful gift from the Conover family will allow us to expand our clinical and research programs even further,” Ghobrial said. “We are currently involved in researching new forms of immunosuppression, strategies for reducing complications, and new ways to fight post-operative infection and this will give us a better chance to reach those goals.”

In 2014, Ghobrial and his team performed 85 liver transplants, allowing them to become the leading center in treatment of liver disease in the Texas Medical Center and region.