Inside This Issue
Texas A&M University Names Dr. Timothy B. Boone as Dean of the School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed) See pg. 10
Oncology
HOUSTON
SHSU-COM’s Thomas J. Mohr, DO, Addresses Congress on the Future of Healthcare See pg. 11
FDA Threats Escalate, Signaling Heightened Enforcement Risk for GLP-1 Compounding
By Joshua D. McCann, J.D., Pharm.D. Suzanne E. Bassett, J.D. Polsinelli, PC
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (“GLP-1”) receptor agonists, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, remain in high demand for diabetes management and chronic weight loss. FDA-approved GLP-1 products have faced supply constraints in recent years, and compounded alternatives expanded during periods when certain products appeared on FDA’s drug shortage list.
FDA and other federal officials are now signaling a more aggressive posture toward non-FDA-approved compounded GLP-1 products, particularly where products are manufactured or distributed at scale or marketed directly to consumers as “copycats” or “generic” equivalents of approved drugs. Recently, FDA publicly announced it intends to take “decisive steps,” including restricting access to GLP-1 ingredients used in certain compounded products and using its enforcement tools against companies that manufacture, distribute, or market illegal “copycat” drugs.
On the same day of the FDA’s public announcement, the HHS General Counsel stated on social media that his office referred Hims & Hers to the Department of Justice for investigation of potential federal law violations. These developments followed a rapid series of events tied to Hims & Hers’ announcement of a compounded oral semaglutide product, Novo Nordisk’s public response, and Hims &
Hers’ subsequent announcement that it would stop offering the compounded semaglutide pill.
Key Enforcement Signals
1. Restricting access to GLP-1 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). FDA indicated it intends to restrict access to GLP-1 ingredients used in certain non-FDA-approved compounded drugs, a step that could constrain supply for some compounding arrangements.
2. Broader use of compliance and enforcement tools. FDA stated it will use available enforcement tools— potentially including warning letters, injunctions, and seizures— against companies involved in manufacturing, distributing, or mass-marketing illegal GLP-1 copycats.
3. Increased scrutiny of advertising and marketing claims. FDA specifically pointed to “misleading direct-to-consumer advertising and marketing,” including claims that compounded products contain the “same active ingredient” as approved drugs or are “generic” versions.
4. Unclear line-drawing between 503A and 503B approaches. FDA’s announcement did not clearly
distinguish between compounded products that are direct copies and those involving formulation changes (e.g., dosage form changes, additional active ingredients, etc.). It also did not clearly delineate how the agency will apply its posture across Section 503A traditional pharmacy compounding and Section 503B outsourcing facilities, creating uncertainty for operators in both spaces.
Regulatory Background
Sections 503A and 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act establish distinct compounding pathways. In general, both pathways restrict compounding drugs that are “essentially a copy” of an FDA-approved, commercially available drug, but shortages can change the analysis when a drug appears on FDA’s shortage list. FDA’s removal of certain GLP-1 products from the shortage list beginning in late 2024 narrowed the scope of permissible “copy” compounding and increased focus on how FDA applies the “essentially a copy” concept going forward.
Under Section 503A, certain
LIVE IN LUXURY NEAR THE HOUSTON MEDICAL CENTER
Oncology Research
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate!
ABy Dr. Umang H. Patel, M.D., Radiation Oncologist, Texas Oncology
s humans, much of our lives are spent communicating with others. We wish coworkers “good morning,” nod and smile when we walk past someone, use turn signals in traffic, and have long conversations with friends and family. But even familiar experiences like these can be difficult to navigate when you have a cancer diagnosis.
them when you have a question, and take time to talk through anything you don’t understand. Take notes or have a friend or loved one take notes for you.
Your care team may also have written materials that you can take with you to read later. If you look up information online, use trusted websites such as your clinic’s, the American Cancer Society, or cancercare.org. Don’t rely on AI summaries, which can mix up similar information or use outdated sources.
Remember that visits with your care team should be a two-way dialog, not just listening while your physician talks. Your care team wants you to take an active role in your care and making decisions.
Lean on Your Care Team
While cancer may be the reason you are seeing an oncologist or surgeon, your care team knows that your overall health has a deep impact on your outcomes and quality of life. Movies and TV shows often portray cancer treatment as unavoidably difficult, painful, and disruptive to daily life.
Not only can cancer care feel overwhelming and confusing, facing cancer can be isolating and all-encompassing. Some people feel like their cancer diagnosis and treatment are challenges they must face alone. Others feel like they can’t discuss any other physical or emotional issues other than their cancer. They may also wonder who to share their diagnosis with and when.
