Impact February 2017

UTMB Newsletter • february 2017

Compassionate care helps patient— and his pet Innovations in Mind campaign begins Employee heroes work wonders during John Sealy Hospital fire

Recruiting the next generation of health professionals

UTMB’s School of Health Professions respiratory care program has received reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. UTMB’s program is one of five baccalaureate respiratory care programs in Texas. The program submitted a detailed self-study in 2015 and successfully completed an accreditation site visit in 2016. The Commission voted to grant a 10-year reaccreditation that will last through November 2026.

(From left) Snider, Gonzalez and Johnson with Dr. Callender.

Medical assistants Sharon Johnson and Jose Gonzalez, and nurse Kelly Snider, received President Callender’s Way to Go Award for making sure Santa stopped at one family’s home this past Christmas. During a patient’s appointment at the Pediatric Urgent Care clinic in Galveston, Johnson asked a young boy what he wanted for Christmas. He told her that Santa wasn’t bringing gifts for his young sister and newborn sibling because his father had died and his family had no money. Johnson teamed up with Gonzales and Snider to “adopt” the family for Christmas. They reached out to nurse manager Julie Hill, who put out an email to UTMB urgent care clinics—and employees from Texas City, Alvin, League City and Galveston all contributed. Staff delivered three SUVs full of gifts to the family, along with a Christmas tree and ornaments. Deborah Gray, nursing supervisor, said, “It was a rewarding experience for everyone to be able to give from the heart and make one family happy—and it all started with a random conversation between the staff and the patient!”

School of Medicine student Jacob Moran was accepted to the Paul Ambrose Scholars Program as part of the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research. As a 2017 Ambrose Scholar, Moran will attend a student leadership symposium in Savannah, Georgia, where he will be among 40 health professions students from across the country with similar interests in prevention and population health.

Scholarships are awarded to students to conduct a community-based health education project at their institution. Moran plans on continuing to improve the healthy living programs he has worked to establish at St. Vincent’s House in Galveston.

The National Institutes of Health awarded $1.9 million to Yu Shin Kim, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, to gain a deeper understanding of how chronic pain develops in order to better care for patients. Kim has developed an imaging technique that allows his team to monitor the activation of more than 1,600 nerve cells at one time and four different types of receptors that register sensory information to learn how connections that relay pain information are formed and strengthened.

The first Always Awards of 2017 went to the Ortho/Trauma Unit in Jennie Sealy Hospital and the Children’s Clinic of Clear Lake. The award recognizes units who always are attentive to patients, always listen, always explain and always treat patients with the respect they deserve. David Marshall, chief nursing and patient care services officer, presented the inpatient award to Jason Ziegler, nurse manager, on behalf of the Ortho/Trauma Unit. Ann O’Connell, vice president of ambulatory operations, presented the ambulatory award to Andrea Mitchell, nurse manager, on behalf of the Children’s Clinic of Clear Lake.

Chris Fry, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Metabolism in UTMB’s School of Health Professions, will be honored with the 2017 New Investigator Award from the American Physiological Society Section on Environmental and Exercise Physiology at its Experimental Biology Meeting in April.

February 2017

impact

From the President The Feb. 2 Town Hall covered a lot of ground regarding UTMB’s current state and plans for the future. Despite this being a challenging time for the state’s budget, our university is strong.

February 2017

We met all but one of our Best Care goals for the first quarter of FY17, we are managing our finances well and our employee turnover rates are well below national benchmarks. We have in place or are developing strategic plans for our clinical, research and education enterprises that support The Road Ahead and the long-term success of our mission.

Best Care in Action: Compassionate care helps patient and pet

We must keep up the good work, but the good work so far has provided us an excellent foundation. You can view the Town Hall video at www.utmb.edu/townhall. And please plan to attend/view one or more of the Mondays in March sessions, beginning March 6.

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The Town Hall also officially kicked off the Employee Campaign for our Innovations in Mind fundraising initiative. Employee contributions not only will provide vital support to the initiative’s priorities—Health Education Center, neurodegenerative disorders research, scholarships, and endowments to attract and retain top faculty—they will serve as a powerful testament to others considering a contribution to UTMB’s mission. You can learn more about the Employee Campaign in this issue.

Day in the life of a student recruitment and event coordinator

Other stories highlighting our people:

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• A Day in the Life of Michelle Conley, student recruitment and event coordinator for the School of Health Professions • A profile of Craig Kovacevich, associate vice president of Waiver Operations and Community Health Plans • First-hand accounts from employee heroes who worked wonders during the Jan. 4 John Sealy Hospital fire • Best Care in Action at the Angleton Danbury Campus • UTMB’s $10 million grant from the CDC to help fight diseases caused by Zika, West Nile and others • UTMB’s leadership role in creating the UT System Virtual Health Network • This year’s MLK award luncheon, which honored four employees and students • Top 10 ways to show respect in the workplace (by the UTMB Professionalism Committee) • Other accomplishments and kudos in the Working Wonders column and throughout the newsletter

Innovations in Mind Faculty & Staff campaign begins

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Please contact the Impact team if you have ideas for future stories or have a UTMB Wonder to share.

Thank you!!

Spotlight on Craig Kovacevich

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Dr. David L. Callender UTMB President

Impact is for and about the people who fulfill UTMB’s mission to improve health in Texas and around the world.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue. Let us know what you think!

