Portraits in Commitment

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World-Class Specialty Care Within Reach

UT Health Austin is committed to bringing world-class specialty care to Central Texas and beyond. As part of an academic health system, UT Health Austin uses the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment techniques to deliver patient-centered care that focuses on patients’ individual needs. Learn more about the values at the forefront of patient care.

03 21 09 27 15 33 Empowerment Respect Trust Excellence Connection Impact Providing the tools that allow our patients to make informed decisions about their health Recognizing the value of our patients’ lifetime of experience Listening to our patients’ health goals and helping our patients achieve them Delivering multidisciplinary, team-based health care that meets our patients’ individual needs Striving to better understand who our patients are as people Improving our patients’ health through the power of compassionate, whole-person care UT Health Austin’s Commitment To:

At UT Health Austin, we believe in providing our patients and their families with the tools that allow them to make informed decisions about their health. Our clinicians and staff are committed to empowering patients to become active participants in their healthcare journey to ensure the best possible health outcomes.

“It's the relationships you develop and the bonds you form with your patients that are critical to transforming the rest of their life and empowering them to live that life to its fullest.”
- Nicole Turgeon, MD Transplant Director, Abdominal Transplant Center

Nicole Turgeon, MD, is a transplant surgeon and the Transplant Director for the Abdominal Transplant Center, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin. For Dr. Turgeon, caring for patients becomes a lifelong bond that begins with an initial evaluation and carries through surgery and beyond transplantation to ensure their ongoing success. The journey from waitlist to wellness can be daunting, which is why Dr. Turgeon is committed to empowering her patients to become active participants in their care. Read more>>

Defying the Odds

UT Health Austin pediatric heart surgeon takes on seemingly impossible case without hesitation

At 16 weeks pregnant, Linda Sedillo underwent routine testing with her obstetrician-gynecologist, who revealed her test results showed possible signs of trisomy 13, a rare genetic condition associated with high mortality rates, a range of congenital abnormalities, and severe physical and cognitive impairment. Trisomy 13, also known as Patau’s syndrome, occurs when there is an extra copy of chromosome 13 in either the egg or sperm prior to conception, which leads to the baby having three copies of chromosome 13 instead of two. This condition develops by chance and is not caused by anything the mother did or did not do during pregnancy.

Many pregnancies with a diagnosis of trisomy 13 result in miscarriage, and most babies born with the condition will not survive more than a few days or weeks, with less than 10% of babies surviving their first year of life. Linda’s obstetrician-gynecologist referred her to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, a highly specialized obstetrician-gynecologist that diagnoses, treats, and manages the care of expecting mothers with complex and high-risk pregnancies. Linda’s maternal-fetal medicine specialist confirmed her unborn baby was positive for trisomy 13.

As Linda’s visits continued with her maternal-fetal medicine specialist, her unborn baby was also diagnosed with a cleft lip and palate, a common condition that occurs when a baby’s lips and mouth do not form correctly during pregnancy, causing difficulty with speaking and eating, and a heart condition that required a referral to a pediatric cardiologist. Linda’s pediatric cardiologist confirmed a diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot, a rare condition in which a combination of four structural heart defects (overriding aorta, pulmonary stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, and ventricular septal defect) occur at once, causing oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the heart and into the rest of the body.

“I had been pregnant twice before, but my entire pregnancy with Rubi was really hard,” shares Linda. “I was really careful not to strain myself. I was always tired and wasn’t even able to walk toward the end. I also tried to stay positive and hopeful despite being advised to consider not carrying to term and then being told that we may have a difficult time finding someone to perform my baby’s surgery once she was born. It was really the emotional aspect of everything that weighed on me the most. It definitely wasn’t Rubi, because she only weighed 4 pounds.”

Surviving the Unthinkable

On March 21, 2022, when Linda was 35 weeks along, Rubi Sedillo was born weighing 4 pounds, 3 ounces. “Rubi looked healthy overall to me,” says Linda. “Despite her low weight, she didn’t need oxygen or really anything special. The hospital staff expected Rubi to pass and didn’t want to do anything intrusive that could hurt her. We were able to take her home by mid-April.”

“Shortly after we brought Rubi home,” adds Robert Sedillo, Rubi’s father, “when she was just one month old, Rubi was having severe sleep apnea, where she would just stop breathing. But then, she would start again. This happened on and off for hours, and we thought we were going to lose her, so we decided to reach out to our church and begin making arrangements.”

Then, the unthinkable happened. On May 28, 2022, one day before her 19th birthday, Rubi’s older sister, Rachel Morales, unexpectedly passed in a fatal car accident. “Little did we know,” continues Robert, “the plans that we put in place the month before would be for Rachel.”

“Rachel was a rock for our 12-year-old son, Robert Jr.,” explains Linda. “Throughout my pregnancy and even

after Rubi’s birth, I wasn’t able to spend as much time with him or do as much stuff with him. While we were focused on Rubi, Rachel made sure that he received the attention he deserved. They had a really close relationship and loved going to the movies together.”