While no approach will be right for everyone, here are a few tips that may help you navigate how to communicate effectively.
Get Clarity
One of the most daunting things about cancer care or care for any serious illness can be endless medical jargon. Your physician may assume you know the meaning of “antiemetic” (a drug that prevents nausea), “metastatic” (cancer that has spread from its original site), or “cytotoxic” (something that destroys cancer cells). But the last thing they want is for you to decide on care without fully understanding the information.
To prevent or handle information overload, ask your physicians to slow down and define specific words. Stop
However, most cancer patients in Texas are able to find expert care close to home that manages their side effects while also keeping their activity and work goals in mind.
If being able to continue your hobbies or your career is important, let your care team know. The same advice goes for any negative health effects of either your cancer or your treatment, like nausea, fatigue, or urinary issues. Oftentimes, your care team may know about different treatment options, new medications for side effects, or specialists they can refer to like palliative medicine for pain treatment, like nausea, fatigue, or urinary issues. Oftentimes, your care team may know about different
New Research Shows Blood Test May Offer Early Warning of Liver Cancer Recurrence After Liver Transplant
Apersonalized blood test known as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) test—which detects tiny fragments of cancer DNA circulating in the bloodstream—may help identify liver cancer recurrence earlier in transplant recipients and reduce the need for invasive procedures, according to a new study from Houston Methodist.
Published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal (GI) Oncology, the study was led by Dr. Maen Abdelrahim, director of the Cockrell Center for Advanced Therapeutics – Phase I program at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. Thirty-eight liver transplant recipients underwent ctDNA testing alongside standard cancer testing methods, including imaging and conventional tumor markers.
The study is the largest to date in the United States to investigate whether a personalized blood test can help detect the recurrence of liver cancer in patients after liver transplant, with over 720 samples collected and analyzed by the researchers.
“Detecting cancer recurrence early can change everything, especially amongst the post-transplant population,” said Abdelrahim, chief of GI Medical Oncology at Houston Methodist.“That means we can act sooner and monitor patients more closely. For liver cancer, where recurrence is common and outcomes are poor when the cancer comes back,
this research is a big step toward giving patients a better chance of survival.”
Cancer recurrence was detected by imaging in six patients during the study period. Of those, three had a corresponding positive ctDNA test, while three had ctDNA results that were either negative or insufficient to process. Overall, among patients with adequate ctDNA testing, the test demonstrated 100% specificity, meaning no false-positive ctDNA results were observed.
According to the American
Cancer Society, more than 800,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer each year with more than 700,000 deaths annually, making the disease a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.
As the first prospective investigation of its kind in this area, the researchers highlighted the need for additional studies by other scientists to bolster knowledge on ctDNAtests before clinical adoption.
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center First in U.S. with New Precision Surgery Tech
By Staff
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, a member of CommonSpirit, announced today that it is the first hospital in the United States to use an innovative new imaging system designed to enhance precision and efficiency in minimally invasive surgical procedures.
GE HealthCare’s Allia Moveo recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance and CE Marking. The platform leverages 3D imaging including AI-driven technology to remove artifacts and offset respiratory motion to provide clear images for clinicians. Its user interface and compact design support a range of cardiovascular, vascular, non-vascular, interventional and surgical procedures.
As the 1st U.S. hospital to deploy this technology, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center reinforces its long-standing role as a national leader in adopting innovative technologies that improve patient care and support advanced clinical practice.
“This innovative platform enhances how our clinicians navigate complex minimally invasive procedures by improving mobility, image clarity and workflow efficiency,” said Brad Lembcke, MD, president of Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. “It strengthens our ability to deliver precise,
patient-centered care while supporting our teams with technology designed for the evolving demands of modern interventional medicine.”
“Allia Moveo gives us the flexibility and image quality needed to manage increasingly complex minimally invasive procedures with greater confidence,” said Gustavo Oderich, MD, vascular surgeon
and professor of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. “The ability to quickly reposition the system, obtain high-quality 3D imaging and integrate advanced guidance tools directly into the workflow enhances procedural accuracy. This technology supports our mission to push the boundaries of what is possible in endovascular and interventional surgery.”
Gustavo Oderich, MD (right) and Steven Maximus, MD use GE HealthCare Allia Moveo at Baylor St.Luke’s
Developmental ‘Switch’ In Brain May Shape Lifelong Obesity Risk
UT Southwestern Researchers Discover Regulator In Hypothalamus That Guides Neurons Toward Appetite-Stimulating Fates
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered that a crucial developmental process in the brain’s hypothalamus may influence how susceptible individuals are to obesity.
