Steve Brent Wells
Two unrelated factors guided Steve Wells to find his calling.
As a young lawyer, he took on the responsibility for establishing a medical advisory board to help St. Mary's, a small children's medical facility in New York City, expand its programs and recruit its first medical director. Coincidentally, he had a young daughter who was profoundly disabled, frail, and determined.
Mr. Wells's involvement with the organization grew, as he served on and led numerous committees over the past 35 years. "I've been in every possible role," he said. Mr. Wells is now the vice chairman of the board of the greatly expanded St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children. He is also co-founded and managing director of The Solaris Group LLC, a wealth management firm.
"St. Mary's is one of the very few organizations dedicated to providing subacute care for children with special needs and life-limiting conditions," he said. Services include rehabilitation, inpatient services, home care, traumatic brain injury and coma recovery, medical day care and camps, healing arts and therapeutic recreation, and palliative and respite care. About 4,000 children are served each day.
While St. Mary's was reaching for new heights, so too was Mr. Wells's daughter, Amy, who followed her philosophy of "unlimited possibilities" to earn both an master's degree and a law degree before her death.
Her example drives his passion for his volunteer work.
"What she taught me is what her life teaches everybody. We have to put aside our preconceptions about (our patients') limitations, and allow them to accomplish things we never thought they were capable of," Mr. Wells said.
Featured Advisors' Stories