Breaking Barriers in Heart Care

Determined to give Robert Sedillo, Jr. as much time as possible with his new baby sister, Linda and Robert revisited Rubi’s path to healing with her doctors. They were met with some resistance when various aspects of Rubi’s health couldn’t be addressed until her heart was fixed. When Rubi started experiencing tet spells, rapid drops in the amount oxygen in her blood due to her heart condition, Linda and Robert made the decision to pursue open-heart surgery to address Rubi’s heart defect. Finding a heart surgeon to take on Rubi’s case, however, was seemingly impossible.

“Our cardiologist knew we wanted to pursue surgery, but no one wanted to touch Rubi’s case,” says Linda. “We received automatic no after automatic no from multiple local surgeons who didn’t even look at Rubi’s file. The surgery was just too high of a risk. Weeks later, our cardiologist asked if we would be open to traveling further out, and we, of course, said yes. That’s when she reached out to Dr. Fraser, a former colleague of hers, at Dell Children’s. Without hesitation, Dr. Fraser agreed to take on Rubi’s case.”

Uncovering Care That Makes a Difference

On December 21, 2022, just two days before Robert Jr.’s 12th birthday and 9 months after Rubi’s birth, Rubi was strong enough to undergo open-heart surgery. Rubi’s surgery was led by UT Health Austin congenital heart surgeon Charles D. Fraser, Jr., MD, who serves as the Chief of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery for the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin.

“Dr. Fraser and his team have a very different mindset,” shares Robert. “As soon as we arrived at the heart center, there was this attitude of confidence among the providers that was contagious and even spilled over into Rubi. As they were wheeling her down the hall to surgery, Rubi was all smiles and laughing and moving around and had her arms up. We were reminded that Rubi is strong, and even though she was going into surgery, we didn’t feel this overwhelming need to be worried.”

“At the heart center, it felt like everyone was

more attentive and that we were in a family environment, which is the complete opposite of what we experienced before,” adds Linda. “I felt very confident in the staff, and during Rubi’s surgery noticed that we were all just really calm and even hopeful. It felt like we weren’t scared because we knew that everything was going to be okay. We were so grateful that we found this amazing heart surgeon who was willing to repair our daughter’s heart and even just show us how special Rubi really is.”

“There is definitely a higher level of service at Dell Children’s,” continues Robert. “It’s apparent that Dr. Fraser and his team are really passionate about the work that they do. When discussing Rubi’s condition, they were adamant about not labeling her as her condition. They wanted us to understand that we don’t know what her life will consist of, so there’s no need to try to diminish that by seeing her solely through her condition. We can’t even tell you how much we appreciated that and how perfectly that lined up with what we want for Rubi as well.”

Becoming a Beacon of Hope

On January 4, 2023, two weeks after her surgery, Rubi was discharged from Dell Children’s Medical Center and allowed to return home, where she continues to receive care locally. For Linda and Robert, entrusting Rubi’s care to the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease has helped them become better advocates for their daughter’s health.

“Every day, we become more and more surprised by Rubi, and the doctors do, too,” says Robert. “Despite all the medication and issues listed out on paper, she looks like a regular baby. She’s always smiling, and we see a lot of Rachel in Rubi, especially in her eyes and when her personality really comes through.”

“Even when we took Rubi in for her follow-up appointment when we returned home, the doctors all commented on her progress and how well her scar is healing,” adds Linda. “Some providers even asked why we didn’t get care locally, and when we tell them that no one would do the surgery, they always look shocked. We hope that Rubi’s story changes the narrative for patient cases like hers in the future.”

“There are people out there who were diagnosed with trisomy 13 and lived to adulthood,” continues Linda. “It may be a small percentage, but you never know if your child is going to be a part of that percentage. From the beginning, we were

told we were going to lose Rubi. I grieved her, and sometimes still do. Yet, it was out oldest daughter, who was the healthiest of all our kids, that we lost. My advice for other parents and families is to not assume the worst, always seek out a second and third opinion, and get connected with a support group that consists of other families who have experienced or who are going through the same thing as you. I’m very grateful that I was able to meet Rubi, and I’m grateful that she’s still here.”

Finding a Path Forward

“Thinking back on it, we initially appreciated the hospital’s transparency throughout Linda’s pregnancy and even after Rubi’s birth,” shares Robert. “We felt that they were being extremely nice to us by being honest and preparing us for the worst. It wasn’t until we met Dr. Fraser and

his team at Dell Children’s that we realized they weren’t supporting us in any path forward for Rubi.”

Now that Rubi’s heart has been repaired, she will be able to move forward with other surgeries. Rubi is scheduled to undergo a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement on March 23, 2023 and a bilateral cleft lip and palate repair hopefully early next year.

“We’ve seen a lot of improvement with Rubi since her heart surgery,” adds Linda. “She doesn’t have tet spells anymore, she doesn’t cry as much, and she’s much more comfortable. We’re just so thankful that we got connected with the right care team.”

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At UT Health Austin, we believe in actively listening to our patients to help them achieve the health goals that matter most – in the care room and beyond. Our clinicians and staff are committed to building trust with patients by working with each patient to create an individualized care plan that addresses their unique circumstances, priorities, and beliefs.