Their preclinical findings, published in Neuron, show that a transcription factor called Otp acts as a molecular “switch” that directs immature hypothalamic neurons toward either appetite-suppressing or appetite-stimulating fates – their ultimate identities as specialized cells. The researchers found that disrupting this switch alters feeding behavior and protects mice from diet-induced obesity.
“These findings show that early developmental decisions in the
hypothalamus have a long-lasting impact on energy balance,” said senior author Chen Liu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Neuroscience and an Investigator in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute at UT Southwestern. “By uncovering this fate-switching program, we can begin to understand how the brain establishes lifelong metabolic set points.”
The hypothalamic melanocortin system – comprising pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons that promote satiety (the feeling of fullness after eating) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons that trigger hunger – is essential for maintaining energy balance. Although these neurons have been well-studied in adults, how
they arise during early development has remained unclear.
Using state-of-the-art, single-nucleus multiome sequencing, Dr. Liu and his colleagues in the Liu Lab mapped the full landscape of neurons derived from POMC-expressing precursor (parent) cells in the adult mouse hypothalamus. The researchers found that fewer than one-third of these precursor neurons continue to express POMC in adulthood. Instead, POMC precursors diversify into many neuronal subtypes, including a substantial portion of adult AgRP neurons.
The study identifies Otp as a key regulator guiding POMC-derived neurons toward AgRP identities. When Otp was selectively deleted in POMC-expressing precursors, these cells failed to acquire the AgRP hunger-triggering fate and instead retained alternative POMC satiety-promoting neuron identities.
As a result, adult mice lacking this developmental switch showed reduced urges to consume high-fat diets and were resistant to diet-induced obesity. Notably, this protective effect was stronger in females, due in part to enhanced estrogen receptor (ERα) signaling in specific POMC-derived subpopulations.
“From an evolutionary standpoint, see ‘Switch’...page 14
This microscopy image shows developing mouse hypothalamic tissue. Red marks POMC neuronal precursors, blue marks protein expression of the transcription factor Otp, and green marks prospective adult AgRP neurons. The image captures a developmental transition in which a subset of POMC precursors begins to express Otp as they adopt an adult AgRP neuronal identity. UT Southwestern researchers discovered that this switch may influence susceptibility to obesity.
Healthy Heart
Start Spring Strong – Your Heart Deserves it
By Dion Bart, American Heart Association
Spring is the perfect opportunity to build habits that strengthen your heart. You don’t need a complete lifestyle overhaul—small, consistent changes can lead to lasting results.
The American Heart Association reminds us that heart health isn’t about perfection—it’s about patterns. Simple ways to start today:
• Move More: Take the stairs, go for a walk during breaks, or schedule short bursts of activity throughout your day.
• Eat Smart: Fill your plate with colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
• Watch the Details: Check nutrition labels for sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat. Look for the Heart-Check mark for heart-healthy
own healthcare knowledge. At the 14 community Blood Pressure stations across Houston, on-site staff are trained in how to correctly measure blood pressure, explain that reading to their patrons, and then provide local referral sources based on the readings. If you are interested in learning more about how to measure your own blood pressure, we encourage you to visit one of these 14 sites, or purchase a blood pressure monitor of your own.
The American Heart Association recommends an automatic, cuff-style, upper arm (biceps) monitor.
• Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended. They give less reliable readings.
• Choose a monitor that has been validated. If you are unsure, ask your health care professional or
choices.
• Prioritize Rest: Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep each night to recharge your body and mind.
• Manage Stress: Practice mindfulness or deep breathing to keep stress in check.
• Know Your Numbers: Monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight regularly. Your heart works tirelessly for you. Let’s commit to caring for it every day.
Speaking of knowing your numbers, across Houston, the American Heart Association is working with local community centers to make sure that community members have access to blood pressure monitors. Learning how to correctly monitor your blood pressure in between visits with your physician is an important part of growing your
pharmacist for advice or find options at validatebp.org(link opens in new window).
• When choosing a blood pressure monitor for a senior, person who is pregnant, or a child, make sure it is validated for them.
• Make sure the cuff fits. Measure around your upper arm and choose a monitor that comes with the correct cuff size.
Once you’ve purchased your monitor, take it to your next appointment. Have your health care professional check to see that you are using it correctly and getting the same results as the equipment in the office. Plan to bring your monitor in once a year, or as directed by the company, to make sure the readings are accurate.
