November/December 2018

UTMB NEWSLETTER • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

Delivering care in corrections: Day in the Life of a CMC dentist

Best Care: Keys to improvement in Ambulatory Services Researchers find ways to cut costs of vaccine production, storage Galveston National Lab celebrates its first decade

Congratulations to Alfred West, nurse clinician II; Rachel Murphy, clinical operations administrator; Reccha Long, nurse clinician III; and Shegory Williams, nurse clinician III who were honored with the President’s Way To Go Award (WTGA) on Oct. 16. The team, who work in Jennie Sealy Hospital on the Galveston Campus, were recognized by UTMB President David L. Callender for their efforts to organize a wedding ceremony for the son of patient receiving hospice care in the hospital. Their caring approach ensured the patient was able to see his son get married in late August. “We often speak of UTMB’s vision of working together to work wonders and using our values to define our culture and guide our every interaction,” wrote Nurse Manager Kimberly “Nicole” Young in the WTGA nominating document.

“I have a team who simply by working together demonstrated these very principles of UTMB. Alfred, Shegory, Rechha and Rachel embodied what it means to give a little.”

Cutline: From left, Shegory Williams, Reccha Long, UTMB President Dr. David L. Callender, Rachel Murphy and Alfred West during the President’s Way To Go Award ceremony in Jennie Sealy Hospital on the Galveston Campus on Oct. 16.

The Texas Nurses Association District 9 has honored Dr. Deborah Jones, senior vice president and dean of the School of Nursing, and Dr. David Marshall, system chief nursing and patient care services executive, with the organization’s Presidents Award.

The two UTMB leaders were honored at the district’s 28th Annual Nursing Celebration on Nov. 8 in Houston. TNA is an organization that strives to provide forums for the exchange of ideas, viewpoints, education and information about professional nursing and health-related legislation.

Dr. Bernard Karnath, professor of Internal Medicine, has received the 2018 Laureate Award from the Texas Chapter of the American College of Physicians. He was recognized at the chapter’s annual

fall meeting in Austin on Nov. 17. The award honors Fellows and Masters of ACP who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in medical care, education, research and service to their communities, chapter and the college.

Dr. Cindy Wigg, professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and program director for the Psychiatry Residency Program, has been selected to receive the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award. She is one of only nine program directors to receive this highly competitive award, which honors those who find innovative ways to teach residents and simultaneously provide quality health care.

Wigg completed her residency and fellowship at UTMB before her faculty appointment in 1986.

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impact

From the President I’d like to wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season as we reach the end of another calendar year, one in which we continued to work together to fulfill our mission in remarkable ways despite some challenges we faced along the way.

NOVEM BER/ DEC EM BE R 2018

As I reflect on 2018, I’m inspired and amazed at our achievements, which were made possible by each member of our UTMB family. Indeed, the past year has given us many reasons to celebrate. Some highlights included:

Ambulatory Operations lauded for improving patient access

• Educating a historic number of students in our four schools • Announcing the creation of our new Clear Lake Campus, which will open to patients in February 2019 • Continuing research initiatives that are leading to groundbreaking and life-saving discoveries • Leading a successful SECC campaign for the 25th consecutive year • Hard-wiring our Best Care results—we now rank fourth among 99 participating academic medical centers and have achieved fivestar performance for the second year in a row

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Day in the Life of a dentist in UTMB Correctional Managed Care

Your hard work and commitment made these—and many other accomplishments— possible and have paved the way for continued success in 2019. This issue of Impact features stories about the people who make UTMB the exceptional organization it is, including:

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• A Day in the Life of Dr. Joseph Sheringo, a dentist working in UTMB’s Correctional Managed Care program • Ambulatory operations receiving national recognition for improving access to patient care • Researchers developing a less expensive way to produce and store vaccines • The Galveston National Laboratory celebrating its 10th anniversary • A closer look at our annual luncheon to celebrate veterans • Numerous accomplishments and kudos in the Working Wonders column

Galveston National Laboratory celebrates 10-year anniversary Page 10

Hidden Talent: A woodworking wizard transforms homes

Dr. David L. Callender UTMB President

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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!

