M E E T
T H E
Machelle Davenport is director of Baylor Health Care System Premier
Services Program (PSP). Machelle works very closely with the Baylor
Health Care System Foundation in her role and has been the PSP director for more than seven years. PSP is a collection of benefits that
delivers the health care you expect from Baylor along with extra services
designed to provide personal attention that is convenient and discreet.
PSP is a tangible way for Baylor to express appreciation for individuals
who take special interest in the Baylor mission of providing safe, quality,
compassionate care to all patients.
S TA F F
Machelle Davenport
Machelle grew up in Quanah, Texas, a small town near
the Texas-Oklahoma border where her family has lived for
five generations. In fact, her 96-year-old grandmother still
lives on land acquired by her family more than 100 years
ago. In her spare time Machelle enjoys spending time with
her husband of five years, Rodney, and taking walks with
their three dogs, Dudley, Spencer and Rough.
What brought you to Baylor?
I was looking for something with more purpose. I worked
in special events and catering, planning and facilitating
events, at the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture
Center and Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek for more
than 15 years, and I really enjoyed it. I was missing something, though. I needed something to bridge the gap
between my passion for working with people to make their
special moments memorable with my desire to have a more
meaningful and long-term impact. When I was asked by
the Foundation to join Baylor with the unique purpose of
developing the Premier Services Program, it was a perfect
complement to existing Baylor community programs and
fit nicely with my previous experience. What I enjoy most
is the opportunity to help take the complexities of health
care faced by patients and their families and add a partner
to help guide them and simplify the process – me.
What is one of your favorite connections to the
Foundation?
It would have to be Perry Gross, M.D., currently a
Foundation volunteer. I met Dr. Gross and his wife,
Harriet, when I was working at the Mansion. I was the
event manager and worked with Harriet to plan their
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the torch | winter 2013
daughter’s wedding; I had never worked so hard on an
event in my life! Harriet knew exactly what she wanted –
she had Gourmet magazines from the ’60s, even some
before I was born, with menus that she wanted to serve
at her only daughter’s wedding. I think even Chef Dean
Fearing was nervous about pulling off their menu! Who
knew that one year later I would be working with Dr.
Gross to help develop the Premier Services Program at
Baylor!
What Foundation project are you most
passionate about?
I truly believe in our patient navigation program at the
Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center. The patient
navigators are there to support and guide our patients after
they receive the frightening news that they have cancer. I
would like to see more navigator-type programs for patients
in all service lines. I think that when you are newly diagnosed with a medical condition, be it temporary or chronic,
you need someone to call and ask questions and receive
guidance to help navigate your way.
What differentiates Baylor from other health
care organizations?
I don’t know if other doctors and hospitals pray with
their patients, but when I observe a physician or nurse
praying with a patient and their family, it makes me so
proud to work at Baylor.
What is the best reward for a job well done?
Making someone happy.