“Having a compassionate team with experience in addressing all aspects of the patient’s health is paramount to what we do.”

Kenneth Moise, Jr., MD Director, Comprehensive Fetal Care Center

Expectant parents who receive a diagnosis of a potentially serious fetal issue experience a range of emotions, and establishing care with a provider they trust can help improve their health outcomes.

UT Health Austin fetal medicine specialist Kenneth Moise, Jr., MD, brings together a team of specialists who are prepared to listen to their patients’ health goals and help their patients achieve them.

As Director of the Comprehensive Fetal Care Center, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin, Dr. Moise emphasizes the importance of family-centered care that includes care for the mother and baby before, during, and after pregnancy. Read more>>

Together We Are Better, Stronger, Safer

How UT Health Austin makes patient safety a priority every day

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in every 10 patients who receive clinical care will experience an adverse event, with nearly 50% of those events being preventable. An adverse event occurs when an undesirable clinical outcome, not caused by an underlying disease, prolongs a patient’s hospital stay, causes the patient permanent harm, requires life-saving intervention, or contributes to death. These events can be the result of errors, substandard care, or unexpected complications. Although most adverse events resolve quickly, some have long-term and serious implications on the patient’s health. UT Health Austin’s Quality Care, Patient Safety, and Infection Prevention and Control initiative aims to prevent and reduce risks, errors, and adverse effects associated with healthcare delivery.

“Adverse events are often the result of a lack of knowledge or human error rather than reckless behavior,” explains Miriam Braun, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, CPPS, who serves as the Nurse Manager for Clinical Quality, Patient Safety, and Infection Control. “At UT Health Austin, we are committed to improving the quality of patient care by developing and implementing evidence-based patient safety practices that promote optimal health outcomes. Our goal is to ensure patients are receiving the highest quality of care in the safest healthcare environment possible.”

Ensuring the Highest Quality of Care

At UT Health Austin, our experienced healthcare professionals deliver personalized, whole-person care

of uncompromising quality and treat each patient as an individual with unique circumstances, priorities, and beliefs. We put you, your family, your goals, and your preferences at the center of your care. A care team is built around your specific needs, and working with you, your care team creates an individualized care plan to help you reach the goals that matter most to you — in the care room and beyond. We integrate health and behavioral health services to better understand you as a person, and your care team is here to listen, learn, and communicate with you throughout your treatment to ensure your care always meets your needs. We also collaborate with our colleagues at the Dell Medical School and The University of Texas at Austin to utilize the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment techniques,

allowing us to provide you with the highest quality of care and improve patient outcomes.

Promoting a Culture of Safety

“Safe patient care begins before the patient walks through our doors and continues beyond the completion of the patient’s appointment,” says Braun. “From scheduling through UT Health Austin’s Access Center to the clinic appointment and even post-appointment care, we have systems in place that safeguard patient information as well as automations that make it easy for clinicians and staff to adhere to patient safety principles, including infection prevention and control measures, safe use of medicines, and communication effectiveness.”

At UT Health Austin, patient safety includes:

• Protecting private patient information

• Providing effective communication

• Delivering timely care

• Minimizing physical, mental, or emotional harm

• Listening to and applying patient feedback

“Every employee receives education and training around patient safety and patient safety event reporting,” continues Braun. “Event reporting is very important, as it creates awareness on a leadership level and can help identify trends across the organization, allowing us to find solutions to potential process issues before harm occurs to our patients.”

A well-established safety culture is critical to patient safety and improving health outcomes. “In a successful organization, clinical staff feels comfortable speaking up about patient safety, sharing information about changes that can be made to make situations safer moving forward, and developing better processes to ensure the safest and highest quality of patient care can be delivered,” explains Braun. “At UT Health Austin, we promote a strong culture of safety by reporting and openly discussing adverse events, with the goal of establishing and applying systematic changes to prevent future adverse events and improve patient safety and quality of care.”

Implementing Infection Prevention and Control Practices

Infection prevention and control practices prevent or stop the spread of infections in healthcare settings and are essential for achieving safe and high-quality healthcare delivery. Standard infection prevention and control precautions are prevention

practices that apply to patient care in all healthcare settings. These practices are designed to protect patients and prevent the spread of infections.

UT Health Austin’s standard infection prevention and control precautions include:

• Hand hygiene in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations

• Routine and targeted environmental cleaning and disinfection of contaminated surfaces and medical equipment

• Injection and medication safety

• Risk assessments

• Use of appropriate personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, gowns, face masks)

• Minimizing potential exposures through early detection and management of potentially infectious patients

Improving Health Outcomes

“My many years spent in the patient safety realm have made me more vigilant about the risks associated with healthcare delivery,” shares Braun. “I have learned how important it is to share my thoughts, ideas, and goals for my care with my provider so they can do a better job of taking care of me.”

At UT Health Austin, we value your experience. Patients have an opportunity to share both the positive and negative aspects of their care experience through their post-appointment survey. These surveys allow us to measure various aspects of patient satisfaction and gather constructive feedback to support our efforts to promote patient safety and improve patient care.

