At the corner of Bates and Bertner in the heart of the Texas Medical Center stands a familiar landmark: a deep-red granite sculpture whose sweeping curves mirror the stylized heart recognized around the world as the Texas Heart Institute’s symbol. Seen on lab coats, digital platforms, lecture halls, and lapel pins, it has long represented a standard that defines THI. Its name says it plainly: A Symbol of Excellence.

Dedicated in 1977, the monument captures the Institute’s enduring commitment to excellence in cardiovascular care, research, and education. Local artist Theodore “Ted” McKinney created the sculpture in gratitude for the care he and his daughter received as patients. Standing seven feet tall and carved from red and black granite, the piece originally anchored the entrance of THI at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital before moving to its current home in front of the Denton A. Cooley Building.

While its origins include a gesture of appreciation toward Dr. Denton A. Cooley, the sculpture has come to signify something larger: the culture of excellence and innovation that Cooley helped instill in THI and that reshaped cardiovascular care across the Texas Medical Center. That legacy is now the foundation on which THI continues to build—advancing new therapies, leading global research, and expanding cardiovascular education for the next generation.

McKinney’s own story mirrors this spirit of reinvention. A successful businessman and US Navy veteran, he discovered sculpting later in life, becoming a serious artist only after retiring in 1975. His interest in natural, abstract forms—especially driftwood—shaped the graceful lines of A Symbol of Excellence. He brought the piece to life by sculpting a full-scale prototype and working alongside granite artisans to achieve the sculpture’s final, polished form.

Today, the monument stands not only as a reminder of THI’s extraordinary past, but as a marker of its forward trajectory. As THI embarks on its next chapter, now as The Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine, the Symbol of Excellence reflects a simple truth: our future is built on a legacy of innovation, discovery, and uncompromising standards—values that continue to guide every step ahead.