Vice President Marketing & Communications Steve Campbell

ON THE COVER:

Editors Stephen Hadley Shannon Porter Jessica Wyble

Dr. Joseph Sheringo, one of 74 dentists working in UTMB’s Correctional Managed Care program, at his clinic in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Cleveland Unit.

P R I N T E D B Y U T MB G RAPHIC D ESIG N & PRIN TIN G SERVICES

Associate Vice President Marketing & Communications Mary Havard

Art Director Mark Navarro

CONTACT US Email: impact.newsletter@utmb.edu Phone: (409) 772-2618 Campus mail route: 0144 U.S. Postal address: UTMB Marketing & Communications

301 University Boulevard

Galveston, TX 77555-0144

B E S T C A R E I N AC T IO N

Improving patient access New metrics, scheduling protocols part of initiative that led to national recognition

BY STEPHEN HADLEY

MARIA PATAWARAN’S HEALTH CARE experience at UTMB is a tangible, real-world result of the work the organization has done in recent years to improve access for all patients.

Upon returning from a trip to the Dominican Republic in November, Patawaran, regional director of UTMB’s Regional Maternal and Child Health Program, was experiencing pain in one of her hands and needed to be seen by a physician. She called the Employee Access 2 Care telephone line and quickly got an appointment, one that worked with her busy schedule.

“It was easy, seamless and flexible,” she said.

“I was able to see the physician quickly and having the access when I needed the care, made me a convert. It was a great experience for me as a patient.”

Patawaran’s testimony is music to the ears of Ann O’Connell and Dr. Rex McCallum. Over the past couple of years, the two UTMB leaders have helped shepherd a sea change in how we approach the delivery of care to patients, particularly as it relates to improving access.

That work was recognized in October when UTMB’s Ambulatory Operations— medical care provided on an outpatient basis in primary and specialty care clinics—was ranked 12th of 48 academic medical centers nationally that took part in the FY18 Vizient Ambulatory Quality and Accountability survey and achieved four-star performance. A year earlier, UTMB was ranked 42nd in the survey.

McCallum, UTMB’s vice president and chief physician executive, and O’Connell, vice president of Ambulatory Operations, said the survey improvements were a result of a multi-faceted approach that included identifying the most critical performance metrics for access, creating new scheduling protocols and reallocating exam room space. In addition, providers began holding mega clinics once a week 4

Maria Patawaran, regional director of UTMB’s Regional Maternal and Child Health Program, said the access to care she’s received at UTMB has been “easy, seamless and flexible.”

that catered strictly to new patients as a way to grow the enterprise.

In particular, Ambulatory Operations began benchmarking its access measures not only with other academic medical centers but also with providers in the highly competitive Gulf Coast regional marketplace.

improvement in the percentage of new patient visits in 10 out of 16 specialties over the past year, including four—primary care, neurology, rheumatology and urology—that were among the most improved in the national survey.

Another—a daily report that highlights all the appointments made for a department “Access is its own form of patient experi- the previous day—enables scheduling perence, and it’s also a proxy in a patient’s sonnel to find gaps in the calendar that mind for quality,” said O’Connell. “Sitting they can use to offer earlier time slots to and waiting two weeks for an appoint- already-scheduled patients. ment in this climate is just unacceptable. “This recognition was the result of a lot of Everyone believes that academic medi- work on everyone’s part,” said McCallum. cal centers compete with other academic “It was our clinic staff, our data analysts, medical centers for patients. But we don’t. the faculty members and our advanced We compete with the local health systems practice providers all working together to and private practice physicians who can change how they did things to get more see patients today. That’s who we compete patients, and in particular, more new with in this region, so we had to measure patients into our clinics. ourselves appropriately.”