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“There is no better group of individuals than the men and women of Austin, Travis County EMS, the Austin Fire Department, the Austin Police Department, STAR Flight, and Dell Children’s Medical Center. If not for all these people, we wouldn’t be celebrating Sabine today.”

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“These days, patients undergoing cataract surgery can customize their treatment to their own preferences. At the Mitchel and Shannon Wong Eye Institute, our ophthalmologists approach each cataract surgery differently and offer treatment plans based on our patients’ individual goals.”

– Robert Luckritz, Chief of Austin-Travis Country EMS - Eileen Bowden, MD, Mitchel and Shannon Wong Eye Institute

At UT Health Austin, we believe in integrating health and behavioral health services to better understand our patients. Our clinicians and staff are committed to establishing connections with patients throughout their treatment to ensure their care always meets their needs.

"I connect with my patients by getting to know who they are, where they’re from, and what they like to do so that I can help them make an informed decision about their care."

- Karl Koenig, MD Executive Director, Musculoskeletal Institute

For Karl Koenig, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and the Executive Director of UT Health Austin’s Musculoskeletal Institute, academic medicine is always changing, yet his approach to patient care remains the same. Dr. Koenig establishes connections with patients to better understand their priorities, preferences, and beliefs, allowing him to provide quality treatment that addresses their individual needs. Read more>>

Changing the World One Step at a Time

UT Health Austin clinicians participate in community engagement and advocacy efforts to improve patient outcomes

In early September 2016, at age 72, Dorothy De La Garza was diagnosed with Stage 2 muscle-invasive bladder cancer. “I was blindsided by this grim news,” explains Dorothy. “For a few years before, I had been prescribed antibiotics for frequent UTIs. Then, I was told I had an overactive bladder and given another prescription. But bladder cancer is a very sneaky disease.”

In most cases, bladder cancer is treatable, but early diagnosis is critical. While men are four times more likely to develop bladder cancer, women experience significant delays in diagnosis, which results in a more advanced disease and leads to worse outcomes.

“Too many providers are quick to assume a woman is experiencing leakage simply because she’s getting old,” shares Dorothy. “My message to women, especially those in their 50s and 60s and older, is to not ignore the most basic symptom of blood in the urine. Do not be guided by doctors associating it with menstruation or menopause. Always seek a second and third opinion.”

Care Close to Home

In fall 2016, while teaching at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Dorothy underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy in Austin, Texas. She was then advised to travel for surgery to UT Health San Antonio, where

she underwent a cystectomy to remove her bladder. Formation of scar tissue later developed in her ureters, the thin tubular structures that transports urine into the bladder. This is a common side effect of bladder removal surgery.

The scar tissue buildup can cause the ureters to become narrow, preventing urine flow. As the flow of urine becomes obstructed, urine backs up into the kidneys, which causes pain and discomfort and can lead to infection or long-term kidney damage. One option for addressing this is for patients to undergo ureteral stenting, an outpatient (same-day) procedure in which stents (thin, flexible tubes) are placed in the ureters to hold them open and allow proper urine drainage from the kidney.

“The usual plastic stents in my ureters required replacement four times a year since they only lasted

maybe three to four months at a time,” explains Dorothy. “In early 2020, at a Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) conference, an out-ofstate physician-researcher mentioned to my husband that the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin had recruited a very promising urologic oncologist. That’s how we met Dr. Aaron Laviana, who has successfully exchanged my plastic stents for metal stents that now last a year. His annual sameday surgery procedure for the past three years is a welcome change, especially since it’s available so close to home.”

Aaron Laviana, MD, MBA , is a board-certified urologist and fellowship-trained urologic oncologist in Urology, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin, the clinical practice of the Dell Medical School. Dr. Laviana specializes in utilizing robotic, minimally invasive, and open techniques

to treat prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, and penile cancer. He is also an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care and a courtesy faculty member in the Dell Medical School Department of Oncology.

“Dr. Laviana became a beacon to my whole bladder cancer journey,” shares Dorothy. “He isn’t simply a provider. He’s a partner. He makes himself available to help his patients navigate every possible alternative to losing their bladder. He also respects your wishes and never takes decisions away from you.”

Connecting Patients With Patients

“After getting to know Dr. Laviana, he asked if I would like to mentor others patients of his,” says Dorothy. “To me, this seemed like such a rare opportunity. Since, Dr. Laviana has introduced me to a dozen patients by first exchanging emails and phone calls. Then, we were able to set up meetings with one another. I recently enjoyed driving one delightful woman to her chemo treatment and, later, her same-day surgery. Bladder cancer is a medical marathon, and when you feel like you’re walking through a storm, it’s reassuring to have somebody who’s walking through it with you.”

“Connecting my patients with other patients who are able to offer guidance and support by answering any questions they have about their healthcare journey, has been one of the most satisfying aspects of what I do,” shares Dr. Laviana. “By bringing patients together to help each other out and provide support for one another, we’re creating a bladder cancer community right here in Austin, and it has been a life-changing experience.”

