Impact November 2015

UTMB NEWSLETTER • NOVEMBER 2015

Nurses turn experience into innovation Program aims to shorten path to MD

Spotlight on our Chief Development Officer

Salute to our UTMB Veterans

David Beasley, PhD, has been appointed director of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs in the Office of Regulated Nonclinical Studies. Beasley joined UTMB as a postdoctoral fellow in 1999 and is now an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He also serves as associate director of UTMB’s WHO Collaborating Center for Vaccine Research, Evaluation and Training on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Three UTMB nurses wrote the cover story for the October issue of Critical Care Nurse. Odette Y. Comeau, Josette Armendariz-Batiste and Scott A. Woodby wrote, “Safety First! Using a Checklist for Intrafacility Transport of Adult Intensive Care Patients.”

Dr. Olugbenga B. Ojo, the chief medical officer at the TDCJ Hospital Galveston, recently was a featured speaker on a national panel discussion on hepatitis C, “Hepatitis C in Corrections: Innovations in Treatment and Management of a Public Health Challenge.” The discussion was organized by the National Institute of Corrections, an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Victor Reyes, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, has been selected to receive the Mary and J. Palmer Saunders Professorship for Excellence in Teaching. This is the highest honor the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences bestows on faculty in recognition of their efforts in teaching and mentoring students. Reyes will hold the professorship through Sept. 30, 2017.

Work performed in UTMB’s Synthetic Organic Chemistry Core facility has contributed to the success of 2015 Nobel Chemistry awardees Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar in the area of DNA damage repair. The SOCC has worked with Sancar since 2007 and Modrich’s lab since 2013. The SOCC at UTMB is one of the few synthesis facilities in the world to produce needed DNA lesions for researchers.

Jin Mo Chung, PhD, has been appointed chair of the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology. He has successfully led the department as interim chair since 2013 and is an internationally renowned pioneer in the field of medical neuroscience.

Dr. Oscar “Skip” Brown, associate professor of Pediatrics and vice chair for Clinical Affairs, recently received the 2015 Texas Pediatric Society Sidney R. Kaliski Award of Merit. This award recognizes a member of the Texas Pediatric Society who has served as an advocate for children and has made a substantial contribution to both the health and welfare of the children of Texas and to the Texas Pediatric Society.

Mark R. Emmett, PhD, professor in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a member of the Sealy Center for Cancer Cell Biology, has received a VUV Analytics Inc., fall 2015 grant. The academic grant provides Emmett’s laboratory with the use of an ultraviolet detector to do research in the field of biomolecule analysis. The new equipment will allow for the identification of biological isomers in Emmett’s research, which specializes in identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers in oncology and neurological disease.

Dr. Karen Dineen Wagner has been selected chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences effective Oct. 1. She is an expert in treating childhood mood disorders and had served as interim chair since March 2015.

A new book published by Caister Academic Press, “Arboviruses: Molecular Biology, Evolution and Control” is set for publication in April 2016. The book brings together a panel of expert arbovirologists to produce a timely review of the rapidly expanding arbovirus research literature. The book is co-edited by Nikos Vasilakis, PhD, and has major contributions from UTMB authors Scott Weaver, PhD; Brian Friedrich, PhD; Birte Kalveram, PhD; Shannan Rossi, PhD; and Dr. Robert Tesh.

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From the President

NOVEM BER 2 0 1 5

As you can see from the cover, this issue of Impact features a special Veterans Day section, highlighting just a few of the UTMB employees who have admirably served our country.

We have hundreds of veterans working in our schools, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, Correctional Managed Care units and support areas. As we expand our efforts to be a military-friendly workplace, we hope you enjoy reading about your colleagues and will remember to thank those who have served. The section also provides information on how to join our new Veterans Resource Group.

MakerHealth Space Leads to Innovation Page 5

Among the other stories you’ll find in this issue: • Meet Maria Garcia, the first winner of our newly reintroduced Leone Award for Administrative Excellence • Employee Service Day recognized 1,568 employees who achieved significant service milestones, including 45-year UTMB employee Dr. Leonard Swischuk

Leader Spotlight Page 8

• Our new Medical MakerHealth Space is a hit among innovative nursing staff • Dr. Steve Lieberman discusses the TIME initiative to graduate doctors sooner • A profile of Betsy Clardy, vice president and chief development officer • An overview of the fourth annual Global Health Education Symposium • The 2015 State Employee Charitable Campaign • Tips for healthy eating over the holidays by dietician Sukwan Jolley

Salute to Our UTMB Veterans Page 10

• Numerous accomplishments and kudos in the Working Wonders column and throughout the newsletter Enjoy the stories, tell us what you think and keep up your great work on behalf of everyone we serve!

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: More than 800 UTMB employees (7 percent of the total employee population) self-identify as veterans.

We spotlight a few of them in this month’s issue, beginning on page 10.

