Steven Gottlieb, PhD, has always believed that service isn’t just something you offer, it’s something you carry with you. That conviction shaped his long career in engineering, national defense and strategic consulting. It continued to guide him when he and his late wife, Carolyn, relocated from Washington, D.C., to Austin in 1997.
“I never believed in stepping back from contributing,” he said. “You simply find new ways to be useful.”
In their new community, that belief found fresh purpose.
Finding new ways to serve
For Dr. Gottlieb, service has never been confined to one part of life. Beyond healthcare, he served on nonprofit boards, supported arts education through the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee and took on leadership roles within condominium and resort associations.
Today, he continues that commitment at the Presbyterian Church of Lake Travis, where he chairs its mission and outreach committee.
Discovering the importance of care close to home
Dr. Gottlieb’s connection to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lakeway began with a conversation with hospital president Philippe Bochaton. That discussion opened his eyes to how essential a local hospital is in a fast-growing region.
“I realized how important it is to have strong healthcare close to home, for emergencies and for the everyday support a community needs,” he said.
When the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lakeway Development Advisory Board was formed, Dr. Gottlieb was invited to serve as its chair. Recognizing the value of collaborative leadership, he asked the talented Fayruz Benyousef to join him as co-chair. Together, they stepped into their roles committed to keeping high-quality care close, reliable and accessible for families.
Seeing the role of philanthropy firsthand
As he learned more about the hospital’s operations, Dr. Gottlieb came to understand what it takes to keep a community hospital thriving—from equipment and technology to caring for patients without the means to pay.
“Philanthropy isn’t optional,” he said. “It’s what allows hospitals like Baylor Scott & White – Lakeway to grow, innovate and care for everyone who walks through the doors.”
That understanding deepened when he and Carolyn became patients themselves, experiencing the emergency room, surgery and inpatient care firsthand.
“What struck me most was how deeply the staff cared,” he said. “Every nurse and every physician treated us like family.”
He spoke of nurses with particular reverence, calling them the heroes who anchor the patient experience and bring compassion into every moment of care.
Believing in the future of Lakeway
Through his career, personal experiences and desire to help others, Dr. Gottlieb has become an invaluable part of the Lakeway community.
“I believe in this hospital,” he said. “I believe in the people who work here and what they’re building for the future.”
Thanks to supporters like Dr. Gottlieb, families have a hospital they can rely on—one shaped not just by medical expertise, but by compassion and commitment.