Involvement in Community Events

Dorothy and Vickie Dunlevy, one of her first mentees, now organize the annual Walk to End Bladder Cancer in Austin to raise funds for BCAN, the only national advocacy organization devoted to advancing bladder cancer research and supporting those impacted by the disease. Donations received help fund bladder cancer research, education, and support programs – but, most importantly, save lives.

The annual Walk to End Bladder Cancer is also where Dorothy met J. Stuart Wolf, Jr., MD, FACS, a board-certified urologist in Urology and the Medical Director of UT Health Austin’s Ambulatory Surgery Center. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Wolf specializes in endourology, which is the management of urologic disease through minimally invasive surgery using endoscopes and

laparoscopes. He is also a professor and serves as both the Associate Chair of Clinical Integration and Operations and the Chief of the Division of Surgical Subspecialties for the Dell Medical School Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care.

“I was surprised to meet Dr. Wolf at the Bladder Cancer Walk last year and delighted when he reached out to let me know he’d be attending again this year,” says Dorothy. “It’s impressive to see his support of his colleagues and their patients by actively participating in these events.”

“Bladder cancer has a significant impact on patients and their families,” shares Dr. Wolf, “so it’s important to me to participate in these annual walks to help raise awareness and funds for bladder cancer support, research, and education.”

Providing Top-Notch Care Through Community Support

On June 1, 2023, S. Joga Ivatury, MD, MHA, will speak at the Ostomy Association of Austin (OAA), a local voluntary non-profit ostomy support group. “I’m looking forward to hearing Dr. Ivatury, whom I met last August at the grand opening of his Ostomy Clinic through Ascension,” says Dorothy, a longtime OAA member.

“I enjoy working with the Ostomy Association of Austin, because partnering with people that are going through these lived experiences is absolutely necessary for us to be able to provide good clinical care,” explains Dr. Ivatury.

Dr. Ivatury is a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon in both Digestive Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin, and UT Health Austin’s Surgical Oncology Clinic. He specializes in colon and rectal surgery. He is also an associate professor and serves as the inaugural Chief of Colon and Rectal Surgery for the Dell Medical School Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care.

“Traditionally, there hasn’t been a place in Austin for people to get basic care after ostomy surgery,” says Dr. Ivatury. “This has been a major gap that has existed in the community for a long time.” To address this gap in care, Dr. Ivatury established Texas Ostomy Services at Digestive Health, a clinic that offers ostomy supplies, support, and treatment for the community of Austin.

“We recently received funding to develop a health communication guide for people with ostomies,” continues Dr. Ivatury. “We’re working in collaboration with the Moody College of Communication at UT Austin and the United

Ostomy Association of America is interested in including this guide as a resource on their national websites.”

“I recently celebrated the sixth year of my cancer-clear journey,” shares Dorothy. “Over the years, I have had support from skilled medical

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professionals, caring friends and family, and I am fortunate that I have never walked alone.”

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“We consider the preferences, values, and goals that our patients are trying to achieve and determine how we can deliver care in that context.”
– Karl Koenig, MD, Executive Director of the Musculoskeletal Institute

At UT Health Austin, we believe in the value of understanding a patient’s lifetime of experience and work with our patients to build treatment plans centered around their needs. Our clinicians and staff are committed to creating a respectful environment that includes treating patients with dignity, listening to their concerns, and honoring their individual preferences and beliefs. Read more by scanning the QR code.

"It’s the resilience and strength of my patients that allows me to do the incredible work that I do.”
- Yvette Williams-Brown, MD Gynecologic Oncologist, Women’s Health and Livestrong Cancer Institutes

Every woman should feel seen and be heard throughout all stages of their life — it’s the respect that all patients deserve. Yvette Williams-Brown, MD, is a fellowship-trained gynecologic oncologist in both Women’s Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin, and UT Health Austin’s Livestrong Cancer Institutes. Dr. Williams-Brown recognizes the value in understanding her patients’ lifetime of experience and works with patients to build a treatment plan centered around their needs. Read more>>

The Power of Personalized Care

UT Health Austin neurologist improves MS diagnosis and care through patient-provider relationships

In August of 2010, Vicki Aymond was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). “I was 58 at the time of my diagnosis,” shares Vicki. “Most people are diagnosed by the age of 40, which is why it’s considered a ‘young person’s’ disease. Chances are I had been living with MS for many years but never picked up on the hidden signs.”

MS is a chronic neurological disease that impacts the central nervous system, which is composed of the brain and spinal cord. In MS, the body’s immune system has an abnormal response to the central nervous system. This causes inflammation and damage to myelin, a fatty material that protects your nerves, which can result in communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. While a

range of available treatments may decrease the risk of MS worsening over time and can help MS patients manage their symptoms, there is currently no cure for the disease.

Diagnosing MS in Older Adults

“MS is one of the more challenging illnesses to diagnose, because it can look very different from person to person,” explains Vicki. People diagnosed with MS often experience a wide range of debilitating symptoms, including loss of motor function, cognitive dysfunction, ongoing tissue inflammation and pain, and more, depending on the amount of nerve damage that exists and which nerves are affected.

