UTHealth Houston

About 100,000 people in the United States have sickle cell disease, which can come with crippling pain episodes, according to the CDC. Those with sickle cell disease live 20 years less on average. Modupe Idowu, MD, professor of hematology at with McGovern Medical School, broke down the facts about the blood disorder for FOX 26 Houston.

Sickle cell disease occurs when the hemoglobin in red blood cells is abnormal, causing it to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a sickle. Those cells die early, causing a shortage of red blood cells. When they travel through small blood vessels, sickle cells can get stuck and clog blood flow, leading to pain and other complications.

UTHealth Houston is part of 13 studies at the UT Physicians Comprehensive Adult Sickle Cell Center to see how the tide can be turned for those suffering from the disease.

Sickle cell awareness: More about the disease September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month and UT Health hematologist, Dr. Modipe Idowu, joined the morning show to talk more about the disease.

It’s a new beginning for faculty, staff, and students at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin!

Today, the school hosted a ribbon-cutting event unveiling their new location that includes flexible meeting spaces, classrooms, simulation labs, research facilities, and a teaching kitchen.

We’re excited to see what our researchers and students will accomplish in their new home. Read more about the innovative space here: https://www.uth.edu/news/story/uthealth-houston-school-of-public-health-unveils-a-new-home-in-austin-designed-for-collaboration-education-research.

On this , remember you’re not alone and help is always available. Please reach out if you’re struggling. #988

As a new student at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry in 1965, Mike Pearson, DDS ’69, knew hardly anyone. But when his son needed blood-intensive heart surgery, the word spread quickly. Faculty and students from across the school lined up to donate blood, proving that Mike had found his new family.

After graduating, Mike served as a Navy dentist before establishing his own successful private practice. Reflecting on his struggles as a student, he made an estate commitment to create an endowment at to support future dental students.

“Dentistry had its challenges, but it was just as satisfying as I imagined,” Mike says. “I want to help make sure students have the opportunity to experience those same rewards.”

Read more to see how Mike’s legacy helps future generations thrive just as he did. go.uth.edu/heartofgratitude

The students were greeted with smiles, prizes, and a little friendly competition during this year’s Salutation.

Student InterCouncil hosts the annual event to introduce students to the university’s numerous services, resources, and organizations.

Stay tuned to see what school showed up in numbers and who we’re passing the prize to!

Philanthropy empowers students at to follow their dreams and create opportunities that drive meaningful change.

Meet Keith Sanders, a PhD student in his third year at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston, who is paving the way in the biomedical informatics field.

“I chose this career path because we’re in a situation in our society where we have so much data, and we need to not only learn how to store and utilize it, but also how to apply it to make real-world impacts,” he says.

Keith’s research focuses on Alzheimer’s disease, delving into complicated interplays between genetics, epigenetics, and proteins to uncover new treatments and understand the disease better.

He is grateful for the scholarship he received, which helped pay for school and set him up for future success. Philanthropy can transform the lives of students like Keith, enabling them to pursue their dreams and make a significant impact on health care.

Mark Barr’s journey to the Olympic podium has been 20 years in the making, and his relentless tenacity and heart finally paid off! We are beyond proud to celebrate his bronze medal victory in the paratriathlon PTS2 class at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

As a proud Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston alumnus, cancer survivor, and amputee, Mark’s dedication has been nothing short of extraordinary. His training, including sessions at the UTHealth Houston Recreation Center, exemplified his unwavering commitment to excellence. After undergoing meniscus repair surgery with Steven Flores, MD, a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon with UT Physicians and UT Orthopedics, Mark emerged even stronger, overcoming this injury and turning it into yet another triumph.

We are thrilled for Mark, as well as his wife Morgan and their son Luke, who have been by his side every step of the way. Thank you, Mark, for representing the best of the USA and for bringing the bronze medal home to Houston!

Wishing all of our a happy . We appreciate all that you do!