The Framework UT System Board of Regents approves $300 million UTMB Health League City Hospital Campus Expansion
By Stephen Hadley
The University of Texas System Board of Regents has approved a transformative $300 million expansion project at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) League City Hospital Campus, a major step that will broaden access to high-quality emergency and inpatient care across the rapidly growing Bay Area region.
The multiphase project, which is expected to be fully completed by 2030 with services opening as each phase is finished, will expand emergency services, increase inpatient capacity, and strengthen diagnostic and treatment capabilities to meet rising demand for care in the region. At the heart of the expansion is the construction of a new 40-bed Emergency Department, designed to improve patient throughput and access to emergency services.
“The Regents and I are very proud of the extraordinary role UTMB
plays in offering world-class health care to the coastal communities,” said UT System Chancellor John M. Zerwas, MD. “The board’s action is one example of that. We congratulate President Reiser and the entire UTMB clinical team for ensuring that more Texans will have access to their great care.”
The hospital expansion will bring new advanced diagnostic imaging capabilities for both inpatient and emergency settings, including MRI, CT, ultrasound, and fluoroscopy. In addition, new inpatient and outpatient procedural imaging will further strengthen diagnostic precision and treatment efficiency.
“This expansion represents a major investment in the health and well-being of League City and the surrounding communities,” said Dr. Jochen Reiser, UTMB President and CEO of the UTMB Health System. “As our region continues to grow, so does the need for timely access to advanced emergency and inpatient
care. This project ensures we are not only keeping pace with that growth but leading with innovation, efficiency, and an unwavering commitment to exceptional patient care.”
The project also includes expansion of the inpatient pharmacy to optimize medication management and renovated laboratory spaces to improve workflow and diagnostic efficiency.
The existing 17-bed Emergency Department will be converted into a 20-bed Observation Unit to enhance patient flow and support appropriate levels of care. Administrative offices, training facilities and the outpatient rehabilitation clinic will be relocated to newly constructed space, allowing the vacated areas to be transformed into a new 20-bed Medical-Surgical Unit.
The League City Hospital
Campus, located at 2240 Interstate 45, opened in 2016 as League City’s first hospital and complemented the existing UTMB outpatient and specialty clinics. A major expansion, which added a five-story patient tower and 60-new beds, was completed in 2020.
Reiser said this Phase 3 expansion of the hospital emphasizes the long-term investment by UTMB in the region.
“UTMB has proudly served our local communities for generations,” Reiser said. “This expansion strengthens our ability to deliver high-quality, coordinated care close to home, ensuring that families have access to the advanced services they need today and in the decades ahead.”
Hospital News
First Procedure in Texas Using New Technology to Treat AFib is Completed at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center
The affiliated cardiovascular team at Memorial HermannTexas Medical Center, alongside affiliated physicians from UTHealth Houston Heart and Vascular, were the first in Texas to perform a new therapy option for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Pulsed field ablation, or PFA, works by delivering highly targeted electrical pulses to problem areas within a patient’s heart to destroy the cells causing abnormal heart rhythms, reducing the risk of damaging adjacent tissue in patients with complex disease or anatomy. The technology allows ablation
procedures to be performed with a lower risk of damage to surrounding tissues than thermal ablation.
The latest technology being employed at Memorial Hermann-TMC features an all-in-one catheter design to support disease diagnosis, mapping, ablation and use during cases in which a patient receives either conscious sedation or general anesthesia, which is a significant benefit for patients where anesthesia is a barrier to performing ablations.
“Innovation is a constant component in our approach to providing patients with the
St. Luke’s Health Announces Houston Chief Medical Officer
St. Luke’s Health, a member of CommonSpirit, today announced the appointment of Augusto “Gus” Sepulveda, MD, MPH, FACP, as the new chief medical officer (CMO) for Houston Market and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, effective March 2, 2026.
Dr. Sepulveda brings 28
years of health care experience with a strong background in physician leadership, academic medicine and clinical operations. He joins St. Luke’s from HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood, where he has served as CMO since May 2025.
Prior to his role in Kingwood, Dr. Sepulveda held the position of CMO for HCA Healthcare’s West
HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center Welcomes New Chief Nursing Officer, Heather Ash
HCAHouston Healthcare Medical Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Heather Ash, MSN, RN, as its new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), effective January 18, 2026. Ash brings more than 19 years of nursing leadership experience to the role, with a demonstrated record of
best standard of care for complex cardiac conditions,” said Dr. Ramesh Hariharan, and chief of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Section at UTHealth Houston and medical director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at Memorial Hermann-TMC. “We are excited to be the first health system in the state to introduce the latest technology in treatment of atrial fibrillation, which offers great promise to patients with difficult-to-treat arrhythmias.”
