Golfers filled the course May 6 for the annual Broders ER Classic Golf Tournament at Bear Creek Golf Club, continuing a long-running tradition of supporting Parkland Health through community and philanthropy.
For more than two decades, the tournament has brought together physicians, nurses, paramedics and healthcare professionals from across North Texas for a day centered around connection and support for Parkland Health. Founded through the vision of Dr. Compton Broders and a dedicated group of volunteers, the tournament has raised more than $1 million over the years for a wide range of Parkland initiatives, including emergency services, workforce resilience and Parkland’s Global Diabetes Program.
This year’s tournament raised thousands for the Parkland Forensic Nursing Program and Pet Therapy Program at Parkland Health. Both initiatives are designed to support patients and team members during some of the most difficult moments inside the hospital.
Forensic nurses are specially-trained registered nurses who care for patients impacted by violence, abuse and trauma. In addition to medical treatment, they provide emotional support during deeply vulnerable moments. Tournament proceeds will help renovate forensic examination rooms at Parkland, creating a more calming and supportive environment for patients undergoing exams and beginning the healing process.
Proceeds will also support Parkland’s Pet Therapy Program, which provides therapy dog visits for employees across the hospital, including overnight staff and team members working in high-stress areas such as trauma services and the emergency department. The program has become an important source of stress relief and comfort for Parkland teams caring for patients around the clock.
The personality of the tournament could be seen throughout the course all day long. Golfers received neon yellow jackets in honor of Dr. Broders’ well-known love of bright colors, along with bowtie pins inspired by his signature style. Therapy dogs also made their way from hole to hole throughout the day, quickly becoming one of the event’s favorite sights.
Participants filled the fairways and helped create one of the tournament’s largest turnouts to date. Conversations carried from tee boxes to the clubhouse as healthcare professionals, supporters and volunteers gathered around a shared commitment to keeping Dallas County healthy.
More than just a day on the course, the Broders ER Classic Golf Tournament continues to reflect the strong sense of compassion and community behind Parkland Health. Year after year, the event brings people together in support of the patients, families and healthcare workers who rely on these programs every day.