“While there is still work to do, we made Those benchmarks helped UTMB uncover great strides over the past year, and the opportunities for improving patient access end result is that we’re improving care for across the institution. One of those met- our patients and continuing to focus on rics, the median new patient lag, helped excellence, which has been a hallmark of departments reduce the amount of time our Best Care journey. I’d like to say thank it takes a new patient to see a provider you to everyone who has been involved when they make an appointment. In fact, in this process.” n according to the Vizient study, UTMB saw NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

impact

RESEARCH

BY DONNA RAMIREZ

UTMB RESEARCHERS HAVE DEVELOPED a less expensive ated Zika vaccine (in which a weakened form of the virus is used way to produce vaccines that cuts the cost of vaccine produc- to create immunity without causing disease) in the DNA form, tion and storage by 80 percent without decreasing safety or rather than by traditional methods. Once the DNA is delivered effectiveness. into the body, it launches the vaccine into cells, leading to antibody production and other protective immuVaccines are the most effective way nity.

With this production method, there is to prevent and eradicate infectious no need to manufacture the vaccine in a cell diseases. Currently, many vaccines culture or eggs at factories. Because DNA have to be manufactured in cell culmolecules are shelf-stable, the vaccine will ture or eggs, which is expensive and not expire at warm temperatures and could carries the risk of contaminations. In be stockpiled at room temperature for years. addition, most vaccines must be kept

Currently, many

vaccines have to

refrigerated during transportation from manufacturers to health care clinics.

In tropical and subtropical regions, such cold storage requirements could contribute to more than 80 percent of the vaccine cost.

be manufactured in

cell culture or eggs, which is expensive and carries the risk of

“The ability to eliminate cell culture or eggs and cold storage will change the process of vaccine development,” said UTMB’s Pei-Yong Shi, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

“Importantly, this vaccine technology could potentially serve as a universal platform for development of vaccines made from live virus for many viral pathogens.”

contaminations.

Using UTMB’s Zika vaccine as a model, the research group showed that the DNA platform worked very efficiently in mice. After a single low dose, the DNA vaccine protected mice from Zika virus infection, mother-to-fetus transmission during pregnancy, and male reproductive tract infection and damage.

“This is the first study to demonstrate that, after a single low dose, a DNA vaccine could induce saturated protective immunity,” Shi said. “We will continue testing this promising Zika vaccine platform and then apply the platform to other viruses.”

Other authors include UTMB Drs. Jing Zou, Xuping Xie, Huanle Luo, Chao Shan, Antonio Muruato, Scott Weaver and Tian Wang. n

To achieve these goals, the UTMB team engineered a live-attenuimpact

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

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BY STEPHEN HADLEY

IT’S WEDNESDAY MORNING AT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE’S CLEVELAND UNIT,

and Dr. Joseph Sheringo is in his element, suturing a patient’s lip that was split during a fall.

In the few minutes it takes him to complete this first procedure, a waiting room at a small medical clinic nestled in this East Texas correctional center fills with other patients who have arrived to be seen by Sheringo, a dentist for UTMB Correctional Managed Care.

Sheringo, along with the help of dental assistant Amy Scott, spends the next several hours working through sick-call and intake exams and performing oral surgeries.

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“Dentistry is the same no matter where you do it,” says Sheringo, whose gray hair and salt-and-pepper beard frame “The thought of being able to work without having to run a steel-blue eyes that help to reinforce his calm demeanor. “I just practice, to just arrive at work, see patients and do what I was like helping people and taking care of patients. There’s a lot of really trained to do was very appealing to me,” Sheringo recalls need in the correctional system, a lot of neglect with dental about his decision to work in corrections. “It was less stressful for health, and so I can relieve pain while not having the stress of me in a lot of ways, and it has turned out to be a great decision.” managing my own practice.”

These days, Sheringo and Scott split their time between three Sheringo is one of 74 dentists practicing in UTMB-CMC Dental different facilities each week: the male facility in Cleveland, Services, which also employs 26 dental hygienists and 112 dental Texas, and two female correctional centers—the TDCJ’s Lucile assistants who together provide care to the majority of the prison Plane State Jail and Henley State Jail in nearby Dayton. population in the state of Texas.