Approximately 12 million people in the United States over the age of 65 have AFib, a number expected to double over the next 20 years. This new pulsed field ablation therapy allows physicians to preview and precisely identify areas in the heart that require ablation— providing a level of accuracy that can result in fewer electrical pulses to the heart.
The Cardiac Electrophysiology Program at Memorial Hermann-TMC provides the most advanced, clinically proven therapies through
Florida Division. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing clinical quality, patient safety and performance improvement across a comprehensive network comprising 17 hospitals, more than 30 emergency rooms, 13 surgery centers and numerous other facilities. His experience also includes leadership roles as associate CMO for HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division, and as CMO at both HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest and HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball.
its commitment to delivering innovative, evidence-based care. With this new leading-edge procedure and nationally approved service, the Program offers access to the full spectrum of modern heart rhythm therapies. Learn more about cardiac care services at the Larry D. Johnson Heart & Vascular Institute at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center
HCA Methodist Children’s Hospital in San Antonio, where she led initiatives that strengthened patient care operations while advancing the organization’s mission and values.
designing and advancing patient care initiatives, ensuring operational excellence, and driving nursing engagement.
Throughout her career, Ash has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Most recently, she served as Associate Chief Nursing Officer at
Ash is recognized for her focus on patient experience, nurse leader rounding, and executive sponsorship of interdisciplinary councils and safety initiatives. She is also passionate about mentoring nurse leaders, fostering professional development, and supporting career growth across nursing teams.
Ash earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint
Augusto “Gus” Sepulveda, MD, MPH, FACP
Heather Ash, MSN, RN
see Hospital News: St. Luke’s. ...page 13
see Hospital News: HCA. ...page 13
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Texas A&M University Names Dr. Timothy B. Boone as Dean of the School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed)
Timothy B. Boone, MD, PhD, FACS, has been appointed dean of the Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed) following his service as interim dean since September 2024.
A distinguished urologist with nearly four decades of clinical experience and a longtime leader in academic medicine, Boone has played a foundational role in EnMed’s creation, growth and strategic direction. His leadership advances the school’s commitment to preparing physicianeers, a new generation of medical leaders positioned to shape the future of health care through integrated medical and engineering training.
“The progress we’ve made during my time as interim dean reflects what’s possible when medicine and engineering come together,” Boone said. “Now more than ever, we’re focused on equipping physicianeers to think beyond today’s health care landscape and design innovative, practical solutions for the care
“This next chapter for EnMed is an opportunity to build thoughtfully on what we’ve established,” Boone said. “My focus as dean will be on fostering collaboration, supporting our faculty, staff and students, and guiding the school’s continued growth with purpose and impact.”
Throughout his career, Boone has held several senior academic and clinical leadership roles, including faculty appointments at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine. He later served as professor and Russell Scott Chair of the Department of Urology at Baylor College of Medicine before establishing and leading a new Department of Urology at Houston Methodist. He is a member of the Neurological Institute at Houston Methodist Hospital.
Located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, EnMed is a groundbreaking collaboration between Texas A&M’s College of Engineering,
of tomorrow.”
Boone is an emeritus professor of urology and the Craig C. Brown and Suzanne Smith Centennial Chair in Medical Education at Houston Methodist. He previously served as Chief Education Officer for the Houston Methodist Academic Institute, where he was instrumental in launching three new graduate medical education programs at regional hospitals. In this role, he also played a pivotal role in establishing Houston Methodist Hospital as a clinical campus for the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine in 2014 and was a founding force in the development and launch of EnMed. More recently, his leadership of EnMed’s accreditation process has further advanced the next phase of the school’s strategic direction toward becoming Texas A&M’s second accredited medical school.
Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and Houston Methodist Hospital offering a four-year, dual-degree curriculum in which students earn both a Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Engineering degree. Through the program, EnMed delivers integrated medical and engineering education that advances translational research and medical technology development to address real-world health care challenges.
Boone earned a Master of Science in physiology and PhD in neuroscience from The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a Doctor of Medicine from The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, followed by a surgery and urology residency at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications.
Timothy B. Boone, MD, PhD, FACS, has been appointed dean of the Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed),
In the Room Where It Happens: SHSU-COM’s Thomas J. Mohr, DO, Addresses Congress on the Future of Healthcare
In the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas J. Mohr, DO, found himself in “the room where it happens.”