Event Kicks Off UTMB 125 Festivities Page 16

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 Kristen Hensley KirstiAnn Clifford Stephen Hadley Art Director Mark Navarro

P R INT E D B Y U T MB G R A P H IC D ES IG N & P RIN TIN G S ERVICES

PAT I E NT C A R E

Reunited

Annual Preemie Reunion brings together NICU doctors, nurses with former patients

Doctors and nurses from UTMB’s neonatal intensive care unit take a moment to pose for a photo at the annual Preemie Reunion held Oct. 10.

BY STEPHEN HADLEY

Hannah Pavlu’s eyes glistened with emotion as she recalled the time 10 years ago that the doctors and nurses in UTMB’s neonatal intensive care unit helped save the life of her son, who was born extremely prematurely.

“Kooper was born at 25 weeks and weighed just 1 pound,” Pavlu said. “He was tiny, and we honestly weren’t sure he was going to survive.”

But Kooper not only survived, he has thrived, his mother said, thanks in part to the care he received at the start of his life at UTMB. The Pavlus were one of dozens of families who attended UTMB’s eighth annual Preemie Reunion on Oct. 10, a gathering of children who were born at less than 34 weeks and received care from the nurses and doctors in the neonatal intensive care unit. The carnival-style event, which features music, games, craft booths and refreshments, is an opportunity for the children and their families to be reunited with the UTMB staff members who provided care while they were hospitalized during the early months of life.

UTMB delivers more than 6,000 babies each year. About 500 of these newborns are ill or premature at birth and require the most comprehensive infant intensive care available.

Lavonda Morgan, nurse in the neonatal ICU and president of the Infant Special Care Unit Preemie Reunion committee, and one of her former patients, 10-year-old Kooper Pavlu.

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“This is affirmation and re-affirmation of what we do because we take care of these babies who were very, very little and very, very sick and then they get well and get to go home,” said Dr. C. Joan Richardson, professor and chair of UTMB’s Department of Pediatrics who has cared for high-risk newborns for 41 years.

“Families travel great distances to come back and say hello. That means the world to all of us.”

Lavonda Morgan, a nurse in the neonatal ICU and president of the Infant Special Care Unit Preemie Reunion committee, said her fellow nurses hold bake sales in the fall and the spring to raise money for the event each year.

“This began because we were curious about how our little 1-pound babies were doing after they left the hospital,” said Morgan, who has been a NICU nurse for 23 years. “This makes our day when we see how well they’re doing and how healthy they are.”

Morgan said the reunion usually draws between 50 and 70 children and their families. This year, one family traveled from Lufkin for the event and last year a family traveled from Corpus Christi to attend.

Dr. Sunil Jain, professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics, said some of the infants born prematurely had been in the hospital for several months.

Yesenia Sandino, assistant nursing manager in the Infant Special Care Unit, and one of her former patients, 8-yearold Nathan Childress.

“The parents of these premature babies met in the hospital, developed ties, formed bonds and then many of them never saw each other again until this reunion,” said Jain. “We want that relationship to continue and we want our relationship with them to continue.”

For Hannah Pavlu, the event represents a way to say thank you to the people who helped her family during a difficult and trying time.

“Everyone here is special to me, and it’s pretty emotional coming back each year,” said Pavlu, who drove to the reunion from her home in Angleton.

“Everyone at UTMB, from Dr. Richardson to every nurse who helped, were always sweet and kind to me. It was a hard time but they made it a lot easier for me and my family.”

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PAT IENT CARE

UTMB nurses turn experience into innovation

BY KIRSTIANN CLIFFORD

Blocker Burn Unit Nurse Manager Jason Sheaffer may not have a degree in engineering, but he has an idea for a device that could improve patient care.

“I’m working on creating a water delivery system to help nurses in the Burn Unit irrigate patient wounds more efficiently,” said Sheaffer. “Currently, we use a hose that requires a nurse to hold the nozzle the entire time, which can be several hours. I’m using PVC, a 3-D printer and other tools to model a system that would place several sprayers over a patient, essentially allowing for hands-free washing.”

Sheaffer is one of several nurses now using the Medical MakerHealth Space at UTMB—the first makerspace in the country for health care providers. It was recently launched by UTMB and MakerNurse, an initiative of the Little Devices Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is supported in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a UTMB President’s Cabinet award (see page 15).

Stocked with materials from Velcro and sewing needles, to 3-D printers and laser cutters, the makerspace empowers nurses and other medical staff to bring their ideas for improving health care to life.

UTMB’s Chief Nursing and Patient Care Services Officer David Marshall said the new medical makerspace will help bring nursing to the forefront of health care innovation.

“We know nurses have breakthrough ideas for improving health care. Providing them with the space, tools and materials to create these solutions, rather than outsourcing them to engineers and designers, just makes sense,” said Marshall.

Transforming ideas into reality

Dell Roach works on designing a prototype that could help pediatric cardiology patients.

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NOVEMBER 2015

Nicole Wooten, an Emergency Services nurse clinician, created an arm-board device to assist during specialized cardiac catheterization surgeries.