The Houston Emergency Opioid Engagement System (HEROES) program, a joint initiative between McGovern Medical School and McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston, has spread beyond Houston to place the lifesaving medication naloxone where families and friends of people with substance use disorder can pick it up for free.

Over 6,000 drug overdoses occurred last year in Texas, with the majority of these attributed to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In many smaller and rural communities, even retail pharmacies do not have naloxone, the medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, and other reversal agents.

To reach people in areas that may not have easy access to naloxone, the program has installed vending machines in Bastrop, Hays, and Jefferson counties to dispense naloxone free of charge.

“As with cardiovascular events, every minute matters. Using one of these nasal sprays can work immediately to counter the effect of powerful opioids,” said James Langabeer II, PhD, EdD, MBA, HEROES program leader and professor at McGovern Medical School and McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics. “Having access to these medications is essential to preventing future overdose deaths.”

For the first time, students at are being greeted with interactive “welcome” walls. Peeling off blue squares slowly unveils an inspirational message, while students are able to leave their own thoughts about their vision for health care on the other side. Stop by and be inspired!

What better way to welcome students back to campus than with parties!

McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston and UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry both had “welcome back” celebrations for students as they began the fall semester. Future dentists and dental hygienists savored some ice cream while future scientists enjoyed lunch.

A new semester means new opportunities as students from MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health continue on their paths to making our world a healthier place for all.

Wishing you all a successful and fulfilling semester!

Houstonian Mark Barr, a Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston alumnus of the nurse anesthesia program, is already hard at work in Paris preparing for the 2024 Paralympic Games, where he will compete in the paratriathlon sprint race with a swim in the Seine, a bike ride along the Champs Élysées, and then a 5-kilometer run. Join us in cheering him on to bring home a medal!

It’s the first day of classes for future nurses from Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston and scientists from McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston. Here’s to a semester full of discovery and success on your journey to shaping the future of health care.

We’re ready for kickoff!

Our UT Orthopedics doctors are gearing up for the official start of the football season. Paul Shupe, MD, orthopedic surgeon; Andrew Li-Yung Hing, MD, primary care sports medicine physician; and Michael Greaser, MD, foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon, all with UT Physicians, will be on the sidelines ready to support athletes on and off the field.

Whether it’s providing expert care during the game or helping with treatment and recovery afterward, you’ll spot our doctors on the sidelines and in the clinic, ensuring players stay strong and healthy all season long. Here’s to a safe and successful season!

See how Scout and Birdie, the resident therapy dogs at McGovern Medical School, offer furry hugs and silly faces for the faculty, staff, and students. Very demure, very mindful, very cutesy!

School lunches play a crucial role in the daily nutrition of children as they head .

To encourage healthy eating habits, it’'s important to offer a variety of options that are both visually appealing and flavorful. Introducing new foods gradually, alongside familiar favorites, can help picky eaters feel more comfortable trying different things. It can take up to 10 exposures for a child to become familiar with a food’s flavor and texture.

Involving children in the selection or preparation of their meals can increase their willingness to try new things, making school lunches a more enjoyable and nutritious experience.

Kateryna Desheva and Temperance Joseph, both second-year dietetic interns with UTHealth Houston School of Public Health and UTHealth Dietetic Internship Program, offer a few other ways to encourage picky eaters:

Use a bento box to keep foods separate.
Make food into fun shapes using cookie cutters.
Offer one new food at a time and make it an exciting game like “Try It Tuesday.”
Model behavior by eating the nutritious foods you want your child to eat.

Nourish Program

Future dentists and dental hygienists were all smiles today for the first day of classes as they began their journey to become the next generation of dental professionals.

Here’s to all of the students at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry! Have a great semester.

From leading safety trainings during the COVID-19 pandemic to preparing us for severe weather, the employees at the Office of Safety, Health, Environment, and Risk Management (SHERM) work diligently around the clock to keep all of us at safe.