By Brittany Foreman
This week, Mohr, vice president of medical affairs and dean of Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) stepped into that room, testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health to help shape the future of America’s healthcare workforce. He brought a clear message to lawmakers: if we want to improve healthcare access across the country, especially in rural communities, we must rethink how we
“Graduate medical education financing is ultimately a workforce investment. Aligning funding structures with where care is delivered, supporting community-based training growth, and ensuring predictable and equitable support can strengthen physician supply in both urban and rural communities alike,” said Mohr.
At the center of the discussion was how graduate medical education is funded in the United States. Today, Medicare GME funding is largely tied to hospital-based training models developed decades ago. While that
train and support the next generation of physicians.
The opportunity reflects a strong partnership. With the support of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), SHSU-COM joined a national conversation on graduate medical education, workforce development and access to care. It was a meaningful moment not just for one institution, but for osteopathic medicine as a whole to be part of a hearing focused on advancing healthcare for all Americans.
Drawing on more than 25 years of experience developing residency programs, many in rural and underserved communities, Mohr spoke to how graduate medical education financing directly shapes where physicians train and ultimately where they practice.
BUILD THE FUTURE OF ACADEMIC MEDICINE
system has supported large academic medical centers, it can create real challenges for smaller hospitals and community-based programs that are often best positioned to train physicians in rural and underserved areas.
For Mohr, this is where policy and access to care intersect. Without more flexible and predictable support for community-based training, it becomes more difficult to build the very programs that help address physician shortages where they are needed most.
That discussion also brought attention to a critical challenge in the physician pipeline.
While DOs and MDs are both fully licensed physicians, some residency programs continue to require osteopathic medical students to take the MD licensing exam in addition
Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine is hiring to support expansion in academic medicine, clinical education, research, and graduate medical education, with opportunities in primary care, pathology, AI, residency leadership, and more.
Join a growing medical school where your work helps train future doctors and strengthen healthcare delivery across Texas.
Thomas J. Mohr, DO, Addresses Congress on the Future of Healthcare
Financial Forecast
Should You Use Your
Tax Refund
to Save, Invest, or Pay Down Debt?
ForBy Grace S. Yung, CFP Midtown Financial Group, LLC
many households, a tax refund feels like a small windfall—a welcome check that shows up just as spring plans start to take shape. It’s tempting to treat that money as “extra” and spend it quickly. But a tax refund is really just your own money coming back to you, and how you use it can make a meaningful difference in your financial life this year and beyond.
So what’s the smartest move: save it, invest it, or use it to pay down debt? The right answer depends on your situation, but a little planning can help you turn a once-a-year event into
expenses in readily accessible savings, though the right number depends on your job stability and household situation. Even if you already have an emergency fund, a refund can be useful for short-term goals like a future car, home maintenance, or other irregular expenses. When savings are thin or your income is unpredictable, this is often the smartest first move.
Option 2: Pay Down Debt
If high-interest debt is part of your financial picture, using a refund to reduce balances can be a powerful decision. Paying off a credit card charging 18% or 20% interest is like earning a guaranteed return at that same rate—something few investments can match.
Beyond the math, reducing debt can free up monthly cash flow, lower financial stress, and make it easier to save and invest going forward. Many
real progress.
First, it helps to reframe what a refund actually is. A refund usually means you paid more in taxes during the year than you ultimately owed—essentially giving the government an interest-free loan. Getting that money back isn’t a bonus; it’s a chance to reallocate your own dollars more intentionally.
Option 1: Build or Boost Savings
For many people, the most practical use of a refund is strengthening cash reserves. If you don’t have much set aside for emergencies, your refund can jump-start that fund without requiring painful monthly budget cuts. Emergency savings help cover things like car repairs, medical bills, or temporary income disruptions— without relying on credit cards.
A common guideline is to aim for three to six months of essential living
people focus first on high-interest credit cards or personal loans, then move on to other balances. Even knocking out one smaller balance can simplify your budget and build momentum.
Debt reduction often makes the most sense if your monthly payments feel tight, you’re carrying high-interest balances, or you’re close to eliminating a payment entirely.
Option 3:
Invest for the Future
If you already have a solid emergency fund and your debt is manageable, investing your refund can help strengthen long-term goals. This might mean contributing to an IRA or Roth IRA, increasing workplace retirement contributions, or adding to a long-term investment account.
Hospital News: St. Luke’s
Continued from page 9
“Dr. Sepulveda’s commitment to clinical excellence and patient care is in perfect alignment with CommonSpirit’s mission,” said Simon Payne, MD, MBA, chief medical officer
for CommonSpirit’s South Region.“We are confident that his leadership will be a significant asset to the communities we serve in our Houston market.”