Cleo Glover, a nurse in Correctional Managed Care, made her own utility belt for carrying medications during patient rounds—she brought her prototype to the MIT site visit in 2014.

Jason Sheaffer works on a prototype of one of his ideas to improve nurse efficiency and patient care in the MakerHealth Space lab.

Dell Roach, a nurse manager in Surgery and Cardiothoracic/ Vascular Surgery, recently visited the lab for the first time to work on an idea she had after working in a pediatric cardiology environment.

“A lot of times, we have to cut adult-sized electrodes to fit children and then have to place them across their chest in specific locations and connect the 12 leads to the ECG machine,” said Roach. “That takes quite a bit of time and with small kids—squirming and crying and moving constantly—it’s hard to get it done. If we had a template based on their size that you could just place over their chest and then connect the wires, it would speed up the whole process.”

Nikolas Albarran, an engineer with MIT’s Little Devices Lab, assisted Roach in getting her prototype designed. He also demonstrated how to use some of the tools, so she could begin crafting a physical device with confidence.

“I think the lab is wonderful,” said Roach. “There are so many times we as nurses think about taking care of patients and say, ‘If only we had this, we could do it easier, faster, less painfully, etc.’ This is an opportunity to actually do it.”

Other nurses working on projects in the new space include Debra Flynn, a nurse clinician in the Labor and Delivery Unit, who has already developed two prototypes, including a device that can be used by obstetricians in the event of a prolapsed umbilical cord. Staff in the Pediatric Units also are looking at creating different IV covers that will protect a child’s skin while cushioning their arm and wicking away moisture.

All devices made in the makerspace are sterilized and tested through a quality improvement or institutional review board study before being used on the hospital floor.

The UTMB Medical MakerHealth Space is open to all UTMB medical staff and health professions students between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday in John Sealy Annex, Room 8.201.

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ED UC AT I O N

Global Influence: Symposium focuses on educating university community on global health initiatives

BY STEPHEN HADLEY

F

OR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, UTMB’s annual Global Health Education Symposium has helped students who travel to different countries showcase the work they’ve done while in those host nations and enabled the university to forge partnerships with collaborators throughout the world.

This year’s event, held Oct. 10 at Levin Hall, was the most well attended to date with more than 150 on hand to participate in workshops, hear a keynote address on ways to engage effectively in global health challenges and view posters produced by medical students who worked on global health projects in other countries.

work they’ve done and invite the campus to see that there’s a global health program at UTMB where students play a meaningful and vital role.”

Since that initial symposium in 2011, the event has grown to place more of an emphasis on inviting partners from host countries to attend as well as focusing on mentoring trainees who travel to work in other nations.

This year’s event added workshops with topics that included, “Emerging Epidemics” and “Implementation of Change in Global Health.”

This year’s symposium was sponsored by the Center for Tropical Diseases and the Institute for Collaboration in Health.

Dr. Andres G. “Willy” Lescano, an Dr. Matt Dacso, director of UTMB’s Center infectious disease epidemiologist, for Global Health Education and associate Poster award winners: Best Overall and Best Clinical/Basic Science Research: associate professor at Universidad Paige Hoyer and Monisha Konana (MS2, UTMB); Dr. Matt Dacso; and Best professor in the Division of General Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru and Community-Based Project: Christopher Smith and Jennifer Nordhauser (MS2s, Internal Medicine, said the symposium’s UTHSCSA). Not pictured: Best Topical: Janika Prajapati (MS2, UTMB) a UTMB adjunct professor, focused focus has always been on ways to his keynote speech on reflections improve the international experience for both students and host countries. on global health and its evolution, suggestions for effective careers and “I was amazed at how many students traveled to another country but there was nothing to communicate what that student did while they were there, no institutional memory of what the student had worked on,” said Dacso.

“Our students work hard and they make personal and financial sacrifices to do their work. The symposium was initially a way for them to showcase the

opportunities for the future in global health.

Lescano said one of the keys to improving global health initiatives going forward is to encourage more sharing of knowledge and resources unilaterally between the countries that host missions and the nations sending those on their missions.

RESEARCH BRIEFS Research Briefs were written by Donna Ramirez and Kurt Koopmann.

Find out more at www.utmb.edu/newsroom.

Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD, conducted an analysis of Medicare data and discovered that older diabetic patients who received all of their primary care from nurse practitioners had lower rates of potentially preventable hospitalization than those who received primary care from physicians in nonmetropolitan urban and rural areas.

There were no differences between patients cared for by nurse practitioners versus physicians in urban areas. Kuo said discovering that the impact of nurse practitioner care was stronger in

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nonmetropolitan areas is important, given that there has been a shortage of physicians in rural areas for the past 30 years. Physicians in rural areas may have a larger patient load, limiting their ability to spend sufficient time with patients or follow-up with them in a timely manner. Prior studies have shown that nurse practitioners spend more time with their patients, give patients more information and follow-up more frequently than physicians do. The study was published in the journal Medical Care.