Diagnosing MS in older adults can be particularly

challenging because some symptoms of MS mirror the normal signs of aging, such as muscle weakness, balance problems, fatigue, vision changes, hearing loss, and difficulty sleeping. “I find that a lot of doctors will try to attribute my symptoms to my age,” says Vicki. “They’ll tell me, ‘You know, you are 70 now.’ Well, I know how old I am. I also know myself and my body. Not everything is a result of getting older.”

MS changes with age, increasing the complexity of care for older patients, who are not only at higher risk of progression of the disease, but also more susceptible to complications from immunosuppressive therapies. Despite these unique challenges faced by older patients, relatively little research focuses on people with MS who are over the age of 50. Léorah Freeman MD, PhD, a neurologist in UT Health Austin’s Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center within the Mulva Clinic for the Neurosciences, is working to change that.

Establishing Patient-Provider Relationships

“My husband likes to tease me by saying, ‘Every time you walk into a doctor’s office you want to chit-chat.’” shares Vicki. “It’s important to me that my doctors know who I am. I want them to know that I have two grandchildren and another grandchild on the way. I want them to know that while I may not be able to pick up and carry this new baby, there are others way for me to be involved, and I intend to pursue and explore these opportunities. These are little things that I’m suddenly thinking about that I would never have thought about before and that other people often don’t think about either.”

At UT Health Austin, we put you, your family, your goals, and your needs at the forefront of your care. Our experienced healthcare professionals deliver personalized, whole-person care of uncompromising quality and treat each patient as an individual with

unique circumstances, priorities, and beliefs. Working with you, your care team creates an individualized care plan to help you reach the goals that matter most to you — in the care room and beyond.

“The first time I met with Dr. Freeman, I asked myself, ‘Did I get the luck of the draw?’” says Vicki. “Because she gave up three hours of her time to listen and truly hear what I had to say. She sat with me, took handwritten notes, and repeated things back to me to make sure she had an accurate record of what I was telling her. I kept thinking, ‘Surely another patient is waiting out in the hall.’ Of course, that wasn’t the case, but I had become accustomed to doctors spending 15 minutes with me before checking me off their list.”

Dr. Freeman works alongside several clinicians, including other neurologists, advanced practice providers, social workers, registered dietitians, nurses, and more. “By bringing a team together to meet the needs of our patients, we’re not only listening one-on-one, but we’re also listening collectively,” explains Dr. Freeman. “This can make a huge difference in the coordination of care.”

Understanding the Value of Academic Medicine

In the last 12 years, in addition to her MS diagnosis, Vicki has developed chronic pain in the left top quadrant of her back that has since spread to her left shoulder and down to her left elbow. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was also diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently in remission. However, despite years of appointments with various specialists and experimenting with countless treatment options, the chronic pain on the left side of Vicki’s body persists, and she has yet to receive any confirmation as to whether the

pain is related to her MS diagnosis or something else entirely.

“What I love about Dr. Freeman most is that she’s a physician-researcher,” shares Vicki. “She’s immersed in research daily, and the chronic pain that I’m still experiencing today is something that needs to be regularly studied and researched or it’ll continue to go undetected. And when I asked Dr. Freeman if there would be a problem with me reaching out to other doctors and research centers for answers to what is causing my pain, she immediately said, ‘Absolutely not. The more people that we can get to listen, the closer we can get to finding answers.’ Dr. Freeman truly is the best of the best.”

Dr. Freeman is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Neurology and a courtesy assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Diagnostic Medicine. She also serves as the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Imaging and Outcomes Research Laboratory at the Dell Medical School.

“MS isn’t a disease that can easily be resolved or fixed,” warns Vicki. “Currently, there is no ‘fixing.’ There are modifying drugs that help to delay or manage the disease, but no cure for MS, which is why it’s important that you advocate for yourself. My advice to others would be to speak up and be willing to go the whole nine yards. You know your body better than anyone, and when it’s telling you something, listen! Don’t be afraid to seek out a second and third opinion until you find a provider that values what you have to say. You have to advocate for your voice to be heard. Patients have to listen to their doctors and doctors have to listen to their patients.”

Building a Foundation of Mutual Respect for Exceptional Patient Care

UT Health Austin clinicians and staff strive to create a respectful environment that enhances patient outcomes. Read more>>

“Respect is the cornerstone of these values. When providers establish respectful relationships with their patients, it empowers patients to become active participants in their care. Respect also cultivates trust, as patients feel valued, acknowledged, and included in their own healthcare journey. By establishing respectful connections between patients and their providers, patients are more likely to provide accurate information, report any changes in their condition promptly, and actively engage in self-management. Building a foundation of mutual respect allows us to fulfill our commitment to delivering excellence in patient care and helps create a positive impact on health outcomes.”