In FY2018 alone, CMC’s Dental Services completed more than 138,500 procedures, including the restoration of teeth, routine cleanings, extractions and the treatment of periodontal disease, according to Dr. Billy Horton, director of UTMBCMC Dental Services.

“Dental Services is comprised of a great group of individuals who give their best each day to ensure our patient population receives a high level of dental care,” says Horton.

“Our patients are able to obtain access to dental care in a timely manner for urgent procedures that relieve them of any discomfort they may be having as well as routine care such as comprehensive dental exams, teeth cleanings and routine fillings.”

“People are people. Most everyone is fearful when it comes to going to the dentist and that doesn’t change just because we’re in a prison.”

For Sheringo, his career in dentistry started in 1972 in the United States Air Force as a dental hygienist. After five years of military service, he attended dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center–San Antonio, graduating in 1982 and launching into private practice in Crockett, Texas.

In 1984, he began providing dental care for the Crockett State School–Texas Youth Commission’s student population, officially beginning a career in correctional health care that has spanned more than three decades. He went to work full-time for TDCJ in 1987, making the transfer to UTMB when it became the correctional managed care provider in 1994.

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Sheringo’s day begins at 4:30 a.m. with coffee and breakfast before he commutes from his home to one of the units where he and Scott start sick-call exams at 6 a.m. Two hours later, they’ve moved on to addressing their six to eight surgical patients for the day. Once those procedures are finished, the duo conducts intake exams for patients coming directly from county jail to determine whether there’s a major pathology requiring immediate treatment.

Sheringo believes dentistry is vital to improving and maintaining the health of the prison population as a whole.

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“I think the dental program provides a great service to the university, to TDCJ and to the state as a whole,” he said. “The dentists, assistants, hygienists and nursing staff work closely together to intercept and treat issues for patients before they become serious, expensive problems.”

Since going to work in corrections, Sheringo has opened dental clinics at the TDCJ’s Michael, Hightower, Plane, Henley and Cleveland units, helping to alleviate pain and improve health for thousands of patients throughout his career.

Scott, his dental assistant for the past 19 years who Sheringo affectionately calls “Scotty,” is effusive in her praise for the dentist.

“He is actually one of the best dentists I’ve ever worked for because he treats every patient with care and compassion,” she says. “Yes, we’re caring for people in the correctional system but we’re here to help them, not judge them. Dr. Sheringo’s patient care is exceptional.”

When he’s not caring for patients, Sheringo enjoys traveling, participating in motorsports and playing in professional poker tournaments—including the World Series of Poker and on the World Poker Tour.

“I’ve finished in the Top 10 percent of some major poker tournaments,” Sheringo says. “But it’s just a hobby, and I consider myself an accomplished amateur. It’s something I enjoy doing, especially if I can combine the poker with traveling.”

Still, his passion is caring for others, and his enthusiasm for the dental profession is infectious as he explains one procedure and the next and the challenges that each present.

His patients, however, don’t always share his enthusiasm.

“People are people,” Sheringo says, a grin escaping from a corner of his mouth. “Most everyone is fearful when it comes to going to the dentist and that doesn’t change just because we’re in a prison.” n

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UT M B NE WS

Reflecting on a decade of research UTMB marks Tenth Anniversary of the Galveston National Lab

BY JESSICA WYBLE

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, including UTMB faculty, staff and students as well as influential area leaders and members of the research community, recently gathered on the Galveston Campus to celebrate the Galveston National Lab’s (GNL) first decade of operations. The GNL was dedicated on Nov. 11, 2008.

“There were many people involved in bringing the Galveston National Laboratory to fruition a decade ago,” said Callender. “Thanks to them, this research facility now serves as a critically important resource in the ongoing global fight against infectious disease.”

The Nov. 16 anniversary festivities kicked off with a special luncheon to thank local community members for their support of the research facility and the role they played in securing UTMB’s bid to have the national laboratory built on the Galveston Campus.