Along with providing preparation training, SHERM performs safety evaluations of buildings, labs, and clinics across our campuses at least once per year, and more often in higher-risk areas.

This Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) , we thank SHERM and all those at UTHealth Houston who help ensure a safe and secure working and learning environment.

As part of her training to become a genetic counselor, Kirstin Risgaard, MS ’24, faced the delicate task of guiding patients and their families through the medical and emotional complexities of being diagnosed with a genetic disorder.

“It’s always hard discussing a devastating diagnosis,” says Kirstin, who graduated from the Genetic Counseling Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School in May 2024. “We want to be there for the family and help them through what may be some of the most difficult moments in their lives.”

Serving as a genetic counselor was not how Kirstin always envisioned her career in biomedical science. Initially, she focused on lab work and research, but her volunteer work with children with Down syndrome sparked her passion for genetic counseling and deepened her understanding of the real-world impact of genetic disorders.

Kirstin’s training in genetic science and counseling equipped her to help patients understand their diagnosis, process their feelings in a healthy way, and plan a path forward. She is grateful for the Barbara L. Kennedy Memorial Scholarship, which helped reduce her student debt and made her eligible for in-state tuition rates.

Read more to see how Kirstin plans to use her skills and experiences to help guide families during pivotal moments. go.uth.edu/genetic-counseling

Leticia Flores wears many hats: CPA, CFO, mom, and Mimi to her granddaughter, Maddie. Recently, she added another title to her impressive list: graduate student. After over 3 decades in accounting and finance, Flores decided to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) in health care management at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. She was part of the inaugural cohort of the executive-style program in El Paso, Texas, that graduated in May 2024.

Flores has dedicated much of her career to the University Medical Center of El Paso, the region’s only not-for-profit, community-owned hospital. Starting as an assistant controller, she worked her way up to CFO, overseeing financial operations for one acute care hospital, a physician group, and 2 foundations. Now, inspired by her MPH program, she’s exploring new professional opportunities and expanding her network.

“What drew me to the program was being able to connect the operations piece to working with and providing services to underserved populations,” Flores said.

Returning to school while her children were also in college, Flores credits her family’s support, especially her husband, for her success. Her journey has not only enriched her professional life but also reinforced the importance of continuous learning and growth.

“I’d like my kids to know that the sky’s the limit,” she said, embracing the lessons she’s learned along the way.

Read more: go.uth.edu/LeticiaFlores

3 times the charm! 🥇🥇🥇

Gabby Thomas, MPH, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health alumna, is a gold medalist 3 times over after running the 3rd leg of the women’s victorious 4x400m relay. What an amazing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics!

In GOLD company 👏

Gabby Thomas, MPH, is redefining what it means to be unstoppable after the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health alumna won her 2nd gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 4X100m relay.

Public health is a team sport. Congratulations on another gold medal for alumna Gabby Thomas, MPH, and the women’s 4x100 relay team.

New research from reveals a stark reality for adolescents and young adults in Texas diagnosed with cancer: Those living in more socially vulnerable neighborhoods face a significantly higher risk of death.

“These are people diagnosed with cancer at ages 15 to 39 who are dying earlier because of where they live,” said Andrea Betts, PhD, MPH, co-first author of the study and assistant professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.

“Adolescents and young adults in the most vulnerable neighborhoods had a higher risk of dying from any cause compared to those in the least vulnerable neighborhoods. In our models, their risk was about 55% to 58% higher,” said Alex Tortolero, MS, co-first author of the study and PhD candidate at the School of Public Health.

The study also uncovered a concerning trend: young cancer patients in the most vulnerable neighborhoods were more likely to receive a late-stage diagnosis and lack insurance coverage, further diminishing their chances of survival. While the 5-year survival rate for those in the least vulnerable neighborhoods was 86.5%, it dropped to 74% for those in the most vulnerable areas.

“It really didn’t matter if you were diagnosed with a cancer with an excellent prognosis or really poor prognosis,” said Caitlin C. Murphy, PhD, MPH, senior author of the study and associate professor at the School of Public Health. “We still saw the impact of the neighborhood.”