Jacques Baillargeon, PhD, showed for the first time that exposure to testosterone therapy over a five-year period was not associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Further, risk of high-grade prostate cancer did not increase according to the total number of testosterone injections. In view of the large increase in testosterone therapy use

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EDUCATI ON

POSTER WINNERS

Best Basic/Clinical Science Poster and Best Overall Poster Kato Katz versus Lumbreras rapid sedimentation test to evaluate helminth prevalence in the setting of a school-based deworming program Miguel Cabada, Roberto Pineda, Monisha Konana, Paige Hoyer UTMB UTMB students, from left, Laura Romano, Camille Doster and Jordan Schneider with their poster that outlined “The Challenges and Benefits of Running a No Gratis Occupational Therapy Clinic for the Underserved Population of Galveston, Texas.”

Best Community-based Projects Poster Evaluation of a visual-aid toolkit for water, sanitation and hygiene education in the bateyes of La Romana, Dominican Republic

“Global health is not devoid of criticisms and it faces many challenges,” said Lescano. “One of the big ones from the point of view of our host countries is that sometimes there is a lack of bidirectionality or reciprocity between the numbers of people coming to the host country and those going from the host country to the one sending them to us on medical missions.”

Jennifer Nordhauser, Christopher Smith, Eden Bernstein, Claire Jordan, Damilola Jibowu, Colton Rice, Lauren Michael, Johanna Ascher, Paunel Bropleh, Ruth Berggren, Jason Rosenfeld University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Lescano added that the growth in global health initiatives has led to a greater diversity of fields of application and a wide variety of programs, opportunities and support for missions worldwide and that now nearly 30 percent of UTMB students go abroad to work.

A comparison between the incidence of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome among adolescent females in rural versus urban populations and their respective risk factors

“Be thankful for that because those opportunities didn’t used to be there,” said Lescano. “It is a privilege to join such research in these host countries, and if you’re aware of that, it will help you take better advantage of your mission.”

Best Topical Poster

Janika Prajapati UTMB

Dacso said the expectations for global health—along with the symposium itself—has changed and will continue to evolve.

“The centrality of everything we do is relationships,” he said. “The prevailing ethos of global health today is not just equity, but value add. If these host countries are taking our students, we’ve got to be doing something that’s at least beneficial for them. The era of U.S. institutions just sending students but there not being anything provided in return is over.

“There’s such a wide variety in the types of experiences students can have, whether that’s clinical or lab-based in communities but what you want to avoid is global health tourism. We work hard to ensure that students are giving as much as they get through this experience.”

in recent years, examining the potential long-term risks of testosterone therapy holds increasing clinical and public health relevance. This study’s findings offer important information regarding the risk-benefit assessment for men with testosterone deficiency who are considering treatment. The study appears in the Journal of Urology.

Dr. James Vanderploeg, in collaboration with the National Aerospace Training and Research Center in Southampton, Pennsylvania, is conducting research into the safety training programs that will be used to train spaceflight passengers. Devising these training programs is a key step in preparing for commercial suborbital space travel because it must first be determined what training and preparation private citizens will need for their

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NOVEMBER 2015

Lina Asfoor, graduate student in Occupational Therapy at UTMB, describes her team’s poster to a judge during the fourth annual Global Health Education Symposium. The team’s poster topic was “An Ethnographic Methodology Exploring Occupational Deprivation Experienced by Chichicastenangans with Disabilities.”

trip. Researchers currently are seeking volunteer participants to experience a simulated suborbital spaceflight. The simulated flight will be produced using a high-performance centrifuge. The simulator is capable of generating high onset-offset G-forces similar to those that might be experienced in high-performance aircraft or spacecraft without having to take people into the sky. In the current study, the researchers are looking into how much preparation time future space travelers will need before a flight and which types of training approaches work best. The knowledge obtained from this research study may improve future suborbital spaceflight training and simulation for those able to participate in such travel.

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LE A D E R S POT L I G H T

Spotlight on Betsy Clardy, Chief Development Officer Betsy Clardy joined UTMB as vice president and chief development officer in 2008. In her role, she has led development efforts to secure philanthropic funding to support UTMB’s priority research, education and patient care initiatives. This includes the largest campaign in UTMB’s 125-year history, “Working Wonders— The Campaign for UTMB Health.” Since launching in 2012, the campaign has received commitments totaling $413.2 million, or 92 percent of the campaign’s $450 million goal. Clardy also successfully guided the UTMB Family Campaign, during which employees and retirees gave a record-breaking $11.6 million.

Prior to coming to UTMB, Clardy was vice president for Resource Development and Alumni Relations at her alma mater, Texas Lutheran University. She also served as director of development for principal gifts at UT’s MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she led a team that was responsible for fundraising efforts across 16 states. Clardy is a Certified Fund Raising Executive, currently serves on the board of the Round Top Festival Institute and is a published author—she wrote the book, “Making the Most of Your Special Event.”

