Introduction
Bobby R. Alford, M.D.
Program Overview General Surgery
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Research
Lectures, Conferences and Workshops
Visiting Professor
Faculty
Baylor College of Medicine
Affiliated Hospitals
Houston
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What do you really know about Houston? Thanks to the folklore of the Wild West, and the popularity of Westerns and television series, many people who have never been to Houston have preconceived notions of the city that are ... well, just plain wrong.
With two million inhabitants from a variety of cultures, Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States. And the city's modern industries, lush  vegetation, and thriving intellectual and cultural environment are a far cry from the "cowtown" image often associated with Houston.
Houston is an international city that is a leader in the arts, education, and health care. The same vision and entrepreneurial spirit that made Houston the energy capital of the world has given rise to global companies in a wide array of industries. On top of all the "big city benefits," Houston's cost of living and housing costs are significantly lower than is found in many other large urban areas.
 Toss out any images of dusty, flat plains, because Houston is full of trees and boasts 32,000 acres of parks, public green space, and open water. Filling your free time will be a breeze, since the city offers an abundance of recreational activities, restaurants, shopping, cultural performances, entertainment, and sporting events. When considering factors such as cost of living, jobs, education, climate, crime, arts, and recreation, Places Rated Almanac ranked Houston as the third best city in A merica in which to live.
Baylor College of Medicine is situated in one of the most attractive areas of Houston. Located five miles south of downtown, the Texas Medical Center adjoins the landscapes of Hermann Park, Rice University, and Rice Village Shopping Center. The Medical Center's northern perimeter features the Museum District, which offers more than 15 outstanding art, historic, and science museums, including the Contemporary Arts Museum, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Health & Sciences, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Houston Highlights
- Low cost of living and affordable housing
- No state or local income taxes
- Expanding economy in diverse industries
- Multicultural population of two million
- More than 30 colleges and universities
- Average temperature of 68 degrees
- Permanent ballet, opera, symphony, and theater companies
- An "urban forest" with 307 parks
- NASA's Johnson Space Center
- World's eighth largest port in terms of shipping tonnage
- 3,000 restaurants serving every type of cuisine
- Shopping galore
- Professional and college sports
- Nearby beaches and lakes
Houston Hogwash
Myth: It's expensive to live in big cities.
 Unlike most big cities, Houston offers a very affordable cost of living. The cost of living in Houston is 5.6 percent below the U.S. average and as much as 30-50 percent below the average for metro areas like Washington D.C. and Boston. Housing costs in Houston are 16.5 percent below the U.S. average and 45-90 percent below that of major metro areas like Los Angeles and New York City.
Myth: Only cowboys live in Texas.
Recent census data show that the greater Houston area contains four million inhabitants. This population base includes a wide variety of racial and ethnic groups that give Houston a rich diversity and cosmopolitan feel.
Myth: Oil and gas is the only major industry.
Since a 1982 recession due to depressed global oil prices, the city's economy has expanded to include major growth in high technology industries, medical research, health care, and professional services. Houston is home to many businesses including corporate headquarters for 15 of the Fortune 500 companies. In addition, many foreign countries and corporations have established a presence in Houston to access North American markets via the city's excellent distribution facilities. Unknown to many people, the Port of Houston ranks eighth in the world in terms of shipping tonnage and first in the United States in terms of foreign tonnage.
Myth: It's unbearably hot year-round.
Yes, the summers are hot, but there's plenty of air conditioning and water activities to beat the heat. And the upside is that winters are mild and virtually carefree, since snowfall and ice are rare. Houston's climate by the numbers: temperature range between a low of 32 degrees (20 days per year) and, a high of 90 degrees (95 days per year).
Myth: There's nothing to do.
Houston offers a plethora of cultural and recreational activities to keep you entertained. Cultural attractions in the city include numerous museums and a thriving theater district. In fact, Houston is one of only a few U.S. cities with permanent ballet, opera, symphony, and theater companies performing year-round, and Houston is second only to New York's Broadway theater district for  number of theater seats (nearly 10,000) in a concentrated downtown area. Museums in the Houston area cover fine arts, natural science, historical topics, the space center and many other fields of interest. If you're into sports, Houston is home to numerous professional teams including the Astros, Rockets, Comets, Aeros, the Hotshots soccer team, and the NFL football team, the Texans. The University of Houston and Rice University also field teams for all major NCAA sports. If you want to play, the greater Houston area offers almost all sporting and hobby interests, and the moderate climate is conducive to a variety of outdoor activities including tennis, golf, water sports, cycling, and running.
Myth: The restaurants only offer barbeque and Mexican food.
Few metropolitan areas can offer the quality and variety of restaurants available in the greater Houston area. More than 30 different national and regional categories are represented by nearly 3,000 food serving establishments in the city. In fact, a common lament of people moving away from the city is how much they miss the food of the region. Simply stated, Houston is a terrific town for dining!
Myth: People ride horses to get around.
Houston boasts one of the finest highway systems in North America today and unlike other major metr opolitan areas, Houston freeways continue moving even during rush hour! Houston provides a modern and efficient infrastructure that includes high-capacity freeways, major rail lines, and the Port of Houston. Getting to and from the city is also a breeze. Houston is the air gateway to the Southwest, with international passenger service from George Bush Intercontinental Airport and domestic passenger service from Intercontinental and William P. Hobby Airport. As the home and hub airport for a major U.S. airline, nonstop flights are available to most U.S. cities.
Myth: The terrain supports nothing but tumbleweeds.
 Sometimes referred to as the "urban forest," Houston is covered with lush vegetation. The city maintains more than 300 municipal parks and 120 open spaces. There are 53 parks and public spaces located in downtown alone! In addition, the city provides seven golf courses and operates a modern zoological garden for public use.
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