Tackling Alzheimer’s Disparities Among Hispanic Older Adults

UT Health Austin clinician-researchers work to understand and address the elevated risk of Alzheimer’s disease among Hispanic older adults. Read more>>>

– Lisa Jackson, JD, RN, Executive Director of Clinical Operations for UT Health Austin

Excellence in care begins with providing patients and their families the opportunity to experience a healthy, happy life. UT Health Austin pediatric congenital heart surgeon Carlos Mery, MD, serves as the Associate Chief of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery for the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s and UT Health Austin. By delivering multidisciplinary, team-based care that meets his patient’s individual needs, Dr. Mery ensures patients and their families receive the highest level of specialized care and experience a seamless transition from pediatric to adult congenital cardiac care. Read more>>

At UT Health Austin, we believe in delivering multidisciplinary, teambased health care that meets our patients’ individual needs. Our clinicians and staff are committed to providing excellence in care by staying up to date with the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment techniques to ensure patients receive the highest level of specialized care.

“Excellence in care means surrounding the patient with the highest level of expertise across all facets of their care.”
- Carlos Mery, MD Associate Chief of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery, Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Groundbreaking Procedure Becomes a Historic First for the State of Texas

The Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease successfully performs the seventh known pediatric partial heart transplant

On June 23, 2023, the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin, successfully performed its first partial heart transplant. This groundbreaking procedure is the seventh recorded instance of a pediatric partial heart transplant performed worldwide.

“Our team is excited about this procedure, as it has the potential to change the paradigm of valve surgery in pediatric heart disease,” says UT Health Austin pediatric congenital heart surgeon Carlos Mery, MD, MPH, who serves as the Associate Chief of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery for the Texas

Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease. “This potentially life-saving surgery can make use of a donated heart that would otherwise not be transplantable.”

11-month-old Elias Robinson-Rodriquez was born with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with left ventricle outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). TGA is a rare congenital heart defect that occurs when the two major arteries attached to the heart are reversed. As a result, the heart is unable to send enough oxygenated blood to the body due to the delivery of oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich blood being switched when the pulmonary artery and aorta are reversed.

While TGA can occur on its own, a child born with TGA may develop other heart defects, such as LVOTO, an obstruction of the part of the heart that pumps oxygenated blood to the body. Surgery is necessary to repair TGA and correct other heart defects.

Despite two prior open-heart surgeries, the valve between Elias’ lower left heart chamber and aorta (the body’s main artery) was narrowed and didn’t open fully, causing a blockage of blood flow from the heart to the aorta and the rest of the body. To correct this defect, baby Elias underwent an 11-hour partial heart transplantation. In a partial heart transplant, valves are procured from a donor heart that is deemed unsuitable for full transplantation, and the harvested living valves grow with the pediatric patient over time, potentially increasing their life expectancy.

“This is a milestone procedure, as a partial transplant allows surgeons to tap into a supply of donor hearts that go unused due to deficiencies,” shares UT Health Austin pediatric cardiologist Chesney Castleberry, MD, who serves as the Medical Director for the Heart Failure, VAD, and Transplant Program within the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease. “We are thrilled with Elias’ progress, and we are hopeful this will eliminate the need for future surgeries.”

Led by Dr. Castleberry and Dr. Mery, the Heart Failure, VAD, and Transplant Program care team is comprised of nationally recognized and highly specialized physicians across a variety of disciplines housed in a single cardiac care unit at Dell Children’s Medical Center. A team is built around the patient and their family to ensure they receive the highest level of

specialized care and experience a seamless transition to adult congenital cardiac care.

“Our ability to perform this surgery is a major step in Dell Children’s effort to provide innovative, lifechanging care for the most complex cardiac cases in the region,” notes UT Health Austin congenital heart surgeon Charles Fraser, Jr., MD, who serves as Chief of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery for the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease. “This groundbreaking surgery provides hope for thousands of babies with congenital heart defects and amplifies the way we can use the gift of organ donation to save more lives.”

Only three other institutions in the U.S. have performed partial pediatric heart transplants, adding to the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease’s growing list of major milestones and monumental firsts that have significantly impacted the lives of patients and their families. In addition to this historic breakthrough, the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease was recently recognized by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons as one of the few programs in the nation with significantly better outcomes after congenital heart surgery than the national benchmark.

Establishing the Kathleen C. Moore Research Fund for Hope

Dell Medical School receives $1 million gift to support MS-focused research and inform patient care. Read more>>

“Dr. Freeman’s work fits perfectly into the foundation’s mission. The Kathleen C. Moore Research Fund for Hope will shed light on how MS changes with age and help us understand the unmet needs of older adults with MS—a population that has been largely underrepresented in research to date.”

- Greg Moore, President of the Kathleen C. Moore Foundation

Asking for a Friend

UT Health Ausitn pelivc floor physical therapists answer your questions about pelvic health. Read more>>

At UT Health Austin, we believe in improving our patients’ health through the power of compassionate, whole-person care. Our clinicians and staff are committed to ensuring care delivery has a meaningful and lasting impact on patient health by not only addressing patients' physical well-being, but also helping them achieve their personal, emotional, and mental health goals.