What does the Road Ahead look like for you?

The Road Ahead looks very exciting as our Development team seeks to complete UTMB’s $450 million Working Wonders Campaign in the next year. As of Oct. 12, we have raised $413,254,733 (92 percent) of our goal. We owe a tremendous amount of the campaign’s success to the leadership of Dr. Callender and our Development Board members, our Campaign Cabinet and Campaign Regional Chairs and Vice Chairs, and the members of our 11 Campaign Regional Leadership Councils located throughout the Texas, whose membership is composed of our UTMB alumni, donors and friends.

Have you been surprised by the level of generosity shown by the UTMB family?

It is always the aim of campaigns to launch with great success as they kick-off their fundraising efforts. In planning the launch, we wanted to lead with our UTMB Family Campaign. Our employees and retirees stepped forward in our “Working Together the Future Is Ours” Family Campaign to give an extraordinary amount that now totals $11.6 million. We are extremely proud of our UTMB family, and when we tell our alumni, donors and friends, they are truly amazed. When we were preparing to launch the UTMB Family Campaign, we knew that our UTMB employees and retirees would give generously to UTMB, but we had no idea

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that they would give at such a tremendous level of support. Because of the extraordinary generosity of our UTMB family, we were able to launch the Working Wonders Campaign with this huge family gift.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is working with our exceptionally talented Development team and UTMB’s alumni, donors and friends to support UTMB’s mission. Each day, I look forward to the opportunity to interact with people who are dedicated to and invested in raising this great institution to the next level. It is truly a privilege to work here!

The path that led you to fundraising as a career is truly inspiring. Can you talk about how adversity led you to it?

I had never thought about fundraising as a career, but I ended up in the profession that I am truly passionate about due to a lifechanging event when I was a young mother.

I lost my first husband to cancer and 10 years later, after remarrying and moving with my son to Houston to join my new husband Bert, I applied for a job at MD Anderson Cancer Center. When interviewed by the HR representative, I explained that I didn’t have a particular job in mind—I just wanted to give back to those affected by cancer. Because I had done fundraising as a volunteer, they

“Coming to UTMB brought me to an institution that has its heart and soul focused on a mission of education, patient care and research.”

sent me to the Development Office and that’s where I began my fundraising career. With that decision, my career in Development was off and running, and I was blessed to have opportunities over the following years that continued a path forward. Coming to UTMB brought me to an institution that has its heart and soul focused on a mission of education, patient care and research. I have found inspiration, fulfillment and joy being a part of the UTMB team!

What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

I like to spend time with my husband Bert, our four children and their spouses, and I find it super special to be with our five grandchildren.

Bert and I like to walk our miniature dachshund SoLong on the East Beach. We also enjoy our trips to New Braunfels, the Texas Hill Country and the mountains of North Carolina and Colorado. I also like to needlepoint (although I haven’t done much of that in these last few years).

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know?

I’ve had three careers. I started out in banking, then I worked for the Board of Trustees of a hospital and the estate that funded it and, lastly, I focused my career on fundraising.

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EDUCATI ON

About T I M E Program aims to hasten path to MD

BY KRISTEN HENSLEY

A student-centered, clinically focused program designed by the University of Texas System aims to increase the effectiveness of medical education while shortening the time it takes to get a medical degree. The innovative pilot program called TIME (Transformation in Medical Education), involves four partnerships among several UT institutions, with the first medical students joining UTMB in 2016.

Dr. Steve Lieberman, senior dean of administration at UTMB and co-chair of the TIME initiative, said that expanding clinical training throughout medical school and providing mentors will help students become physicians “more quickly and completely” than traditional medical school.

It currently takes eight years to complete undergraduate studies and medical school in the United States. However, in most of the rest of the world, doctors graduate after five to six years. The time required here is part of an antiquated system that has been in place for 105 years, Lieberman said.

“If we can show that we can train students more quickly—in six or seven years—with as good or better outcomes, how could we not do it for everyone?” Lieberman asked. “Unless there’s some logistical reason why we couldn’t do it, then we ought to be doing it.”

In addition to possibly addressing the shortage of doctors, the TIME program will help reduce the debt that many physicians incur during their education. The median amount is $170,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The TIME program could save participants a quarter of that debt.

THE

TIME

MODEL Premedical and medical educators at UT System institutions have developed the TIME model for physician education, which spans the traditional baccalaureate/medical school boundary. In addition to relevant basic and clinical sciences, this model incorporates four major elements:

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Pre-health professions program. Students work interprofessionally to learn traditional, nontraditional and clinical subjects and to demonstrate teamwork and professionalism.

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Competency-based education. Student advancement and degree completion is based upon demonstration of abilities rather than duration of education.

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Professional identity formation. Personal and professional maturation achieved through intentional experiences, reflection and mentoring.

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Nontraditional fields of study. Education important to future physicians includes medically related and nonmedical subjects that have not been emphasized traditionally.

If the program is successful, it could result in other medical schools adopting a similar system.