ON THE COVER: Michelle Conley and several School of Health Professions students stand outside the School of Nursing/SHP building on the Galveston Campus. As a student recruitment and event coordinator, Conley stays busy year-round, whether planning commencement and new student orientations, or traveling around the state to attract the best and brightest future health professionals.

P rinted b y U T MB graphic design & P rinting S ervices

Vice President Marketing & Communications Steve Campbell

Contact us Email: impact.newsletter@utmb.edu Phone: (409) 772-2618

Associate Vice President Marketing & Communications Mary Havard

Campus mail route: 0144 U.S. Postal address: UTMB Marketing & Communications

301 University Boulevard

Galveston, TX 77555-0144

Editors KirstiAnn Clifford Stephen Hadley Simone Parker Art Director Mark Navarro

Best care

B y K irsti A nn C lifford

T

aking care of patients’ four-legged friends is not part of Judy Trevino’s job description.

But that didn’t stop the medical lab scientist at UTMB’s Angleton Danbury Campus from showing compassion when a newly admitted patient needed help.

Trevino, who spends most of her time in the Angleton Danbury Hospital lab, was recently called to the ICU to help a phlebotomist who was having trouble drawing blood from an uncooperative patient. When she got there, she started talking to the male patient as she worked and noticed he was crying.

“I knew I didn’t hurt him when I drew the blood, so I asked what was wrong,” Trevino recalled.

His response came as a surprise.

Earlier in the day, he had been pulled over by law enforcement after he had been observed swerving across lanes of traffic. The sheriff ’s deputy quickly determined the man was in the midst of a medical emergency. An ambulance took the driver directly to the UTMB ADC Hospital and his truck was towed away—with his beloved dog inside.

“He was crying because he was very worried about his dog,” said Trevino. “He didn’t know who had his dog or if it was fed. So I told him that I would locate the dog and would take care of it until he got out of the hospital. He immediately perked up and said, ‘You would do that for me?’”

Trevino reassured the patient that she doesn’t make promises she can’t keep and called the sheriff ’s

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department to track down the man’s truck and dog. She learned the dog had been left with the owner of an auto shop where the truck was impounded and arranged to pick it up.

For the next several days, Trevino took care of the dog, a toy Pomeranian, while the patient recovered in the hospital—she even made sure the dog was fed its usual diet. When it was time for the man to be discharged, she returned the dog to a very grateful owner.

“The man said I was his angel,” said Trevino. “All I did was take care of his dog, which was the cutest little thing, but I am really glad that I could do that for someone, especially since he didn’t have any family living nearby.”

By taking care of the dog, the patient had one less thing to worry about and was able to focus on his own healing.

Sometimes the healing process depends on that personal touch.

Trevino acknowledged that not everyone is able to take a patient’s pet home with them, but it’s the added personal touch that makes all the difference. Her supervisor, Monica Watkins agreed, and said she was proud to have Trevino as an employee.

“Sometimes we get moving so fast that we overlook that personal piece, but Judy took the time to listen to the patient and truly provide Best Care,” she said. “By taking care of the dog, the patient had one less thing to worry about and was able to focus on his own healing. Sometimes the healing process depends on that personal touch. We could all take a lesson from Judy. Her actions are a reminder that no matter what our positions are, we can help UTMB provide Best Care by putting our best face forward to every patient, every time.”

February 2017

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education

Innovations in Mind Faculty and Staff Campaign begins Initiative to support Health Education Center, faculty endowments, scholarships and neurodegenerative disorders research B y S tephen H adle y

UTMB kicked off the Faculty and Staff Campaign for its newest fundraising initiative—Innovations in Mind—at the Feb. 2 Town Hall meeting.

The entire $50 million Innovations in Mind initiative will support construction of the new Health Education Center on the Galveston Campus, help create faculty endowments and student scholarships, and bolster neurodegenerative disorders research.

The Faculty and Staff Campaign is the opportunity for members of the UTMB family to invest in these priorities.

Specifically, the overall Innovations in Mind campaign’s fundraising goals include: • Health Education Center: $22.6 million to cover the balance of the $90.4 million project that remained after the Texas Legislature gave UTMB $67.8 million for the facility’s construction in its last session; • Faculty support: $10 million to fund endowments and recruitment initiatives to attract and retain additional world-class faculty members; • Student scholarships: $10 million;

During the Feb. 2 Town Hall, the student co-chairs for the Innovations in Mind Student Campaign presented a check for $14,876 to UTMB President Dr. David Callender for the campaign. Pictured from left: Callender, Samee Hameed, chair from the School of Medicine; Mike Chamberlain, chair from the School of Health Professions; Alexis Williams, chair from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; and Lindsay Murray, chair from the School of Nursing. match who contributed as of Feb. 1.

“On behalf of the UTMB student body, I want to thank you for allowing us to participate in this campaign that will help define the future for UTMB,” said School of Medicine student campaign co-chair Samee Hameed. “I believe, and the rest of our co-chairs also believe, that the Health Education Center is essential and that it increases both the value and the education that UTMB can provide.”

For the first time, UTMB’s student body is also involved in raising funds as part of an initiative.