"Treating patients with compassion is a powerful force that profoundly impacts patient care."
- Amy Young, MD Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Women's Health

Experience the power of compassionate, whole-person care. At UT Health Austin, our clinicians strive to create an environment of transformative healing by ensuring care delivery has a meaningful and lasting impact on patient health. Amy Young, MD, is a UT Health Austin obstetriciangynecologist in Women’s Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin. Dr. Young aims to improve her patients’ health by not only addressing their physical well-being, but also helping them achieve their personal, emotional, and mental health goals. Read more>>

World-Class Health Care in the Heart of Texas

Introducing The University of Texas at Austin Medical Center. With a new, state-of-the-art UT hospital, a new world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the academic and research expertise of UT Austin, it will cement Austin as a premier destination for health care alongside other major Texas cities.

The University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife announced plans to launch a monumental healthcare initiative to accelerate and expand UT Austin’s burgeoning medical district into a world-class academic medical center for education, research and patient care. The University of Texas at Austin Medical Center will start with two new hospital towers — The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and a UT Austin hospital. MD Anderson, the nation’s #1 cancer hospital, will expand its Houston footprint to Austin by building and operating a new, comprehensive cancer center, while UT Austin will build and operate its new specialty hospital. “The establishment of The University of Texas at Austin Medical Center, with UT MD Anderson Cancer Center adjacent to a new University hospital and access to all of UT Austin’s education and research assets, will undoubtedly result in transformative cancer care, provide students at the flagship campus with unmatched experiences, and benefit patients throughout the state and nation for all time,” said Eltife.

Eltife noted that the total investment for these cornerstone projects of the new medical center is still in the discussion by the regents and is estimated at $2.5 billion. Once approved, the hospitals will be built on the current site of UT Austin’s Erwin Center. The former Longhorns basketball arena will be demolished by fall 2024, and it is anticipated that groundbreaking for the hospitals should begin in 2026.

The new UT MD Anderson hospital in Austin will be fully staffed by MD Anderson physicians, making it easier for patients in Central Texas to access the world’s leading multidisciplinary, subspecialty-focused cancer care. UT Austin’s new university hospital will be constructed adjacent to the MD Anderson site. UT Austin and UT MD Anderson already share strong collaborative relationships that include breakthrough research in cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment. That partnership will be able to grow significantly in the new medical center, using the strengths of both institutions, including the Dell Medical School, to provide

a higher level of interaction and space for them to conduct research, educate medical students and treat patients shoulder to shoulder in Austin. UT Austin and UT MD Anderson collectively conducted $1.8 billion in research last year.

Governor Greg Abbott, who joined Eltife in making the announcement, along with UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken, UT Austin President Jay Hartzell, UT MD Anderson President Peter Pisters and UT Austin Dell Medical School Dean Claudia F. Lucchinetti, said the new medical center will be one of the most important initiatives ever undertaken by a university system to serve the people of Texas.

“The State of Texas has been on a mission to use higher education to expand access to healthcare, and today marks a giant step towards achieving our goals,” said Governor Abbott. “UT MD Anderson Cancer Center is ranked No. 1 for cancer care in America, with people across the world traveling to Houston to access care. But rather than having Texans travel to MD Anderson in Houston, we will now bring the world’s best treatment to them. Families across Central Texas who are affected by cancer every year can now stay close to home for that care. The key to building sustainable communities is a healthcare infrastructure that can meet the needs of a booming population. UT Austin and MD Anderson will help us meet those needs. The Texas of tomorrow will be shaped by what UT Austin and MD Anderson are building here today.”

“The plans announced today by the Board of Regents will support an extraordinary expansion of the UT System’s education, health care, and research missions to serve Texas,” added Milliken. “As one of the nation’s largest comprehensive university systems, the UT System has fostered numerous collaborative opportunities across our institutions, and this latest one will include a relationship between UT Austin and UT MD Anderson that is an extraordinary demonstration of how this kind of synergy can positively and dramatically impact the lives of Texans.”

The Social Work Difference

UT Health Austin social workers advocate for every aspect of a patient’s well-being. Read more>>

“In the healthcare setting, a social worker can offer compassion and connect patients to relevant community resources. Social workers take a holistic view of patient well-being. We account for the physical, mental, and financial obstacles that stand between a patient and their healing.”

The Pursuit of a Cancer-Free Future

UT Health Austin physician-researcher seeks to determine why some cancers recur after treatment and how to prevent it. Read more>>

"Because I devote my time to treating and researching a select set of cancers, I am afforded a unique understanding of these conditions that allows me to better serve my patients. This expertise makes a difference when caring for patients with these rare and often serious forms of cancer.”

Committed to You and Your Health

At UT Health Austin, our world-class physician-educators deliver personalized, whole-person care and treat each patient as an individual with unique circumstances, priorities, and beliefs. Working with you, your care team creates an individualized care plan to help you reach the goals that matter most to you — in the care room and beyond. We strive to better understand you as a person, and your care team is here to listen, learn, and communicate with you and your primary care provider throughout your treatment to ensure your care always meets your needs. Learn more about UT Health Austin’s uncompromising commitment to you and your family

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