UTMB Alumni

ᆞTᆞᆞOᆞᆞNᆞᆞIᆞᆞGᆞᆞHᆞᆞTᆞ
Join us for the John Sealy School of Medicine Class of 2028 White Coat Ceremony. The event starts at 6 PM and will be held at Galveston's Moody Gardens Convention Center. For those unable to join in person, tune in via live stream at https://www.utmb.edu/som/admissions-information/admitted-student-information/white-coat-ceremony?fbclid=IwY2xjawEQgrlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHR78g5agDGt-w1zJcO9g-XMbMKIlrWbVIsLCzfpZKIItu9pbLmBBz9kxNQ_aem_rlSajpN2KzgpuH8jBsQZnQ

The white coats, a special gift to each student from the John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association, symbolizes professionalism, caring and trust and is a rite of passage into medical school.

Congratulations to the JS-SOM Class of 2028! We look forward to following you on your journey!


UTMB Health

𝕋ℍ𝕀𝕊 𝔽ℝ𝕀𝔻𝔸𝕐....
The John Sealy School of Medicine Class of 2028 White Coat Ceremony will be this Friday, July 26th, at the Moody Gardens Convention Center, where our newest medical students will embark on their journey. 🩺🌟

The White Coat that the students will don during this ceremony is a gift to them from the John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association.

The keynote speaker will be alumnus DR. AMY GONZALEZ (JSSOM '13), a Pediatric Hospitalist and Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) at UTMB Health.

To join us remotely, watch the livestream here: https://www.utmb.edu/som/admissions-information/admitted-student-information/white-coat-ceremony

🎉 Join us for a momentous occasion! 🎓✨ The Class of 2028 White Coat Ceremony will be this Friday, July 26th, at the Moody Gardens Convention Center, where our newest medical students will embark on their journey. 🩺🌟 The keynote speaker will be Dr. Amy Gonzalez, a Pediatric Hospitalist and Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) here at UTMB. To join us remotely, watch the livestream here: https://www.utmb.edu/som/admissions-information/admitted-student-information/white-coat-ceremony

WAY-TO-GO!
Congratulations to LORI RHODES (SON BSN '22) on being named a Jonas Scholar! Lori is currently enrolled in the UTMB School of Nursing doctoral program.

We are thrilled that Jonas Philanthropies has selected Lori Rhodes, SON BSN graduate and current PhD student, as one of 63 leaders from around the country for the Scholars Program. These Scholars will come together to learn from national leaders, build a network of forward-thinking peers, and apply grounded and innovative strategies to become successful nursing faculty members. We look forward to cheering them on!

Read press release: https://utmb.us/b9f

Congratulations, Lori!

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙰𝙲𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙴𝚆𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙻....
For years, students, alumni, faculty, staff and Galveston locals have been fascinated with the "mysterious face" on UTMB's Ewing Hall.

What do you think about "The Face?" Share your stories and theories with us...

Legendary 'The Face' among Galveston's top unsolved mysteries The University of Texas Medical Branch's Ewing Hall might be just another blah academic building if not for the ghostly visage standing watch for decades.

𝕎𝔼𝕃ℂ𝕆𝕄𝔼 𝕊𝕋𝕌𝔻𝔼ℕ𝕋𝕊...
We look forward to following you on your journey!

።C።O።N።G።R።A።T።U።L።A።T።I።O።N።S።
Seven outstanding employees of UTMB Health were chosen for this year's 40 Under 40 Awards by the Galveston County Daily News. We salute all of these amazing individuals and highlight our UTMB alumni among this esteemed group: Hannah Peterson, Sruti Rachapudi and Quincy H. Seigel.

The Galveston County Daily News and The Facts' 40 under 40 celebrates remarkable individuals who embody personal achievement, professional success, and a strong dedication to their communities. This year, six exceptional professionals from UTMB Health are recognized for their outstanding contributions!🏅

Read more about their remarkable achievements https://utmb.us/b8c.

𝕎𝔸𝕐 𝕋𝕆 𝔾𝕆!

Congratulations to the Respiratory Care Department for being awarded the prestigious Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award! This honor recognizes programs that have demonstrated excellence in several key areas: having three or more years of outcomes data, maintaining accreditation without requiring a progress report at the end of the year, achieving a remarkable RRT credentialing success rate of 90% or above, and meeting or exceeding the established CoARC thresholds for TMC high cut score and retention. The award was presented to Daneen Nastars, Associate Professor of Instruction and Program Director of the Respiratory Care Department in The School of Health Professions, in recognition of her exceptional leadership and dedication to the field.