The four co-chairs of the Faculty and Staff Campaign—Dr. Danny O. Jacobs, executive vice president and provost, dean of the School of Medicine; Dr. David Niesel, senior vice president and dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Dr. Elizabeth Protas, senior vice president and dean of the School of Health Professions; and Dr. Pamela Watson, senior vice president for interprofessional education and institutional effectiveness and dean of the School of Nursing—were also recognized during Town Hall.

During the Town Hall, the four student co-chairs for the Innovations in Mind Student Campaign presented a $14,876 check to Callender, which represented the funds raised from 232 students and a donor

Callender also acknowledged the Innovations in Mind co-chairs who will work with contributors outside of UTMB: Development Board members and alumni Dr. Peter Thompson and Susanne Sullivan.

• Neurodegenerative disorders research: $7.4 million.

“This initiative is an excellent opportunity to support one or more of these goals that will shape the future of UTMB’s missions moving forward,” said UTMB President Dr. David L. Callender.

For more information about the Innovations in Mind Faculty and Staff Campaign and to make your gift, please visit https://innovationsinmind.utmb.edu/employee.

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February 2017

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Working Wonders

Working Wonders during John Sealy Hospital fire B y K irsti A nn C lifford and S imone P arker

More than 110 patients were safely relocated

on Jan. 4 after a fire broke out in a non-patient care area of John Sealy Hospital in Galveston. While the fire was contained to a small area, the smoke was not—requiring full evacuation of both John Sealy Hospital and John Sealy Annex.

Hundreds of UTMB employees from all areas of the institution immediately jumped into action, putting their emergency training to use to ensure the safety and well-being of patients, visitors and colleagues.

In a calm but quick response, all patients—including new mothers, newborns, neonates, children and Blocker Burn Center and cath lab patients—were safely evacuated.

UTMB President Dr. David Callender said the fire and smoke incident, while unfortunate, highlighted the extraordinary people who come to work at UTMB every day.

“When circumstances seem to be at their worst, the UTMB family is always at its best,” said Dr. Callender. “Your flexibility, your willingness to step in where help is needed, and your professionalism and compassion in the face of a great challenge are deeply appreciated. You have done UTMB and our mission proud.”

The following represent just a few of the many examples of employee heroes who stepped up, put their own needs aside and truly worked wonders during the fire and in its aftermath.

Evacuating UTMB’s smallest patients Yesenia Sandino, NICU nurse manager, was in a meeting with neonatal staff and leadership when she received word that a fire alarm had gone off—and this time, it wasn’t a drill.

“Everyone in the meeting—which was about 20 people—ran from the Waverley Smith Pavilion to their patients in John Sealy and John Sealy Annex,” she recalled. “In some areas, we had to push through smoke to reach our babies, but it was amazing to see the teamwork going on. Respiratory therapists were getting oxygen together to make the babies mobile and ready to evacuate. Nurses, doctors, Health System leadership, volunteers—everyone pitched in to put the patient first.”

With some babies on ventilators or in incubators, transporting a single neonate could take a team of up to seven or more people to carry all the equipment. Other babies could be put in specially designed pockets of fire vests worn by nursing staff in the event of an evacuation.

Dr. Rafael Fonseca, associate professor in the Division of Neonatology, personally led several new moms and babies to safety. More mobile patients and families were brought directly over to Jennie Sealy Hospital, where they were greeted with open arms. In all, 37 of UTMB’s smallest patients were safely relocated.

Sandino went home that night and posted an entry on her Facebook page, summing up her emotions from the day.

“UTMB was awesome today,” she wrote. “Just amazing teamwork! I couldn’t be more proud of our entire staff. We were faced with an emergent situation and we acted

Sandino (second from right) and Dr. Fonseca (back left) with staff who helped during the fire. just like we were trained to do. We were great. We were. And if you hear anything different, don’t believe it. Cause I know. And u know how I know? EVERY baby is safe tonight. EVERY single one.”

Teaming up to carry patient down nine flights of stairs Dr. Todd Masel, an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology, and Aurelio Anderson, a patient care tech, didn’t know each other before Jan. 4, but that didn’t keep them from working together to carry a patient down nine flights of stairs.

In the midst of the evacuation, Masel walked through a smoky hallway on the ninth floor to see if anyone in the pediatric area needed help—that’s where he ran into Anderson, who was preparing a teenager for transport.

“The patient couldn’t walk—he was weak after a recent surgery,” said Masel. “So each of us grabbed a leg and had one of his arms over our shoulders. Then we headed into the stairwell.”

When the patient began panicking, the two men reassured the teenager that he was going to be OK. They stopped momentarily to let the patient relax and even called his mother to tell her he was safe.

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Once they got the teenager evacuated, Masel headed up the stairs to help carry more patients down. Fatigue didn’t set in until he got home later that night, when he realized he never asked for Anderson’s name.

“It all happened so fast,” said Masel, reflecting on the experience. “Over the course of a normal workday, there are people you recognize and say ‘hi’ to but don’t really know their names. But after working together to carry a patient to safety during an extraordinary circumstance like this, you kind of develop a Dr. Masel (left) and Anderson whole new bond.”

February 2017

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working wonders

Letting the motherly instincts kick in January 4 was supposed to be a day off for Natalie Agnew, a housekeeper with Environmental Services (EVS). But she offered to cover a shift on the ninth floor of John Sealy Hospital for a sick co-worker.