UTMB’s A-PRIME INITIATIVE

A-PRIME students and faculty members from UT Rio Grande Valley.

Students will join UTMB in 2016. impact

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The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that the nation will see a shortage of 46,000 to 90,000 doctors by 2025. And Texas ranks near the bottom in doctors per capita in the U.S. UTMB is partnering with UT Rio Grande Valley, UT El Paso and UT Health in Houston in a new TIME initiative called A-PRIME (Accelerated Professional, Relevant, Integrated Medical Education). The goal of the partnership is to develop a model of physician education that is widely recognized for its innovative approach, educational effectiveness and professionalism of its graduates. Find out more at www.aprimetime.org or www.utsystem.edu/initiatives/time.

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Warriors in the Workforce Employee and student veterans at UTMB bring myriad experiences and perspectives that provide an invaluable contribution to our institution.

Currently, 815 UTMB employees (7 percent of the total employee population) have self-reported as veterans, with the largest proportion of that group working within Correctional Managed Care and the School of Medicine. More than 2 percent of UTMB students are self-reported veterans, with the majority in the School of Nursing. Employees and students with a paid appointment can self-identify as veterans through Employee Self Service in PeopleSoft/HCM. In recognition of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, the UTMB community would like to honor members of the university family who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Take a moment to thank our veterans for their service, and learn about several veterans throughout the institution who have chosen to continue their mission at UTMB.

Raul Reyes

Director of Media Relations, Marketing and Communications U.S. COAST GUARD, PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS, 1970–1974 What makes UTMB a great place to work, especially for veterans?

Many people like a specific daily or weekly routine. I’ve always liked to approach each day with a clean slate—and my job of looking for the best possible stories regarding medical advances, research breakthroughs and innovations in education fits me very well. UTMB, as big as it is, still feels like a big small town, i.e., you get to meet so many people from all over the world who are helping others. That very much dovetails with what I did in the Coast Guard—we were helping people.

How did your service to our country help prepare you for your career?

When I was in Search and Rescue in the Coast Guard, our small boat crew never knew what we would be called upon to do.

Sometimes we would go search for a shrimp boat that had run out of fuel and needed a tow or help law enforcement board a ship suspected of ferrying illegal drugs. Once, while stationed in Houston, it meant being awakened in the middle of the night to board and inspect a Soviet cargo ship that might be carrying more than wheat back to the U.S.S.R. (we didn’t find anything). The Coast Guard taught me to always be prepared for the unexpected.

If you weren’t prepared, don’t show it—go with your training.

Another thing was to never surprise my lieutenant. Keep him informed and both of you will do a better job. So in my job here at UTMB, every day can literally be a new day, and while you can anticipate some news reporters’ questions, I’ve learned to never be surprised by some of the questions that news reporters ask—and I follow the “no surprises” rule every day.

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Jonathan Hampton Senior Nursing Student, UTMB School of Nursing U.S. MARINE CORPS, SERGEANT, 2006–2013 What makes UTMB a great place to work, especially for veterans?

UTMB’s geographical location and designation as a Level I Trauma Center Al-Anbar Province, Iraq, 2007 necessitates that UTMB provides the principle role in ensuring top-down, quality health care for a diverse population with a diverse set of needs. As a student, this means that we have a multitude of opportunities to provide clinical care for almost any imaginable condition, which is essential to becoming a competent and well-rounded health care provider. As a veteran, UTMB’s location provides a relaxed atmosphere to work or continue your education, with ample opportunities for recreation, while still having the greater Houston area within driving distance.

How do you contribute to UTMB’s mission?

As a nursing student, I am able to directly participate in delivering care to the people of Galveston and surrounding areas. Recently, I participated in UTMB’s Community Health Program, which provides residents of Galveston and Brazoria County with outpatient follow-up for individuals with chronic illness. It was a very rewarding experience and served as an eye-opener to the obstacles our patients face to remain healthy after leaving the controlled environment of our inpatient care.

How did your service to our country help prepare you for your career?

I’m very thankful for the time that I was able to serve, because it taught me many lessons, not the least of which is the value of teamwork, the importance of remaining mission/goal oriented, remaining calm in a stressful environment, and that temporary hardship is not something that should ever dissuade you from achieving your goals.

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Saluting UTMB’s Veterans Tracy D. Holloway

Administrative Secretary, CMC Administration—Conroe U.S. NAVY, PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS, 1985–2005 What makes UTMB a great place to work, especially for veterans?

As a veteran, UTMB was an easy fit. Like the military, UTMB has a common goal and is mission oriented—we are all part of the team working together toward that goal.

How did your service to our country help prepare you for your career?

I am a retired electronics technician. My 20 years of military service helped to develop character and integrity and taught me about commitment, respect and strategic planning.

Roger Throndson, DDS Chief, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery U.S. ARMY, COLONEL, 1968–1997 What makes UTMB a great place to work, especially for veterans?