Built to withstand a category 5 hurricane, the GNL is one of only two BSL4 research facilities on a U.S. academic campus. During the course of its 10 years of operations, the facility has made significant direct and indirect impacts not only to the world of research and medicine but to the economy, contributing more than $479 million in gross product, more than $333 million in personal income and the equivalent of 1,280 jobs in the state of Texas alone. As of June 2018, data showed that scientists working in BSL4 labs within the GNL have collaborated with scientists in 43 states around the U.S. and 65 countries around the world. Their research has resulted in more than 2,500 publications and has been integral to more than 300 patents.

The more than 160 people at the luncheon included elected officials, local philanthropists, community leaders and stakeholders, as well as past and present members of the GNL’s Community Liaison Committee—an independent advisory group that helps to facilitate dialogue between the university and the community on topics related to infectious disease research, public health and environmental protection.

In his keynote remarks at the luncheon, UTMB President Dr. David Callender thanked everyone on the UTMB staff who were involved in writing the extensive proposal that ultimately brought the lab to Galveston. He also recognized the community members who supported UTMB every step of the way, including the board of directors and staff of The Sealy & Smith Foundation.

Former U.S. Senator from Texas and now U.S. permanent representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison spoke to these significant contributions in a congratulatory video that was shared during both the luncheon and the lecture. A Galveston native and avid GNL supporter, Hutchison played an instrumental role in securing funding for the facility during her time in Congress and continues to be a proponent of its mission.

To view the video and hear her remarks visit: https://utmb.us/32s. n

Name: Desiree McGahey UTMB Talent: Information Services Manager, Access Management Group Hidden Talent: Woodoworking wizard who loves building personalized pieces that transform houses to homes Desiree McGahey may be more than two decades into her career with UTMB, but she’s just two years into exploring her love for woodworking.

A fan of HGTV, Desiree first tried her hand at what’s blossomed into her hidden talent when she made some shelves for her home. After completing the project, her son noticed her impressive handiwork and asked if she could use her newfound skills to make him an entertainment center for his home.

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GOOD NEW S

Commemorating their contributions UTMB community gathers to celebrate veterans at second-annual luncheon

BY JESSICA WYBLE

Recently more than 100 faculty, staff, students and volunteers gathered at the second annual Veterans Day Luncheon on the Galveston Campus to celebrate and honor the many U.S. military veterans working and studying within the UTMB community.

Sponsored by several institutional and community groups, including the UTMB Office of the President, UTMB Diversity Council and Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston, the Nov. 8 event featured keynote speeches by Retired U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Donny Daughenbaugh and UTMB’s own Dr. Victor S. Jackson, a U.S. Air Force active and reserve veteran currently serving as a captain in the Texas State Guard. The event was organized by members of the UTMB Veterans Resource Group (VetsRG).

A Purple Heart recipient, Corporal Daughenbaugh reflected on the history, meaning and importance of Veterans Day before diving into the details of his 2004 deployment to South Baghdad. He was shot and severely wounded by the driver of a car in line to be searched at a checkpoint.

Daughenbaugh was left with a broken jaw, a bullet at the base of his skull that remains there to this day and a long recovery. But, he credits his experience with introducing him to the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes—a charitable organization that lends aid to severely wounded veterans and their families and which helped him and his family during his rehabilitation. Eager to return the favor, Daughenbaugh immediately became involved in the Coalition and now serves as its vice president of field operations.

“Being a part of an organization that helps serve other wounded veterans is great and I wouldn’t change it for anything,” he said. “It’s a way for me to continue serving.”

Dr. Jackson brought a message of gratitude to the event. An immigrant from Nigeria, Jackson shared the personal story of how winning the lottery for a U.S. visa changed the trajectory of his life. Without that opportunity, he would have never had the chance to enlist in the Air Force, complete his undergraduate education and then use his GI Bill benefits to pay for medical school.

“I never dreamed of being a doctor or a veteran,” said Jackson, who works at a UTMB clinic in Friendswood. “I live my life daily with sincere gratitude for what I have been given and constantly look for ways to pay it forward in the community.”

Passionate about veterans’ affairs and well-being, Jackson closed his address by touching on the homelessness epidemic that seems to plague so many veterans and urged the crowd to get involved to help make a difference.