After cleaning several rooms in the pediatric intensive care unit, Agnew stopped at the nurses station to talk to Laura Gonzales, a patient experience supervisor. That’s when they both smelled smoke and heard the fire alarm. They quickly learned that an evacuation was underway.

“The patients were all babies and children, so my first thought was ‘We need to get them out of here fast,’” said Agnew. “I’m a mother of four, so that motherly instinct kicked in instantly.”

Agnew and Gonzales helped evacuate several patients, including carrying a child in a wheelchair down a back stairwell. Once outside, several EVS staff stayed with patients to provide comfort and blankets.

Along with Agnew and Gonzales, dozens of EVS employees took various actions to help during and after the fire. Lynn Smith, patient satisfaction manager, helped direct patients and staff to the nearest exits during the evacuation and then stayed with a team of employees until late that night to finish cleaning rooms in Jennie Sealy Hospital for evacuated patients.

Kurt Dickson, assistant director of Environmental Services, said, “Many employees stayed until 11 p.m. to make sure units were ready for patients. I’m proud of everybody—they came together and really made a big (From left) Gonzales, Dickson, Agnew and Smith difference.”

Overcoming fears to ensure public safety

Leading the charge

Hearing the word “fire” makes Herbert Moore, a public safety officer with the UTMB Police Department, a little nervous. When he was a child, he witnessed a neighbor’s house burn to the ground. The experience—even the sounds of the fire popping and crackling—has stuck with him through the years. But he put that fear aside as he escorted firefighters through John Sealy Hospital.

While most people run away from danger, UTMB Fire Marshal Mark Morgan is trained to run toward it. That’s just what he did on Jan. 4—leading the charge to evacuate people safely and contain a fire inside John Sealy Hospital.

“I’ve been here so long, I know my way around the buildings better than most,” said Moore, who has worked at UTMB for nearly 31 years. “When the lights in John Sealy went out after Hurricane Ike, I already knew where all the stairwells and exits were, so I knew I could help get people to where they needed to go.”

In addition to Moore, Officer Gerardo Gonzales, Officer Carlton Scott, Detective Jacob Corbitt and several other members of the UTMB Police Department were some of the first responders to arrive on the scene. UTMB Police guided firefighters through the building to pinpoint the exact location of the fire, helped evacuate patients and directed traffic away from the building.

Officer Gonzales said the evacuation could have been chaotic, but it wasn’t, thanks to the teamwork of staff, doctors, nurses, volunteers and others.

“People didn’t panic and they did what they needed to do to get the patients and families out,” said Gonzales. “Everybody fell back on their training, remained calm and worked (From left) Gonzales, Scott, Corbitt and Moore together really well.”

“I heard it on the radio and dispatch called me,” said Morgan. “I was right behind the hospital, so I ran up the stairs to the second floor and saw smoke coming from behind some fire doors.

I immediately told the fire department the location of the fire and the extent of the smoke.”

Morgan works with UTMB’s Fire and Life Safety program as a liaison between the Galveston Fire Department and the institution. He communicated evacuation orders to employees while coordinating efforts with firefighters, police and other UTMB departments. Then he walked around the perimeter to make sure the fire hadn’t spread and ensured all fire doors were closed to contain the smoke.

Morgan’s colleague, Brandon Metting, a safety specialist who monitors fire alarm systems, ran across campus to help.

“We went to the south stairwell and that’s where we ran into the Labor and Delivery unit heading down,” said Metting. “I worked with two nurses and a property services employee to bring a woman in a wheelchair down the stairs—it took a team, but we have a lot of good people.”

After the fire was extinguished, the Fire and Life Safety team made sure all fire alarm and sprinkler systems in the remainder of the building were back online. Morgan said UTMB’s Property Services employees played a big role in response efforts, including shutting down power to elevator lobbies to prevent a massive short-circuit of power from the water used to fight the fire.

(From left) Metting and Morgan

Keeping employees and visitors fed Holly Allen, Bill Bond and Joshua Coulter gave new meaning to “going the extra mile” for customers. The UTMB and Morrison Healthcare Food and Nutrition Services employees stayed long after their shifts had ended to ensure all hungry employees and visitors were fed.

“We all worked a double,” said Allen, a supervisor at Einstein Bros. Bagels in Jennie Sealy Hospital.

When news spread quickly that Einstein’s was the only restaurant open after the fire, customer lines started snaking down the hall.

“It was crazy busy, but we were happy to help and people were patient,” she said. “We were going to feed everybody no matter what.”

Bond, who usually supervises Subway in Café on the Court, immediately came to help.

The three worked non-stop until tuna and tortilla sandwiches were the only menu items left. The food eventually ran out and police had to escort Allen and Bond to a kitchen in the blocked-off John Sealy Hospital to restock supplies.

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February 2017

They closed Einstein’s at 11:30 p.m., more than four hours past the normal closing time.

The employees have no idea how many customers were served, but they were thankful that no one was left hungry.

Many other Food and Nutrition Services employees also helped during and after the fire—making sure staff and customers evacuated Café on the Court quickly and safely, and volunteering to help prepare meals for the displaced patients.

