It was the late 1980s when Layna Haidar began her search for gynecologic care. Her mother was already a patient at UTHealth Houston, and she knew she wanted to start her care with the same reputable institution.
“I was 20 years old, and the staff booked my first appointment with Dr. Katz. He was so kind and personable, and he’s been my doctor ever since!” Layna said.
That was 38 years ago. Today, Layna’s daughters, Amira and Layla, are also patients of Allan R. Katz, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at UT Physicians Advanced Minimally Invasive Gynecology (AMIG) – Bellaire Station. The Haidar’s family trust in UT Physicians now spans three generations.
Tailored care through life’s health journey
When Layna and her husband were ready to start a family, they turned to Katz after suffering through two miscarriages.
“He was there for me and set me up with the best doctors to figure out what was going on,” Layna said. “Dr. Katz was not just a physician, but someone who cared for and supported me emotionally. He has a true passion for his profession.”
Katz walked Layna through trials and triumphs with her health. First through the grief of pregnancy loss, then through a delicate journey when she became pregnant with triplets, followed by the joyous celebration when her three babies (two girls and a boy) were born healthy, and again when she required a hysterectomy years later.
“He has been such a strong advocate for my healthcare, even helping me fight my insurance,” Layna said. “My health is just as important to him as it is to me.”
A mother’s influence
Inspired by his own mother, Katz said he always knew he wanted to guide, champion, and support women through healthcare.
“I loved my mother so much, I wanted to be able to take care of people just like her,” said Katz, the Robert K. Creasy, MD, Professor in OB-GYN, and vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
With a tenure longer than most careers, Katz has been providing healthcare for women since 1975.
“I really went into OB-GYN because of continuity of care,” Katz said. “We take care of our patients through their entire lives.”
Benefits of generational care
Layna’s long-term physician-patient relationship paved the way for her daughters to follow her footsteps as young adults.
“Choosing Dr. Katz and UT Physicians just made sense for so many reasons,” Amira said. “We knew Dr. Katz, we knew our mom trusted him, and we knew he was someone we could be honest with.”
With their mother as an established patient, the daughters benefited from seamless continuity of care.
“There’s a big advantage in our doctor knowing our mother’s health history,” Layla said. “It will help guide our own healthcare as we age.”
“Genetically, our reproductive systems are similar, having a physician who already knows our background because he treated our mother removes a lot of the unknown and builds confidence in our care,” Amira said.
Celebrating mothers through healthcare
The Haidar women will say that having the same provider has helped them support each other through various health concerns and destigmatized candid conversations about women’s healthcare in their home, but Katz is quick to credit the matriarch for setting an important foundation for pride in her health and for role-modeling healthy habits.
“Women set the standard for healthcare in America by managing their family’s care,” Katz said. “I have a lot of respect for women and mothers as they often take on this important role.”
So many mothers, like Layna Haidar, are often the pillar of family health, setting appointments, arranging follow-up care, and seeking treatment options for everyone in the household.
For mothers everywhere who take on the responsibility of household family care, UT Physicians and providers like Katz are privileged to devote seamless care for each generation.