ＩＮ ＣＡＳＥ ＹＯＵ ＭＩＳＳＥＤ ＩＴ
UTMB School of Nursing alumna, JOANNE OLIVER-COLEMAN (’62) has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who.

Marquis Who's Who Honors Joanne D. Oliver-Coleman, MBA-HM, BSN, RN, CNOR(E), for Expertise in Health Care Management July 08, 2024 -- Joanne D. Oliver-Coleman, MBA-HM, BSN, RN, CNOR(E), serves as the president of Healthcare Resources

🇫​​🇦​​🇧​​🇺​​🇱​​🇴​​🇺​​🇸​ ​🇫​​🇦​​🇨​​🇺​​🇱​​🇹​​🇾

Please join us in congratulating the Academy of Master Teachers' July Educator of the Month, Dr. Shinu Joy!

Dr. Joy is an Assistant Professor in the UTMB School of Nursing in Galveston Department of Undergraduate Studies. Her nominators praise her engagement with students and peers across the profession.

Excerpts from her nomination include:

“I have had the great privilege of working alongside Dr. Joy and have been a witness to her outstanding dedication, expertise, and passion for teaching.”

“Dr. Joy is an exceptional communicator and (possesses) an exquisite ability to engage and challenge students, while also providing them with the necessary support and guidance to succeed.”

“Her work has garnered recognition and praise from her colleagues and peers. Furthermore, Dr. Joy has been actively involved in numerous professional organizations, serving as a mentor and role model for students and new colleagues alike.”

Congratulations, Dr. Joy!

።F።A።B።U።L።O።U።S። ።F።A።C።U።L።T።Y።
Dr. Karen Wagner, professor and Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UTMB Health, has earned the Virginia Q. Anthony Outstanding Woman Leader Award from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Established in 2013, this award celebrates the lifetime achievements of extraordinary women in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.

Read more at https://www.utmb.edu/news/article/utmb-news/2024/07/17/aacap-virginia-q.-anthony-outstanding-woman-leader-award-presented-to-dr.-karen-wagner

Happy ! This week, Sonya Jose, a third-semester BSN Traditional student says, “My favorite class in the UTMB School of Nursing in Galveston curriculum is Pediatrics. I loved this class because it aligns perfectly with my passion for caring for children.”

Happy ! This week, we asked our students about their favorite classes in the curriculum.

Sona Jose is a third-semester BSN Traditional student. “My favorite class in the UTMB School of Nursing curriculum is Pediatrics. I loved this class because it aligns perfectly with my passion for caring for children,” says Sona. “One highlight of this class was the opportunity to participate in clinicals at the Beloved and Beyond camp. This experience was truly life-changing for me. It allowed me to apply what I learned in the classroom in a real-world setting, caring for children with complex medical needs. It reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career in pediatric nursing, where I can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young patients and their families.”

Congratulations, Sona!

Congratulations Muneeza Esani, LeeAnn Walker, and Vicki Freeman on your publication ‘Association of Laboratory Science Education and Certification with Laboratory Errors: The Value of Education and Certification Study’!

𝙸𝙽 𝙲𝙰𝚂𝙴 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙴𝙳 𝙸𝚃...
DR. BARBARA BRYANT (JS-SOM '00) has been named CEO of Carter BloodCare, a nonprofit organiaation headquartered in Bedford, Texas that provides transfusion resources to more than 200 medical facilities in over 50 counties in Texas.

She will start her new role in September.

Carter BloodCare names Dr. Barbara Bryant as new CEO | Fort Worth Report DALLAS-FORT WORTH – July 17, 2024 – Carter BloodCare has announced the retirement of Dr. Merlyn Sayers as president and CEO and named Dr. Barbara Bryant

𝗔𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗡𝗜 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡...
UTMB Health Family Medicine physician and alumnus, DR. SAMUEL MATHIS (JS-SOM '14) is leading the new chapter of Walk With A Doc Galveston program.

Twice a month, the group meets at the UTMB Alumni Field House track at 10 a.m., opening with a brief talk on a health-related topic led by Mathis or another faculty member. After the talk, the group walks for about 20 minutes around the track.

With potential to improve cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness and reduce risk of heart disease and stroke, walking has an abundance of health benefits – especially when it comes with a physician-led conversation about wellness.

'Walk with a Doc' program gets community members moving With potential to improve cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness and reduce risk of heart disease and stroke, walking has an abundance of health benefits – especially when it comes with a physician-led conversation about wellness.

