By Tara Sims, Archivist and Special Collections Librarian.
Introduction
Each May, we recognize National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the challenges faced by millions of individuals affected by these chronic conditions. At the McGovern Historical Center, the archival repository of the Texas Medical Center Library, we are proud to honor our namesake, Dr. John P. McGovern — a pioneering allergist, pediatrician, educator, and philanthropist whose work helped shape the field of allergy and immunology, particularly in Houston and the surrounding region.
A Lifelong Commitment to Allergy and Asthma Medicine
In 1956, Dr. McGovern founded the McGovern Allergy and Asthma Clinic in Houston, Texas, during a period when allergy and immunology were rapidly evolving medical specialties. His clinic was one of the first of its kind in the region and quickly earned a reputation for excellence in both patient care and professional education. He was a champion of personalized, evidence-based care — a philosophy especially critical in the treatment of chronic, complex conditions like asthma.
Dr. McGovern believed in creating not just a clinic, but a center of excellence. He established a pioneering training program in allergy and immunology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, institutions with which he maintained longstanding academic affiliations. These programs helped shape generations of specialists, many of whom carried his humanistic, patient-first ethos into their own practices. His educational reach also extended to the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where he held numerous faculty appointments in medicine, public health, biomedical sciences, and allied health.
A Voice for Humanism in Medicine
Dr. McGovern’s medical legacy was never limited to science alone. A prolific writer and speaker, he became nationally known for his advocacy of humanism in medicine. In both his public lectures and personal philosophy, he argued that the healing arts must be informed not just by science, but also by empathy, ethics, and a deep understanding of the human condition. In his own words:
“We physicians are a privileged lot — privileged to serve, to share the human drama of our patients, and to contribute to their health and well-being. To be properly educated to practice his or her art, it is essential that a knowledge of science be supplemented by familiarity with the humanities.” – Dr. John P. McGovern, The Doctor as a Person (1989).
In honor of his values, the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics was established at UTHealth to support the integration of ethics and humanistic values into medical training — a living tribute to Dr. McGovern’s conviction that the best doctors are those who treat both the illness and the person.
Archiving a Life of Service
Housed at the McGovern Historical Center, the John P. McGovern, MD Papers (projected to be fully processed this summer) preserve his enduring contributions to medical science and education. The collection includes professional and personal correspondence, publications, speeches, and research data (among many other materials) relating to his clinic, philanthropy, and institutional leadership. It’s a rich resource for anyone interested in 20th-century advances in allergy and pediatric care, as well as the evolution of humanistic medicine. Dr. McGovern’s life was defined not only by medical accomplishment but by generosity of spirit. His philanthropic efforts funded health education programs, libraries, ethics centers, and clinics — all rooted in his belief that healing was as much an act of humanity as of science.
As we reflect on National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month, we celebrate the scientific and humanistic legacy of Dr. McGovern. His work reminds us that progress in medicine depends not just on discovery, but on compassion.