Dr. Sepulveda is board-certified
Hospital News: HCA
Continued from page 9
Petersburg College in Florida and her Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management from Western Governors University. She is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the American Nurses Association.
Robert Sabina, Chief Executive
The Room
Continued from page 11
to COMLEX-USA in order to be considered.
“There is no medical basis for these policies, as DO and MD degrees and both medical exams lead to unrestricted physician licenses in all 50 states,” said Mohr.
The impact is significant. It adds time, cost and complexity for students who are already navigating one of the most demanding phases of their training. In many cases, it requires duplicating effort simply to be considered, not to build additional competency.
At a time when communities across the country, particularly in rural areas, are facing physician shortages, those barriers carry real consequences. Fewer pathways into residency ultimately mean fewer physicians entering the workforce where they are needed most.
Financial
Continued from page12
The main advantage here is time. Money invested earlier has more opportunity to benefit from compounding, and even a few thousand dollars can make a meaningful difference over the years. Investing isn’t about guessing what the market will do next—it’s about consistently aligning today’s resources with tomorrow’s goals. You Don’t Have to Pick Just One
Officer of HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center, shared his enthusiasm for the appointment, stating, “We are excited to welcome Heather Ash as our new Chief Nursing Officer. Over the course of her career, Heather’s leadership and dedication to patient-centered care align explicitly with our mission. Heather’s experience
in internal medicine and clinical informatics. He holds a master of public health degree and a medical doctor degree from Ponce Health Sciences University, and completed his
residency at Hospital Damas, where he served as chief resident.
and commitment to visible executive nursing leadership will strengthen our ability to deliver outstanding care and foster meaningful connections between our nursing teams and patients. We look forward to the positive impact her passion will bring to our organization and the communities we serve.”
As Chief Nursing Officer, Ash
will play a critical role in driving nursing excellence, advancing patient experience, and supporting the strategic goals of HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center. Her appointment reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional healthcare and improving the well-being of the communities it serves.
U.S. Representative Carol Miller of West Virginia spoke directly to the issue, emphasizing the importance of removing barriers for osteopathic medical students.
“I’m pleased to see that the osteopathic medical schools are represented here today. As our country grapples with worsening physician shortages, we’ve got to eliminate the unnecessary barriers that prevent highly qualified osteopathic medical students from accessing residency opportunities. For a rural state like my own, we cannot afford artificial barriers to physician distribution.”
The conversation also turned toward the future of technology in medicine and how that might shape care in rural communities. In an exchange with U.S. Representative Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Mohr acknowledged that the pace of innovation is accelerating
quickly and emphasized the need for medical education to intentionally keep up.
He pointed to SHSU-COM’s proactive approach through the development of its Medical Artificial Intelligence Institute, describing its potential to extend advanced tools into rural communities and support physicians in delivering care more effectively while reducing administrative burden.
In that same exchange, Mohr also recognized the work of osteopathic colleagues across the country, including leadership at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, highlighting a shared commitment to training physicians in the communities that need them most.
Throughout Mohr’s testimony, one theme remained clear: “Students who train in underserved areas are
nearly three times more likely to practice there—and four times more likely to provide primary care.”
To be part of that conversation, alongside national leaders and policymakers, marks an important step forward. It reflects the growing voice of osteopathic medicine and a collective commitment to ensuring that access to care is not determined by geography.
For SHSU-COM, it was an opportunity to represent Texas, rural communities and the future of medical education, while reinforcing the role osteopathic medicine plays in strengthening primary care and expanding access to care across the country.
And in a room focused on the future of healthcare, that voice carried weight.
In real life, many people split their refund. For example, part might go to savings, part to paying down a credit card, and part to investing. This balanced approach reflects the fact that most households have more than one financial priority at any given time.
A Quick Note on Withholding
If you receive a large refund every year, it may be worth reviewing
your tax withholding. A big refund can mean you’re overpaying taxes during the year and living on less cash flow than necessary. Adjusting withholding won’t change your total tax bill, but it can improve monthly flexibility. The Bottom Line There’s no single right answer for everyone. The best use of your tax refund is the one that strengthens your
financial foundation, reduces stress, and moves you closer to your long-term goals. A Certified Financial Planner professional can help you look at your full picture and decide how a refund fits into your overall plan—but even a simple, intentional choice can turn this year’s refund into real progress.
