Messages from Dr. Kelsey's Colleagues

On November 12, 2013, Kelsey-Seybold’s founder, Mavis P. Kelsey, MD, passed away at the age of 101. Dr. Kelsey pioneered a philosophy of high-quality, coordinated care that has endured for six decades and that has been recognized as America's first Accountable Care Organization. After his passing, his colleagues from St. Luke’s Health and MD Anderson Cancer Center honored him with the following messages.

"Over the years, Dr. Kelsey has stood at the crossroads of many key strategic decisions that have impacted the St. Luke's Health System.; Dr. Kelsey stands alongside other famed Texas Medical Center luminaries like Drs. Cooley, Debakey and Duke, who through their talents, insights and determination shaped the landscape of healthcare in Houston. Dr. Kelsey's impact on the innumerable patients of this community as a physician, philanthropist and leader will be greatly missed."

Cliff Robertson, MD
President & CEO
St. Luke's Health System

"Dr. Kelsey made important contributions to the development of MD Anderson Cancer Center. He was a close colleague of R. Lee Clark, the institution's first president, and helped to shape the use of radioactive chemicals to diagnose and treat cancer. He was the first head of Endocrinology and the first physician in Texas to treat thyroid cancer with radioactive iodine, now the standard of care for treatment of this cancer type. He was innovative and creative, suffusing every interaction with his wit and humor. We will miss him."

Robert F. Gagel, MD
Professor & Head, Division of Internal Medicine