The greatest asset UTMB has is its workforce. The commitment of clinic personnel to provide quality care, as well In Chu Lai, Vietnam with the Americal as their personal loyalty to the work place Division in 1970 is unique. UTMB also has this forward and upward communication with its leadership—having the ability to make meaningful decisions, while also having a higher level of leadership available if help is needed. Our leadership shows concern for the efforts and challenges found at the patient treatment level. UTMB is especially suited to veterans because they understand a chain of leadership and progressive responsibility. Veterans have worked in an environment where hard work and innovation are rewarded with promotions and advances in pay.

Above all, veterans understand duty, honor, integrity and honesty, all personal attributes employers are interested in.

How did your service to our country help prepare you for your career?

Early in my military career I was flying helicopters in the U.S. Army. My first duty assignment after flight school was flying combat missions in Vietnam. After three months as co-pilot, I was appointed aircraft commander at the age of 20, responsible for an aircraft and the lives of three other crewmen and any troops on board. It was these early Army experiences with increasing responsibilities, exposure to a variety of cultural values and the instillation of a work ethic that demands personal responsibility in actions that prepared me to pursue this career.

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Timothy Ellis

Media Specialist, Academic Resources, Classroom and Technical Services U.S. AIR FORCE, SENIOR AIRMAN, 1984–1990 What makes UTMB a great place to work, especially for veterans?

UTMB provides a solid foundation from which to start a career—there is a clear career path, continuing education available and an outstanding, positive work environment.

Veterans look for all these things and want to work hard and contribute to a common goal. In my experience, most veterans look for career longevity since many served away from home and their families. Veterans want a dependable employer so they can settle down and raise a family—I was stationed in 11 countries in four years on temporary duty assignments. Now, I’ve been at UTMB going on 21 years.

How did your service to our country help prepare you for your career?

My service to this country taught me several things: Work hard, educate myself in anything and everything I need in order to advance in my career and be resilient—if you don’t know, ask!

I also learned teamwork, problem-solving, flexibility in the everchanging work environment and dependability. I always try to help and be ready for any situation that life throws at me, be it personal or professional.

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Warriors in the Workforce Christopher Marks, LVN

Vocational Nurse, Center for Polar Medical Operations U.S. COAST GUARD, CHIEF PETTY OFFICER, 1992–2010 What makes UTMB a great place to work, especially for veterans?

UTMB is large enough to offer me the opportunities that keep me excited, but still can provide a rewarding team experience. I was fortunate to start my nursing career with UTMB in Correctional Managed Care, where I was afforded the opportunities to expand my nursing knowledge.

How did your service to our country help prepare you for your career?

Conducting Search and Rescue, and being a Coast Guard law enforcement boarding officer, prepared me to remain calm, alert and ready for any curveball thrown my way, which really assisted me during my tenure with CMC. With the Center for Polar Medical Operations, I participate with the Polar Qualification Team, advising, reviewing and qualifying all of the

Robin Sawyer, RN Medical Processing Manager, Center for Polar Medical Operations U.S. NAVY NURSE CORPS, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, 1987–1993 What makes UTMB a great place to work, especially for veterans?

UTMB is my home. I come from a family of nurses, and we all went to school here dating back to 1925.

This institution has allowed me so many great opportunities over the years.

As an RN, I love the teaching aspect with students everywhere and learning at different levels, the support for advancing your career and education, the fact that we rebuild and get better and Stop for No Storm! I have never been more proud to be an employee here than when I was a patient myself and seeing the nurses, physicians and residents, and ancillary staff all working together. I had excellent care and it wasn’t because I was a nurse either! You can also work for the state and have a break in service and still accrue time toward your retirement and longevity pay. The state lets you “buy back” up to five years of your active-duty time if you were a Texas resident when you entered the service. I did this and it will go toward my years to retirement.

How did your service to our country help prepare you for your career?

scientists and contractors who work in Antarctica and the North Pole for the National Science Foundation.

Our participants will work and conduct research in harsh Polar Regions with temperatures ranging from 30 degrees above to 100 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.

Physiologic altitude can vary from 0 to over 10,000 feet above mean sea level. My duties as a Chief Petty Officer in the Coast Guard prepared me for this unusual nursing opportunity. As a Small Vessel Inspector and Coast Guard Investigator, I learned the communication skills and attention to detail needed to work with a diverse group of people, ranging from the most important cooks to the doctoral scientist. Being someone who has deployed for long periods of time, I know that most of the stress is not during the deployment, but in getting ready for the deployment. I use this experience to assist our participants with their pre-deployment anxiety. Helping our participants achieve their goal to safely deploy to the harshest environment on Earth and return is a great honor that excites me every day.

I knew that wearing that uniform was in my life plan as well! With the Navy and the Public Health Corps, I was able to travel worldwide, live in different cultures, work with fantastic people and use my nursing skills in settings that you could never duplicate in the civilian sector. There is nothing quite like being in combat and taking care of our troops. I was in the Gulf War and served aboard the USNS Mercy Hospital Ship. As part of the U.S. Public Health Corps, I worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (2009–2011) in the South Pacific aboard the Okeanos Explorer. Being active duty or a reservist allows you different experiences but also teaches patience. I was able to continue my education and training in the Navy and wouldn’t have traded that time in my life for anything.