The 23rd annual Osler Oration was held on Friday, July 12th, 2024, at the Top Gallant Room in Galveston. During the evening, Dr. Richard Goodgame was presented with the John P. McGovern Lifetime Achievement Award in Oslerian Medicine. A special celebration was also held to honor Sir William Osler on his 175th birthday!

John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine at UTMB
UTMB Health

W̳A̳Y̳ ̳T̳O̳ ̳G̳O̳!̳
Congratulations to UTMB School of Health Professions alumni, DR. EDDIE SALAZAR ('03)and DR. JULIE SODER ('06, '15 and '19) on your new publication!

🇦​​🇼​​🇪​​🇸​​🇴​​🇲​​🇪​ ​🇦​​🇱​​🇺​​🇲​​🇳​​🇺​​🇸​
Shout out UTMB alumnus DR. JAMES PAVELA (GSBS - MPH '18) on receiving NASA's Silver Snoopy Award!


UTMB Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
UTMB School of Public & Population Health

𝕀ℕ ℂ𝔸𝕊𝔼 𝕐𝕆𝕌 𝕄𝕀𝕊𝕊𝔼𝔻 𝕀𝕋...
DR. WILLIAM WEEKS (JS-SOM ’88), director of AI for Health Research at Microsoft, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the United Hospital Fund. An independent, nonprofit organization, the United Hospital Fund works to build an effective and equitable health care system for every New Yorker. The group is a force for improvement, analyzes public policy to inform decision-makers, finds common ground among diverse stakeholders, and develops and supports innovative programs that improve health and health care.

UHF Elects Three New Members to Its Board | United Hospital Fund NEW YORK, NY—July 15, 2024—United Hospital Fund has elected three new members to its Board of Directors: Anna Fagin, a partner at Town Hall Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in medically underserved communities; Carlos Pardo Martin, PhD, a partner at McKinsey & Company, the global manag...

ᆞIᆞNᆞ ᆞCᆞAᆞSᆞEᆞ ᆞYᆞOᆞUᆞ ᆞMᆞIᆞSᆞSᆞEᆞDᆞ ᆞIᆞTᆞ

UTMB Health is participating in partnership with Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health), the Gulf Coast Consortia and their partner institutions, Texas Southern University, and TMC Innovation, to create the Gulf Coast Consortium Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (GCC-Reach).

This multi-institutional commercialization hub has been awarded a four-year, $4 million cooperative research agreement grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the development and commercialization of transformative health care treatments based on research discoveries.

Texas A&M Health, Partners Awarded $4 Million For Multi-Institutional Commercialization Hub - Health Reporter Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health), the Gulf Coast Consortia (GCC) and their partner institutions, Texas Southern University (TSU), University of Texas Medical Branch and TMC Innovation, have been awarded a four-year, $4 million cooperative research agreement grant from th...

»»ᅳUᅳTᅳMᅳBᅳ ᅳSᅳTᅳOᅳPᅳSᅳ ᅳFᅳOᅳRᅳ ᅳNᅳOᅳ ᅳSᅳTᅳOᅳRᅳMᅳ►



UTMB Health

፨W፨E፨L፨C፨O፨M፨E፨
Congratulations and welcome to the newest co-hort of UTMB Physician Assistant Studies students!

ＢＲＥＡＫＩＮＧ ＲＥＳＥＡＲＣＨ ＮＥＷＳ...
Reasearchers at UTMB Health recently discovered a significant advancement in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

UTMB Researchers Develop Nasal Spray Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch recently discovered a significant advancement in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

ℍ𝕆𝕄𝔼ℂ𝕆𝕄𝕀ℕ𝔾 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟜...
This October we are celebrating the classes of 1974, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2014. Look for your invitation in the mail this month!

Have questions? Call us at 409-772-5151 (Monday-Friday, 8-5 PM CST) or email [email protected].

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN GALVESTON!

** Online registration will be open in late July **

A block of rooms is being reserved at The San Luis Hotel, Spa and Resort for this event. Contact hotel at 800-392-5937 and ask for UTMB 2024 Homecoming rate when making your reservation ($225 per night - taxes not included).

𝕀ℕ ℂ𝔸𝕊𝔼 𝕐𝕆𝕌 𝕄𝕀𝕊𝕊𝔼𝔻 𝕀𝕋...
The UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers recently named UTMB graduate DR. ADRIANE DELA CRUZ (’11 – GSBS/SOM) as one of seven 2023 Outstanding Educators.

UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers honors outstanding educators, elects seven new members - CT Plus - UT Southwestern The 17th Annual UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT) Reception and Awards ceremony was held in November to honor UTSW faculty members for teaching excellence in 2023 as well as to welcome newly elected SWAT members.

ᆢUᆢTᆢMᆢBᆢ ᆢHᆢEᆢAᆢLᆢTᆢHᆢ ᆢIᆢNᆢ ᆢAᆢNᆢTᆢAᆢRᆢTᆢIᆢCᆢAᆢ
Imagine being in the middle of nowhere, with limited access to resources and colleagues, but needing to solve a medical crisis.

That’s the reality Dr. James McKeith, Director and Chief Medical Officer of the UTMB Health Center for Polar Medical Operations (CPMO) faces regularly while working in Antarctica.

Polar Medical Operations team enables UTMB Health Aerospace medicine students hands-on training opportunities The CPMO is also key for helping UTMB Health Aerospace Medicine residents prepare for caring for individuals facing similarly extreme conditions—astronauts.

🅜🅞🅡🅔 🅢🅣🅔🅛🅛🅐🅡 🅢🅣🅤🅓🅔🅝🅣🅢
Congratulations to these 11 UTMB Health students on their acceptance to the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Houston Galveston for the 2024-2025 academic year.

We are happy to congratulate 11 UTMB students on their acceptance to the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Houston Galveston for the 2024-2025 academic year.

This program aims to help students develop leadership skills and professional knowledge through work that supports underserved communities' health needs.

Alekhya Gurram and Rahul Nanduri (John Sealy School of Medicine):
Project: Creative Commons, intended to expand creative therapy options for people with aphasia
Community site: Houston Aphasia Recovery Center (HARC)

Inaara Aly and Esther Jeong (JSSOM), and Megan Zachariah (JSSOM and School of Public and Population Health)
Project: Grub Club, a youth program that includes nutrition education, meal prep sessions, and activities around dietary and lifestyle education
Community site: Galveston Urban Ministries (GUM)

Neha Dronamraju (JSSOM)
Project: BrIDging Resources, to help unsheltered individuals access personal identification documents and employment
Community site: CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread

Anne Reckart, Alexa Cahalane, and Britney Shen (School of Health Professions Physical Therapy)
Project: Addressing inaccessibility of assistive devices and proper footwear to aid in mobility deficits
Community site: Grace Mobility Clinic at Galveston Central Church

Kush Brahmbhatt (JSSOM and SPPH)
Project: Preparing and Responding to Accidental and Intentional Chemical Release Incidents in Galveston and Brazoria Counties
Community site: UTMB Institutional Preparedness Program

Shilpa Rumalla (JSSOM)
Project: Voices of Care, which uses expressive arts to engage stories of caregivers of children and adults with disabilities
Community site: TIRR Memorial Hermann

Please join us in wishing all of these students great success on their upcoming projects!

Members of the UTMB School of Health Professions Occupational Therapy c/o 1983 visited campus on Friday, June 21 and was given a special tour of the new Health Education Center [HEC] led by Richard Briley and Bruce Adcock. The group was also accompanied by Dr. Loree Pryor, OT Assoc. Professor of Instruction and Carolyn Davies, OT Student Ambassador.

UTMB ALUMNUS NAMED DEAN OF TARLETON STATE SCHOOL OF NURSING...

Congratulations to UTMB School of Nursing in Galveston professor and two-time graduate DR. J. MICHAEL LEGER (BSN '94 / PhD '11) on being named Dean of Tarleton State School of Nursing in Stephenville, Texas. Dr. Leger will assume his new role on July 1 and has over 20 years of experience as a health care executive.

Dr. Leger is a School of Nursing Alumni Association Hall of Fame Awardee and a current member of the Alumni Association Board.


https://theflashtoday.com/2024/06/18/dr-j-michael-leger-named-dean-of-tarleton-state-school-of-nursing/

B͇R͇E͇A͇K͇I͇N͇G͇ ͇R͇E͇S͇E͇A͇R͇C͇H͇ ͇N͇E͇W͇S͇ from UTMB Health

• UTMB researchers found that growth hormone treatment injections significantly improved the neurologic symptoms of patients suffering from long COVID.
• UTMB researchers came across the possible solution when they compared the symptoms of those suffering from long-COVID to those experienced by patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.
• Although growth hormone treatment relieved symptoms, the researchers said it did not appear to resolve the underlying cause.

Read more at https://www.utmb.edu/utmb/news-article/utmb-news/2024/06/20/growth-hormone-alleviates-some-long-covid-symptoms-utmb-study-shows