(From left) Coulter, Allen and Bond

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A day in the life of a

student recruitment event coordinator

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F ebruar ebruary 2017

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and

B y K irsti A nn C lifford

Michelle Conley loves a good inspirational quote.

As a student recruitment and event coordinator for UTMB’s School of Health Professions, her office walls are covered with motivational messages to remind students, colleagues—and herself—that success can be achieved with a positive attitude and hard work.

“Sometimes all a person needs in the morning is a little inspiration,” she says as she points to a sign saying Have Courage. “It helps me, but I also like that it’s the first thing students and staff see when they come to my office.”

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F ebruar ebruary 2017

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It’s a

Wednesday morning in January, and Conley energetically explains her docket for the day while checking four separate SHP email accounts.

As I sit in her office on the second floor of the School of Nursing/School of Health Professions building on the Galveston Campus, I quickly realize that she does much more than her job title lets on.

In addition to student recruitment (for six academic programs including clinical laboratory sciences, occupational therapy, nutrition and metabolism, physical therapy, physician assistant studies and respiratory care) and planning all SHP events (such as commencement and an annual fundraising fun run), she is also heavily involved with the school’s social media, marketing and development efforts, academic affairs, student scholarships and more.

Her nickname around the office is fittingly “Jill-of-All-Trades.”

“My role has grown over the years, so I’m used to wearing many hats,” says Conley, who first joined UTMB in 2003.

Her detail-oriented personality is key to juggling the many responsibilities that come with her role—color-coded calendars, priority lists and neatly labeled binders are immaculately organized on her desk.

“I’ve always been pretty compulsive when it comes to keeping everything neat and organized,” she says. “My father was a Marine and my mother was a nurse at UTMB, so I do hospital corners when making my bed—I like things a certain way.”

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I observe her organizational skills in play as she puts together informational packets for the first meeting of the SHP Causeway FunD Run logistics committee.

“Coordinating the FunD Run can be a challenge, but it’s really rewarding because I know the money raised will be used to give scholarships to our very deserving students,” says Conley, who serves as lead for the event that raises $80,000 a year. “Plus, the race gives participants the rare chance to run or walk across the Galveston Causeway—it’s a worthwhile event all around.”

We head to the dean’s conference room, where Conley takes a seat at the head of the table and greets faculty and student FunD Run committee members as they filter in. She moves through the agenda quickly and efficiently, but takes her time listening to suggestions that could make the event better than the year before. She jots down notes about adding water bottle recycling and creating a “selfie” photo station before adjourning the meeting.

On our way out, we run into SHP Dean Elizabeth Protas, who has worked with Conley for more than 10 years. Conley offers a quick status update on the graphic for SHP’s 50th anniversary and Protas smiles, exclaiming, “Isn’t she great? She does everything!”

February 2017

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With the SHP’s 50th anniversary coming up in 2018, someone comes and wants to apply for one of our programs, I Conley says she will start creating a committee to help plan that event as soon as the FunD Run is done in March.

“This anniversary is so important since our 40th celebration got cancelled because of Hurricane Ike,” she says. “So, we are going to have a big gala to celebrate the 50th anniversary during homecoming weekend—it’s essential for it to be fabulous!”

But before she delves into those event details, it’s time for Conley to switch hats—she’s in charge of greeting prospective students at an open house that afternoon in the lobby of the SON/SHP building. She enjoys holding events at UTMB or traveling to universities across Texas to recruit the best and brightest future health professionals.

“I don’t think young people get enough credit for how awesome they are,” she says. “We have amazing, intelligent, wonderfully interesting, competent students in our world—and especially at UTMB.” Conley says the physician assistant program is one of the most competitive SHP programs—they receive more than a thousand applications for a class size of 90. February is a big recruiting month, so she will be on the road talking to students at University of Houston, Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas A&M in College Station, Baylor in Waco, Texas State in San Marcos, UT San Antonio and UT Austin.

ask them, ‘What’s your GPA? How many shadowing hours do you have?’ I like having honest conversations and letting them know what they can work on to improve their chances of being accepted—I think they appreciate that.”

Despite her busy schedule, Conley says she has actually slowed down a bit. After a medical emergency and life-saving surgery a few years ago, she had an “aha!” moment.

“It really made me realize how important it is to spend more time with my 14-year old son,” she says. “I lost my wonderful mom to Alzheimer’s when I was pretty young, but I have the opportunity to be more present in my son’s life. I have learned to say ‘no’ when I need to, although I still volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of my mother. Three years ago, I wasn’t at every one of my son’s basketball or football games—but I am now.”

I accompany Conley to the open house, where she sets up a table with marketing materials and easily connects with prospective students as they walk in the door. I say ‘goodbye’ after she provides some inspiration to an interested student who is nervous about applying to one of the programs. The student leaves with a smile on his face and a plan to proceed with the application process with confidence.

“The students I talk to have the opportunity to help define the future of health care,” she says. “I’m a real recruiter—when

If there was ever an inspirational mantra to describe Michelle Conley, it would be “Stay positive, work hard and make it happen.”

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“We have amazing, intelligent, wonderfully interesting, competent students in our world— and especially at UTMB.” 11

February 2017

leader spotlight

Craig Kovacevich, Waiver Operations and Community Health Plans Craig Kovacevich serves as UTMB’s associate vice president of Waiver Operations and Community Health Plans. He is also the executive director for UTMB HealthCare Systems, a Texas 501(c)3 corporation.

