Deanna D. Emerson

She was born in Manhattan, New York in 1939 to Robert D. and Aurora D. Emerson who preceded her in death.

After spending her early years in New England, Dr. Emerson and her family moved to Houston.

Following high school, Dr. Emerson entered Rice University and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She began her medical career as a research technician at M.D. Anderson and then continued as a research assistant at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While in Philadelphia, Dr. Emerson also completed graduate level work in biochemistry at Temple University. Dr. Emerson returned to Texas, entered medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and received her Medical Degree in 1968. Dr. Emerson completed her internship at Fresno Community Hospital, Fresno, California in 1969. She returned to Galveston where she completed her residency and a Fellowship in Child and Adult Psychiatry in 1973. Dr. Emerson joined the Houston Northwest Medical Center staff in 1974. She retired in 2005 and became a member of the Northwest Emeritus Staff. She continued caring for others in her private practice until her recent illness. Dr. Emerson was the consummate psychiatrist and was recognized as such when she was named as a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in 1991 and a Distinguished Life Fellow in 2003.

Dr. Emerson was a patroness of the arts, a voracious reader, and loved to travel, especially with her friends and family.

A caregiver to the end of her life, she was more concerned about her friends and family than herself. She is survived by many loving family members, dear friends, and grateful patients. She will be sorely missed, but remembered as someone who enriched the lives of all those she touched.

In lieu of flowers, her friends and family ask that donations be made to the James A. Baker Institute of Rice University.

Graveside services for Dr. Emerson will be held at 12:30 PM on Sunday, August 5, 2012 at Emanu El Memorial Park 8341 Bissonnet. Rabbi Roy A. Walter, officiating.