Read more: go.uth.edu/Betts_Tortolero_Murphy

Juana Espino now shines as the project coordinator for the Houston PAP Project, which offers free cervical cancer screenings to a predominantly Spanish-speaking population with limited health care access, because not long ago she was just like them.

Espino’s journey began in 2016 when she was diagnosed with stage 1B2 cervical cancer shortly after the birth of her 3rd child. Under the care of Joseph A. Lucci III, MD, a professor at McGovern Medical School and gynecologic oncologist with UT Physicians, Espino underwent a radical hysterectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiation, completing her treatment in September 2016.

“I was worried about everything, especially my insurance, but the message he gave me was always, ‘Don’t worry. We’re here to help,’” Espino said. “He explained everything, drew pictures for me, and took time to make sure I understood. It gave me the peace I needed in my heart to make the right decision.”

Her experience with Lucci’s compassionate care and thorough explanations inspired her to volunteer for the Houston PAP Project, an initiative dedicated to providing preventive care to the community.

“I never used to know my purpose in life. Then I went through my diagnosis and treatment, and I felt like it was for something,” Espino said. “Now I can help people, tell them there’s hope, and show them there are people who can help. That’s why I’m grateful to be part of the Houston PAP Project.”

Read more: go.uth.edu/JuanaEspino

Wow! Gabby Thomas, MPH, is not only a UTHealth Houston School of Public Health graduate, she’s also an Olympic champion. We’re so proud of you!

Gabby Thomas, MPH, is golden! We couldn’t be more proud of the alumna as she brought home the GOLD in the women’s 200m run at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

With their first classes today at McGovern Medical School, new medical students began their journey toward becoming doctors.

Here’s to a year of learning, growth, and making memories.

We are so proud of one of the Houston area’s powerful Olympians! Sugar Land’s Simone Manuel already has earned a silver medal by anchoring the 4x100m freestyle swimming relay at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She will be on the starting blocks tomorrow and Sunday in one of her best events: the 50m freestyle. We join her physician with UT Orthopedics and UT Physicians Rehal Bhojani, MD, in cheering her on to victory!

Gabriela Gallegos, JD, MPP, associate professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, is well-known for her work in El Paso, Texas on healthy food access initiatives. But she also plays a pivotal role in another area: setting policies that protect triathletes at all levels, including the Olympics.

In her international role with World Triathlon, Gallegos was instrumental in preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics, focusing on critical health concerns such as mental health, injury prevention, and environmental safety.

“We confront public health concerns at every turn, both at the Olympic Games and triathlon events across the country and internationally,” Gallegos said.

As the chair of a working group on safeguarding, she leads efforts to develop a comprehensive process to protect athletes from abuse and harm. Gallegos’ dedication to the sport and its participants exemplifies her profound impact on the triathlon community globally.

Read more: go.uth.edu/GabrielaGallegos

Happiness turned to fear and confusion when Marylu Trevino finally saw her baby boy’s face for the first time at her 27-week ultrasound; he would be born with a cleft lip.

“As someone who didn’t know anything at all about cleft lip or the diagnosis, it was very alarming and scary,” Marylu said.

Marylu and her husband Andres met with Matthew Greives, MD, an associate professor with McGovern Medical School and pediatric plastic surgeon with UT Physicians, and they felt reassured.

“The team not only answered all of our questions but told us step by step what was going to happen from there,” Marylu said. “It made it so much less scary.”

Their son, Andrew, was born on August 22, 2023, with a unilateral cleft lip. He underwent surgery 3 months later to reconstruct his lip. Almost a year later, Andrew is taking his first steps into the world.

“You just get to see the resilience of your kid and see that he’s stronger than you anticipated,” Marylu said. “For that, we are so thankful for Dr. Greives and his team.”

This month, read more about Andrew here: go.uth.edu/AndrewTrevino