In his roles, Kovacevich directs the daily operations of UTMB HealthCare Systems’ corporate office and provides executive leadership within the department of Waiver Operations. He is part of the management team responsible for directing daily operations of the 1115 Medicaid Waiver—including regional learning collaboratives and local planning and project implementation within the 16 counties UTMB oversees as the anchor institution for Region 2.

Prior to joining UTMB in 2010, Kovacevich was the vice president of marketing for Moody Insurance Group, Inc. He is a Galveston native and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in communications from the University of Houston.

What does Best Care mean to you and how do you contribute?

What was your first job?

When UTMB initially launched the “Best Care” initiative, I struggled to fully comprehend how the work I do related to the 1115 Healthcare Transformation Waiver contributed to it. However, after learning more about the initiative, it quickly became apparent that I have the ability to impact Best Care in a very meaningful and tangible way. UTMB is both a performing provider and regional anchor under the waiver, and as such, the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) projects that my office oversees have a direct relationship to many of the key domains of quality and accountability under the Best Care initiative. Our organization currently has 29 active DSRIP projects, and each one has components that focus on positively impacting patient safety, improving efficiency, reducing 30-day readmissions and even touching mortality through projects like our palliative care efforts. Additionally, one of the main tenants of the waiver is to increase access to care and create an environment where continuity of care becomes reality. This supports Best Care by maintaining and improving UTMB’s commitment to patient-centered care.

While completing my master’s degree, I taught at Burnet Elementary School in Galveston. What started as a short-term assignment at the beginning of the academic year, quickly evolved into nearly a year-long position. This job was instrumental in helping me learn the true meeting of “patience.” Being responsible for helping 20-plus second-grade students learn, explore, and, most importantly, have fun doing so, was one of the best experiences of my life.

What are the biggest challenges you face as AVP for Waiver Operations and Community Health Plans?

This question is very timely given the ongoing negotiations between Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Currently, the waiver is in a transition period as the state and federal governments decide the next steps, which could include a longer term extension or possible redesign of the current program. This uncertainty poses certain barriers in planning for sustainability of existing projects, as well as challenges me to proactively strategize about the future of not only UTMB’s health care transformation efforts, but those of our regional partners in the 16 counties UTMB oversees as anchor.

I have always believed that challenges provide opportunity, so I look at this period of uncertainty as a chance to reassess and improve our efforts to meet the overarching goals of the waiver. I am confident that negotiations will be fruitful and we will have the framework to continue the great work being done in our region and across the great state of Texas.

In addition to my role overseeing the waiver office, I also have responsibility for the health plans that UTMB and UTMB HealthCare Systems (UTMB HCS) administers for both senior supplemental coverage and employer-sponsored benefits. Given the uncertainty of how and when the federal government will address anticipated changes to the Affordable Care Act, I find myself continuously challenged to be prepared to ensure we administer plans that meet various regulations, are financially viable for the organization, affordable for the members and have coverage options that allow UTMB providers to deliver highquality services at the right time and in the most appropriate setting.

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Craig Kovacevich with his wife, Marjorie (director of the UTMB-TDCJ Hospital Galveston), and sons, Matthew (14) and Grayson (6).

What do you like to do outside of work?

My wife, Marjorie, and I have had the awesome privilege to travel broadly, both nationally and internationally. Travel provides opportunities to make lifelong memories and is an escape from the ordinary for us and our two sons, Matthew (14) and Grayson (6). As cliché as it sounds, travel helps me find myself and appreciate alternative perspectives on life.

If you could have only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

That’s really hard especially when all the food seems to call my name when I step into the kitchen or open the refrigerator. But, if forced to narrow it down, I’d have to say hot and sour soup, sesame chicken, and shrimp fried rice from Hop Lee Rice House in New York City’s Chinatown. It just doesn’t get any better than this!

What’s something you always wanted to do but have not done yet?

After watching my wife cross the finish line at this year’s Aramco Houston Half Marathon and celebrating our son’s three straight Junior Olympic invitations for distance running, I am setting a personal goal to run the half marathon with both of them in 2018. I know this will not be an easy task but I will certainly have the two best coaches ever!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I look forward to traveling with my wife to Cuba someday. Her mother was born and lived near Havana until her family fled in 1959 when Fidel Castro took over the government. My mother-in-law always dreamed of returning to visit her beloved island nation with her husband, children and grandchildren after his reign, but passed away before she had the opportunity. Making the journey to Cuba would be very special because it would celebrate a legacy so important to my wife and our entire family.

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RESEARCH

B y D onna R amirez

To help stop the spread of diseases carried by “The goal of the center is to greatly improve our ability to arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, anticipate mosquito- and tick-borne diseases,” said Weaver. the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded UTMB $10 million to establish the Western Gulf Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases. The center’s work will protect public health in the region, the nation and beyond.

“We will approach this problem from many different angles, including safe and reliable control of mosquitoes while safeguarding against insecticide resistance, new point-ofcare methods for faster and more reliable disease diagnosis, improved predictions of disease emergence and spread, better understanding of how to serve communities affected by insect-borne diseases, and training a new generation of public health professionals highly skilled in vector-borne disease research and management.”