GLP-1
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changes may be permissible where the prescriber determines there is a “significant difference” for an identified patient. Under Section 503B, FDA’s framework focuses on whether a change produces a “clinical difference” for an individual patient, as determined by the prescribing practitioner.
Related Litigation Risk
Novo Nordisk filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Hims & Hers, a few days after the FDA’s announcement, alleging infringement of a patent covering semaglutide and seeking injunctive relief and damages. The filing suggests compounding-related risk may expand beyond regulatory attention to include heightened private litigation, including patent-focused claims.
What Companies Should Consider Now
Oncology
Entities involved in GLP-1 compounding (including compounding pharmacies, outsourcing facilities, and telehealth platforms) should reassess current practices in light of FDA’s enforcement messaging and the parallel DOJ referral:
• Prescribing and documentation: Evaluate whether the record supports patient-specific determinations consistent with the applicable “significant difference” (503A) or “clinical difference” (503B) frameworks.
• Operational model and scale: Consider whether product design, fulfillment pathways, or standardized offerings could be characterized as “mass marketing” or manufacturing-like conduct.
• Marketing, claims, and comparisons: Scrub consumer-facing language that could imply FDA approval, equivalence, or “generic” status, and ensure advertising does not
hand. Communicating is the only way to find and accept support.
overstate sameness to approved products.
• Supply chain and ingredient sourcing: Prepare for potential restrictions on access to GLP-1 APIs and increased scrutiny of inputs and distribution channels.
Conclusion
FDA’s announcement, coupled with contemporaneous public statements from federal leadership and increasing private litigation activity, reflects escalating risk for companies involved with compounded GLP-1 products - especially where products are promoted broadly to consumers or positioned as substitutes for FDA-approved drugs. Organizations should take proactive steps to evaluate compounding pathways, prescribing models, supply chains, and marketing practices to reduce enforcement and litigation exposure.
treatment options, new medications for side effects, or specialists they can refer to like palliative medicine for pain management. A quick portal message or phone call can lead to a same-day solution in some cases.
No matter what issue you have, or how minor it seems, share it with your care team, even if it doesn’t seem related to your cancer or treatment. The information could be useful for your future care, treatment plan, and health.
Find Community
When first diagnosed, patients often think that sharing their diagnosis will be a burden to those in their lives. They don’t want to be reliant on others or disrupt the lives of their friends and family. On the other hand, caregivers and other loved ones are often happy to be asked for help and eager to lend a
Continued from page 3 ‘Switch’
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Beyond physical care, the people in your life could help with transportation, meal planning, running errands, being an exercise partner, or just lending a listening ear—there are many ways a little support can relieve some of the pressure during cancer care. They may even have ideas you didn’t think of.
Your coworkers or peers at school are another group that can be difficult to communicate with. Cancer care can mean numerous appointments, scans, blood draws, and side effects. Depending on how much treatment may affect your workday, consider how much information you want to share. You may just ask for accommodations without sharing your diagnosis or care plan. Or you may find that sharing more details allows your team to support you in other ways.
Although many people with cancer have loved ones who help them,
not everyone has a strong support system or feels comfortable discussing their health with those close to them. Regardless of your situation, support groups can be a great option. Many support groups meet virtually and form around diagnoses or shared experiences such as for young adults, LGBTQ+ people, or caregivers. Support groups are often led by survivors, who can provide the benefit of their experiences. Regardless of whether you are talking to your care team, your family, or other people with cancer, sharing your concerns and feelings can help you process your diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Simply by sharing, you could also encourage people to get screened, help others understand their own experiences, or let loved ones show you how much they care.
In today’s world, however, where calorie-dense foods are more readily accessible, this once-beneficial mechanism can amplify vulnerability to obesity, Dr. Liu said. The team’s findings demonstrate that disabling this switch during early development shields the brain from overreacting to high-fat diets,
the POMC—>AgRP fate switch likely served as an adaptive mechanism,” said Dr. Liu, a Principal Investigator in UTSW’s Center for Hypothalamic Research. “In environments where food availability fluctuated, animals needed a rapid, robust way to increase food intake when high-calorie food became available. By generating a population of highly responsive ‘hunger’ neurons, this developmental switch enabled overeating, helping animals build energy reserves and survive periods of scarcity.”
ultimately lowering obesity risk. He said this contrast highlights a broader theme in modern metabolic disease: Biological programs tuned for ancestral survival can become maladaptive in contemporary environments.
Dr. Liu said he and his colleagues plan to investigate next whether external factors, such as maternal overnutrition or undernutrition, influence this genetic fate-switch program and thereby affect metabolic health later in life.
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