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t m c ยป p u l s e | j u ly 2 0 1 6 8 Building a Better Community Since its inception, the Junior League of Houston has provided medical care to the underserved and promoted the growth of the Texas Medical Center B y B r i t n i N . R i l e y F or nearly a century, the women of the Junior League of Houston have been an integral part of the growth and development of the city of Houston. With the goal of creating change in the city through impactful volunteerism, the organization has been on the fore- front of building the city as it is today. The Junior League of Houston was started in 1925 by 12 civic-minded women who saw a need for a well- baby clinic for the underserved in the community. As mothers themselves, the founders realized the importance of providing quality health care for new mothers and their children who would otherwise not receive it. "The Junior League Children's Health Clinic was the first of many community projects started by the Junior League of Houston," said Junior League Houston President Shannon Wiesedeppe. "At the time, Junior League Provisionals were required to work in the clinic as part of their training." By 1927, the Junior League of Houston operated the Junior League Children's Health Clinic in the First National Bank Building, providing health care services to underprivileged children of all ages. Through this clinic, the League began working with Hermann Hospital (now Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center), which would begin a partnership with the medical community of Houston that still exists today. When the Texas Medical Center opened in 1945, Junior League members were some of its first volunteers. Through their partnership with Hermann Hospital, the Junior League clinic moved to the medical center Dec. 1, 1944. The clinic was moved to the outpatient department of Hermann Hospital and renamed the Junior League Children's Health Clinic of Hermann Hospital Outpatient Department and served as a training ground for medical students at Baylor College of Medicine. In addition to assisting in the clinic, in 1945, League volunteers also began a program to assist patients during their stay in the hospital. This type of patient interac- tion with League volunteers continues to this day as part of the League's Community Program. Before the doors of Texas Children's Hospital opened in 1954, the Junior League had already begun providing services for the hospital. The orga- nization opened the Junior League Diagnostic Clinic in the outpatient department at Texas Children's Hospital, which included 11 highly specialized clinics. "Even before we opened our hos- pital, the Junior League had formed relationships with our founders at Texas Children's," said Paige Schulz, director of Volunteer Services at Texas Children's. "For more than 60 years, the League volunteers have been providing high-quality service to our patients, A Junior League of Houston volunteer delivers arts and crafts to Texas Children's Hospital patients.