“With UTMB’s unparalleled expertise in arthropod-borne diseases, we along with our partners, are uniquely positioned to improve lives all across the Americas,” said Scott Weaver, director of UTMB’s Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and leader of the new center. “The Weaver added, “Although center will enhance both we are able to predict the regional and national the arrival of many veccapacity to anticipate, pretor-borne diseases, the vent and control emerging U.S. is not adequately and exotic vector-borne prepared to prevent these diseases.”

“Texas is a gateway for vector-borne diseases entering diseases from spreadThe award is a part of the or emerging in the U.S. We have seen dangerous viruses ing and to protect at-risk CDC’s funding provided populations. The failures spread by arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, under the Zika Response stem from complex probincluding dengue, chikungunya, West Nile virus and Zika, and Preparedness Approlems such as difficulties establishing themselves and spreading, especially in the priations Act of 2016. in controlling the Aedes Gulf Coast region.”

“Texas is a gateway for aegypti mosquito, the rise vector-borne diseases of vectors that are resistant entering or emerging in the U.S.,” said Weaver. “We have to insecticides, and a decrease in public health expertise and seen dangerous viruses spread by arthropod vectors such as preparedness in recent years.” mosquitoes and ticks, including dengue, chikungunya, West Partners in the new Center of Excellence will include UT Rio Nile virus and Zika, establishing themselves and spreading, Grande Valley, UT Austin, UT El Paso, Texas A&M AgriLespecially in the Gulf Coast region.” ife, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Vanderbilt Texas is particularly vulnerable to vector-borne diseases University, the University of Colorado and the University of because of its climate, its location at the U.S.-Mexico border, Houston, as well as Harris County and five other local public and its major hubs for land, sea and air travel from the Carib- health agencies, and the Texas Department of State Health bean and Latin America.

Services.

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INNOVATION

B y K irsti A nn C lifford

UTMB physicians have been practicing telemedicine for more than 20 years, delivering care via video conferencing to Texas prison inmates, cruise ship passengers, researchers in Antarctica and patients in rural parts of the state.

So it only makes sense for UTMB to lead the coordination and implementation of a UT System initiative connecting all eight UT health care institutions under one statewide telemedicine network. Approved by the Board of Regents last year, the UT System Virtual Health Network (VHN) will build on the system’s existing telehealth capabilities and will allow more patients to have access to specialty care without driving hundreds of miles.

“It’s very exciting to see technology evolve,” said Alex Vo, PhD, UTMB’s vice president of telemedicine and health services technology. “But what’s even more exciting is to see how we are using technology to bridge access to care that has traditionally had barriers in the past.”

UT-VHN since its inception, described how the network will provide fast and efficient access to specialists across the state.

“Under the VHN, patients in the far eastern or western areas of Texas who normally go to a certain medical/health sciences center can reach across the network to UT Southwestern or UTMB or other institutions for various specialties that their local area can’t provide,” he said.

For example, if a primary care provider at a satellite clinic associated with the UT-VHN senses that their patient needs a specialty consult in neurology, they can look across the entire network to book an appointment in that specialty area. Then, the patient would be seen by the specialist at their local clinic via telemedicine.

“That way, the patient remains in the community and the local provider has an added value for that patient because now they have access to the UT network of specialists,” said Vo.

Along with improving access to care, the UT-VHN is also Currently in the first phase Alex Vo, PhD, and Carla Kantara, PhD, director of health innovations and digital health, expected to save costs as of a four-year implementadiscuss plans for implementing the UT System Virtual Health Network. patients are provided quality, tion, the UT-VHN will provide coordinated care faster and coordinated outbound and closer to home, thereby mitigating emergency room visits and acute problems. inbound services from UT health sciences centers and medical schools into care settings such as other hospitals and clinics, nursing facilities, schools, As a participant and anchor institution, UTMB is currently leveraging its telehealth employee worksites and even patient homes. expertise to assess technical, business and clinical operations at all eight UT “The VHN offers a solution that really goes to the heart of the problem for patients in medically underserved areas,” said Mari Robinson, JD, director of telehealth at UTMB. “It allows patients access to a high quality of care in a large variety of medical specialty areas without the burden of traveling to one of the major metropolitan areas of the state.”

The network is among Chancellor Bill McRaven’s “Quantum Leaps,” which are bold initiatives for the future of the UT System. Vo, who has worked on the

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System health-related institutions. A small team has been traveling across the state to learn about each institution’s telehealth capabilities, and will then recommend a path forward to directly connect all institutions.

By 2020, Vo said the UT-VHN will set an unprecedented model of care delivery.

“By the nature of our connections, UT medical institutions will be able to cast a wide net of service across rural, urban and underserved areas—breaking down barriers and truly bridging the gap in care access.”

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UTMB News

UTMB honors four with MLK awards

F

B y S imone P arker

our UTMB employees “I encourage everyone at this great and students were honinstitution to foster a diverse, incluored at the Dr. Martin sive learning environment. Working Luther King Jr. Community together, in a spirit of community Service Awards Ceremony and inclusion, we are working wonand Luncheon in January. ders,” said Callender.

