1949
The formation of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic began in 1949 when Dr. Mavis P. Kelsey left the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for his home state and the newly emerging Texas Medical Center. Similar to the Mayo Clinic model of combining primary and specialty medical services in one location, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic was the first of its kind in the Houston area to bring specialists, general practitioners, nurses and other care givers together as a team to provide the best possible care.
1953
Dr. Kelsey’s brother, John R. Kelsey, Jr., another Mayo-trained physician and specialist in Gastroenterology, joined the practice in 1953. Also joining the multispecialty team in the 1950s were a psychiatrist, cardiologist and rheumatologist. In 1953, Clinic doctors began serving rotations at area hospitals, including Hermann Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
1956
On Dec. 15, 1956, the Kelsey and Leary Foundation for the Advancement of Medicine was established to provide scholarships and financial support for research. The Kelsey Foundation, as it is known today, is involved in a variety of research projects with universities, pharmaceutical companies, government bodies and hospitals in the Texas Medical Center. Research areas include cancer, epilepsy, cardiology, diabetes and obstetrics.
1957
On March 6, 1957, the Clinic moved into a new building at 6655 Travis with ample space for exam areas, X-ray room and laboratory. Dr. William Seybold, who had left the practice for a few years, returned in 1961, and the Kelsey-Leary-Seybold Clinic was established.
1964
In 1964, Dr. Mavis Kelsey hired Agnes (Aggie) Greer as his nurse. She met Dr. Kelsey four years earlier when she worked for Texas Governor William P. Hobby, one of Dr. Kelsey’s patients. Aggie remained with the Clinic for 22 years – even after Dr. Kelsey retired in January 1986. Like so many of the original doctors, nurses and support staff, Aggie stayed with the Clinic for most of her medical career.
1960s
During the 60s, the Clinic added more specialists and more departments. The rapidly expanding Radiology Department added lab technicians, while the multi-specialty team continued to grow with the addition of a pediatrician and otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose & Throat specialist). New departments included Pediatrics, Rheumatology, Dermatology, Urology, Ophthalmology and Dentistry.
1964
In 1964, the Clinic moved into new facilities at 6624 Fannin. That building is now the St. Luke’s Tower. Dr. Leary joined the staff of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1965 and the Clinic’s name was changed to Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. For over half a century, the Kelsey-Seybold name has been synonymous with multispecialty health care in Houston.
1966
In 1966, the Clinic became the first contract medical service provider for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Dr. Stanton P. Fischer, a pulmonologist, joined the staff a year earlier and assisted in providing executive physical examinations on NASA employees and other contractors.
Dr. Fischer served as Chief of Staff from 1979-1983 and is still on active staff. Kelsey-Seybold also continues to serve NASA.
Throughout our long association with NASA, we have contributed medical support services to the Apollo, Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz and Space Shuttle programs. In order to provide a western-style of medical care to all NASA-affiliated personnel, we provide a NASA Support Physician in Moscow. Dr. Jose Flores has served in that capacity for the past three years. We also provide contract medical services in six locations in the U.S.
1970s
Among the many patients who came to Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in the late 60s and 70s were entertainers like Roy Rogers and international patients from Saudi Arabia, India and Africa. More Latin Americans visited Kelsey-Seybold Clinic than any other U.S. clinic during this period.
1971
In 1971, KSC opened its first neighborhood health center on Post Oak in the Galleria area. The success of that health center resulted in other locations being operated in downtown Houston, Sugar Land, The Woodlands and by Intercontinental Airport. Today, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic operates more than 18 neighborhood health centers in the Houston area.
1978
In 1978, Dr. James C. Hoyle joined the staff of Pediatrics. Dr. Hoyle is currently our Medical Director, Clinical Operations.
1979
Dr. William Seybold retired in 1979. Dr. Mavis Kelsey retired in 1986. The Clinic they founded continued to flourish.
1980
In 1980 and 1981, two more distinguished physicians would join the Clinic: Dr. Spencer R. Berthelsen, an internist and current Chairman of the Board, and Dr. John I. Hughes, a gastroenterologist and current Chief of the Gastroenterology Department.
1986
In 1986, KSC sold its 6624 Fannin building to St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital and moved into a temporary location in the Doctor’s Center.
1999
In 1999, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic moved into its state-of-the-art Main Campus at 2727 West Holcombe Blvd. The 400,000-square-foot Main Campus building provides primary and specialty care in a single location, an outpatient surgery center, an urgent care center, on-site pharmacy, spacious waiting areas, expanded Radiology Department with MRI, a full-service cafeteria and free parking.
2007
In October 2007, our founder, Dr. Mavis Kelsey, celebrated his 95th birthday. His vision of combining the expertise of specialists, with the close personal care of a family doctor has become a reality. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is a renowned multi-specialty practice and one of the largest and most experienced providers of medical care in Houston and the Southwest.
2008
On April 7, 2008, Kelsey-Seybold ushered in its newest location - Kelsey-Seybold Clinic at The Vintage - to meet the demand for medical services in Houston's booming northwest suburbs. The 60,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art medical and diagnostic facility and pharmacy is located between Cypresswood and Louetta off of Highway 249. Patients at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic at The Vintage receive comprehensive multi-specialty care with more than 20 physicians complemented by services including onsite digital X-ray and mammography services, laboratory, bone density (DEXA) scanning, ultrasound, and graded exercise treadmill testing.
2009
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic proudly celebrates 60 years of caring in 2009. When Dr. Mavis Kelsey founded the Clinic in 1949, he envisioned the creation of a premier medical group combining family and internal medicine with the highly focused expertise of specialists in all medical fields. Today, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic combines the expertise of more than 350 physicians in more than 50 areas of medical specialties and sub-specialties and offers a full range of diagnostic testing services and treatments. Kelsey-Seybold serves more than 400,000 patients each year. Among our patients are members of managed care plans, employer groups and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
2010
On March 1, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic opened its 19th location at Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland.
