‘To have come into the world to do big things, to be filled with light, to shine’
Along the Compassion Path that hugs the front of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Campus, a nascent, 15-foot live oak’s leaves sway gently, creating a symphony of swooshing greenery ebbing and flowing at the whim of a soft breeze.
At first glance, the tree’s trunk appears a bit frail. But on closer inspection, its quiet strength is emblematic of William L. Henrich, MD, MACP, the leader whose resilience, compassion and positivity guided UT Health San Antonio on its blazing path to making lives better during his 15-year presidency.
In honor of the aspirational leader who passed away last March, members of the UT Health San Antonio Compassionistas, a group of 11 faculty members, and the Association of Retired Faculty and Associates (ARFA), a voluntary organization of about 60 retired university faculty and staff members, hosted a tree dedication Feb. 28 to celebrate Henrich’s invaluable contributions to the university, the community and beyond.
“Our committee felt compelled to demonstrate appreciation in a symbolic and meaningful way by expressing our outward gratitude through a living memorial,” said Compassionistas Chair Carol A. Nguyen, RDH, associate professor, dental hygiene director, BS Degree Completion Program. “Our hope is that this living memorial will serve as a lasting reminder of the fragility of life, the importance of resilience, the strength of having deep roots and the growth of our community in life’s journey.”
‘Make tomorrow better than today’
During Henrich’s presidential tenure — from 2009 to 2024 — he presided over the greatest period of expansion in UT Health San Antonio’s history. But more than that, he was the university’s unifier-, motivator- and optimist-in-chief.
After his passing, ARFA President Rajam Ramamurthy, MD, professor emeritus, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, recalled receiving many emails in her inbox asking, “What shall we do as retired faculty and associates to memorialize this wonderful human being who touched many lives?”
The answer: Plant a tree along the university’s Compassion Path — a trail of trees along the walking and jogging path in front of the Long Campus. The path was created in December 2020 by the Compassionistas to encourage the practice of compassion.
Everyone agreed that this was a beautiful idea, and an email was sent to Carol Nguyen and Robert M. Esterl Jr., MD, associate dean for undergraduate medical education, professor of surgery and an inaugural member of the Compassionistas.
“With generous donations and efforts from ARFA and the Compassionistas, and with unwavering support from the Office of the President and from Assistant Director of Facilities Management David Brahm, we have placed a plaque and planted a sturdy live oak tree along the Compassion Path in remembrance of Dr. Henrich,” Esterl said. “This tree with its plaque is the first you come across as you wander along the Compassion Path, and it provides a living reminder of Dr. Henrich’s amazing accomplishments and the wonderful gifts he gave to all of us. For these things we are eternally grateful.”
Inscribed on the plaque beneath the live oak is a quote from Henrich that embodies his trademark hopefulness: “Make tomorrow better than today for everyone our missions touch.”
During the dedication, Taylor Eighmy, acting president of UT Health San Antonio and president of The University of Texas at San Antonio, read a beautiful poem in remembrance of Henrich.
“The last sentence in Mary Oliver’s wonderful and poignant poem “When I am Among the Trees” captures much of the sense I have about Bill and his impact: to have come into the world to do big things, to be filled with light, to shine.”
“As we stand together to dedicate this tree in memory of Dr. William Henrich, we are reminded of his exceptional leadership and enduring legacy,” Nguyen said. “This tree symbolizes the strength, growth and profound impact that Dr. Henrich had on our university and the lives of those he touched to make lives better.”
Andrea Marks, MBA, CPA, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, conveyed how much the tree dedication meant to Henrich’s wife, Mary Henrich.
“Mary Henrich could not be here today, but she is aware of this thoughtful gesture and is so grateful to ARFA and the Compassionistas for commemorating Bill’s legacy in this beautiful way,” Marks said.
‘Compassion is a way of life’
The Compassion Path is part of the Compassionate San Antonio Resolution, which affirmed San Antonio as an official Compassionate City. It begins near the guard station on Floyd Curl Drive and ends at the second guard station on Louis Pasteur Drive. Each tree along the path is marked with a special plaque conveying a different compassion statement meant to cultivate gratitude, resilience and civic leadership in health care education.
“Compassion is a way of life, a quality that forms the core of health care,” Ramamurthy said. “The work of the compassion group is simply to nudge our conscience so we stay on our path.”
Known for its resiliency and strength, the live oak planted in Henrich’s honor marks the 12th tree along the path aptly named for compassion, an innate trait of Henrich.
“May this tree stand tall and flourish, representing the deep roots of Dr. Henrich’s legacy and the wide-reaching branches of his influence,” Nguyen said. “Let it be a beacon of hope, resilience and growth for all who pass by, inspiring us to carry forward his vision and values. … Together, let us honor Dr. Henrich and continue to nurture the seeds of compassion, gratitude and excellence that he so passionately planted within our university.”
Click here to read the poem “When I am Among the Trees.”