The annual event celebrates Lisa Cain, PhD, director of UTMB’s the life and legacy of Dr. King Medical School Enrichment Proby honoring faculty, students grams and associate professor of and staff who promote diverNeurosciences and Cell Biology, (From left) UTMB President Dr. David L. Callender, Leah Jacobs, sity, inclusion, civic engagedelivered the keynote address. As Carlton Gentry, Dr. Maurice Willis, Laurel Sabol and Imelda Wicks. ment and service to UTMB director of the Medical School and the greater community.

Enrichment Programs, Cain implements research and academic The ceremony was hosted by the UTMB Diversity Council at programs for undergraduate and medical students. Over the Levin Hall on the Galveston Campus. past four years, she has helped provide research opportunities to This year’s honorees, who were selected by the UTMB Diversity Council from a record number of nominations, are Laurel Sabol, a School of Health Professions student; Dr. Maurice Willis, director of UTMB’s Hematology/Oncology clinic; Carlton Gentry, Correctional Managed Care licensed vocational nurse in the Gib Lewis Unit in East Texas; and Leah Jacobs, an analyst in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

UTMB President Dr. David L. Callender congratulated the award winners and encouraged attendees to continue Dr. King’s unfinished work.

over 250 individual students and served as the director of three National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Training Grants.

A proclamation was presented to Cain, declaring Jan. 13, 2017, Dr. Lisa Cain Day in Galveston.

“I am thankful and honored to receive the Proclamation from the city of Galveston. It has invigorated me to be a greater voice for equality and justice. I am also committed to helping ensure that the horizons of opportunity are available for all youth to receive the education, mentoring and support necessary to help them to achieve their goals,” said Cain.

The Road Ahead for 2017-2019

UTMB’s institutional vision, The Road Ahead, has been updated for 2017–2019.

It outlines four essential strategic priorities—People, Value, Strategic Management and Growth, and Resources—which are the foundation for the institution’s strategic vision and all our efforts to improve lives in an evolving health care landscape.

This year, we are focusing our strategic priorities toward becoming a Top 20 health care provider among academic medical centers, through the Best Care initiative. Achieving this goal will help ensure the long-term health of our mission.

The Road Ahead is the result of ongoing and long-term planning by executive leadership, with key input from the UTMB community. It illustrates how every member of the university community—in classrooms, laboratories, hospitals, clinics and support areas throughout Texas—is vital to our mission of improving health in Texas and around the world.

Hard copies of The Road Ahead are available from the Office of Strategic Management or online at www.utmb.edu/strategic_vision.

If you’d like to check out the latest UTMB facts and figures, the FY16 Data Reference Card is available online at www.utmb.edu/business. Want printed copies? Contact the Business and Finance administrative office at 409-266-2006 or email Business.Finance@utmb.edu.

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Top 10 ways to show respect in the workplace By the UTMB Professionalism Committee A respectful work environment boosts employee morale and creates a more positive, productive workplace. Make professionalism a habit and demonstrate respect with these simple, yet powerful actions: 1. Say something. If you see disrespectful or unsafe behavior that undermines the work environment, speak up. Everyone deserves to be treated respectfully.

2. Smile. Empathize and be considerate of others. Make it a routine to smile and greet everyone as you arrive at work—it’s a sign of courtesy and kindness.

3. Say “thank you.” It may seem like common sense, but many people forget to say thank you or don’t say it with sincerity. Show gratitude often by making sure people know you appreciate them and their actions. Give encouragement to show you value your team’s contributions.

4. Be considerate and discreet.

Be mindful of your surroundings. If you work in an open workspace and need to make a phone call, make sure to control your own volume and respect your neighbors.

5. Apologize. If you make a mistake, take responsibility and have a corrective action plan. Saying “I’m sorry” (without excuses) is courageous and proves your commitment to your colleagues and to your job.

6. Participate constructively. Make sure your contributions in meetings are on topic and respectful. Avoid interrupting others and give others your full attention.

7. Respond in a timely manner. Answer phone calls and emails promptly— this shows people you value their time.

Ensure that information is communicated and shared openly as appropriate.

Sharing information signals trust and confidence.

8. Go the extra mile. Sometimes your team needs additional help to get the job done. Offer to pitch in and share the load.

If a co-worker has helped you in the past, then returning the favor is a good way to show your respect and gratitude.

9. Be reliable. Follow through on your commitments and responsibilities. Keep your word. Make task lists or reminders if needed and avoid distractions that make it easy to lose sight of deadlines. You’ll earn your coworkers’ respect when they know they can count on you.

10. Feedback is a gift. Praise much more often than you criticize. Share your expertise respectfully and be open to growth and learning. A collaborative workplace where everyone shares their ideas and offers creative solutions is one that thrives.

Learn more about the Professionalism Committee and check out UTMB’s newly revised Professionalism Charter at www.utmb.edu/professionalism.

Pa rting S hot

Ready to roll

UTMB Transportation staff gather in front of Jennie Sealy Hospital to help move mothers and infants arriving on emergency buses. More than 110 patients were evacuated from John Sealy Hospital after a fire broke out in a non-patient area on Jan. 4. Transportation staff, coordinated by supervisors John Myles, Renee Martin and Rosa Gary, responded to the call for assistance and immediately began rounding up wheelchairs, stretchers and other needed equipment. To read more about employee heroes who stepped up and worked wonders during and after the fire, turn to page 6.

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