“We can show our true appreciation and support for these great men and women by offering a workplace of healing, supporting a local veteran or donating to a program like the one Donny represents,” he said.

Rounding out the day’s celebration was a proclamation from the City of Galveston designating Nov. 8, 2018 as UTMB Veterans Day. Reverends Susan Kennard and Edward Thompson from Galveston’s Trinity Episcopal Church took to the podium to thank veterans for their service and gave some insight and history into how the luncheon got started at UTMB. Before leaving, each of the more than 65 veterans in attendance was given a goodie bag, compliments of Phaedra Goffney and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

To view more images from the Veterans Day Luncheon, visit https://flic.kr/s/ aHsmvGESFW. n

VETS RG Recognized as a military-friendly university environment in 2016, UTMB strives to be a workplace of healing and support for the more than 2,000 self-identified employee veterans within its workforce by having programs like the Veterans Resource Group (VetsRG) available for those who need it.

Started in 2015, The Veterans Resource Group (VetsRG) was the first employee resource group created by the UTMB Diversity Council. Its mission: to promote an inclusive university environment for military veterans and their allies through transition support, education, career enrichment and outreach. The group currently boasts approximately 200 members but is always looking for more.

For more information or to join the VetsRG, visit https://hr.utmb.edu/diversity/ veterans or email veterans@utmb.edu.

Some of the veterans in attendance at the second annual Veterans Day Luncheon, held Nov. 8 on UTMB’s Galveston Campus.

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Five fast facts about epilepsy

By Dr. Kamakshi Patel, assistant professor of Neurology and associate Neurology Residency program director, Department of Neurology Did you know that epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder after stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, affecting more than three million Americans of all ages? One in 10 Americans will experience a seizure at some point in their lives, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, and 3 percent will eventually develop epilepsy.

Here are other facts related to epilepsy: 1. Epilepsy is a generic term for a variety of seizure disorders.

A person with recurring seizures is said to have epilepsy, which is a brief disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain.

2. Epilepsy is usually diagnosed after a person has had two seizures not caused by some known medical condition. Moreover, epilepsy is not contagious, is not a mental illness and is not a developmental disability. It is usually diagnosed with a medical history, neurological examination, blood work, electroencephalograph (EEG) and/or CT, MRI or PET scans of brain.

3. More than half the time, the cause of epilepsy is unknown.

When a cause is found, it is often due to head injury, a brain infection, stroke, brain tumor, Alzheimer’s disease, malformation of an area of the brain and/or genetic factors.

4. First aid for epilepsy is simple, as the goal is to keep the person safe until the seizure stops naturally by itself. The key things to remember when providing seizure first aid include:

• Keep calm and reassure other people who may be nearby.

• Don’t hold the person down or try to stop his or her movements.

• Time the seizure with your watch.

• Clear the area around the person of anything hard or sharp.

• Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make breathing difficult.

• Put something flat and soft, like a folded jacket, under the head.

• Turn him or her gently onto one side. This will help keep the airway clear.

• Call for emergency medical help when a seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer or when one seizure occurs right after another without the person regaining consciousness or coming to between seizures.

5. Epilepsy is treated with anti-seizure medications. At times, depending on type of seizures, surgery, Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), responsive neurostimulation (RNS) and dietary therapies, like ketogenic diets, may be used.

Learn more about epilepsy, seizures, and seizure first aid at utmbhealth.com/epilepsy.

UTMB TRIVIA During World War II and immediately afterward, this physician served as a military surgeon in the U.S. Army Air Corps and then in the U.S. Army, eventually receiving the Army’s Legion of Merit.

Who was this future leader of UTMB who served his country?

Send your answer to impact. newsletter@utmb.edu and be entered into a drawing to win a UTMB swag bag. Good luck!

Answer to the October trivia question: Ruby Decker was the first director of UTMB’s up-andcoming physical therapy program.

Congrats to Teresa Bui, patient transporter at UTMB’s League City Campus, who won the October trivia!