How do you contribute to UTMB’s mission?

I contribute by doing the best job I can as a nurse and as a UTMB employee on a daily basis. UTMB is very involved in the community and there are many opportunities to volunteer, which I highly recommend. I love that we have such a diverse population with different cultures here on the island and on campus. I also support the School of Nursing Alumni Association.

I was actually a nurse for six years before being commissioned in the Navy.

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Saluting UTMB’s Veterans Jack B. Pace

Mental Health Case Manager, UTMB Correctional Managed Care (CMC), Polunsky Unit U.S. NAVY, PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS, 1986–1990 ACTIVE, 1991 RESERVE How do you contribute to UTMB’s mission to improve health for the people of Texas and around the world?

Many in the community may not recognize the value of providing mental health services in a correctional facility, but my position within UTMB provides a unique opportunity to help those who may never have received any support in the world. Hopefully, I can help put some of them on a path that will prevent them from committing additional criminal acts if they are

Shayla Joseph

Administrative Coordinator, Human Resources Employee Relations TEXAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, SPECIALIST, 1999–2004 What makes UTMB a great place to work, especially for veterans?

UTMB is a workplace that encourages education and helps individuals such as myself who have a military background feel appreciated for their service to the country.

How do you contribute to UTMB’s mission?

I have the pleasure of interacting with UTMB employees every day and informing them about the many advantages of working for UTMB, such as the excellent health care benefits offered, which helps to promote wellness.

How did your service to our country help prepare you for your career?

One of the seven core Army values comes to mind: selfless service. In the military, we were taught to put the needs of the nation above our own. The diligent team that I am privileged to work with in Human Resources Employee Relations strives to provide quality consultation and customer service to UTMB Health employees.

released or paroled. For those who may never leave prison, hopefully I can help them find some meaning for their existence beyond the pursuit of selfish goals and physical pleasure, which led many to commit the crimes that resulted in their incarceration.

How did your service to our country help prepare you for your career?

I was an Avionics Technician (AT3/E-4) and an In-Flight Electronic Warfare Operator (EWOP) with VQ-2 deploying for reconnaissance missions throughout the Mediterranean for the majority of my active service. My experiences helped to reinforce the values of teamwork, perseverance and self-sacrifice, and I also learned a great deal about the value of diversity.

UTMB’s VetsRG: Advancing a Culture of Inclusion The Veterans Resource Group (VetsRG) was recently launched as part of UTMB’s efforts to be recognized as a military-friendly university environment by 2017, which fully acknowledges and supports the talents and experiences of all students and employee veterans and their allies.

VetsRG is open to all employees and students, regardless of veteran status, with the primary objectives of assisting veterans with their military-to-civilian transition through education, networking and career development opportunities; and educating non-veterans on the importance of creating inclusive learning and working environments for all.

One new initiative of the VetsRG is the Veterans Peer Support Network, a monthly support group for UTMB employees or student veterans facilitated in collaboration with the Gulf Coast Center Military Veteran Peer Network and UTMB’s Employee Assistance Program.

The group aims to help veterans find healing, balance and positive reintegration with their families and in society.

Veterans Peer Support Network meetings are held the third Thursday of each month on the Galveston Campus in the Primary Care Pavilion, Conference Room 2.268.

For more information, visit https://hr.utmb.edu/diversity/ VRG.aspx or email veterans@utmb.edu.

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PE O PLE

Celebrating Service

BY KIRSTIANN CLIFFORD

More than 1,500 UTMB employees were recognized for reaching important milestones in their careers during the annual Employee Service Day ceremony on Oct. 21 at Levin Hall. Collectively, the employees represented 19,850 years of service to UTMB and its mission. Special service pins were presented in five-year increments, with 45 years being the longest tenure honored at the ceremony. In addition, 532 GEM card recipients were recognized for “Going the Extra Mile” in their daily activities.

The Highest Degree of Professionalism Maria D. Garcia, senior administrative manager of the UTMB Center for Addiction Research, received The Nicholas and Katherine Leone Award for Administrative Excellence at this year’s Employee Service Day celebration.

The award recognizes a manager or supervisor at UTMB who displays the highest degree of professionalism, with a monetary prize of $7,500: $2,500 for the winning manager and $5,000 for developing and training in his or her department.

Dr. Leonard Swischuk talks about working at UTMB for 45 years.

45 Years of Dedication

Employee Advisory Council members reviewed and scored a total of 34 nominations, and Garcia was the only nominee to receive a perfect score throughout the selection process.

She began her career at UTMB more than 10 years ago translating for Spanish-speaking patients.

Donna Sollenberger, executive vice president and chief executive officer for the UTMB Health System, took a moment to celebrate Dr. Leonard Swischuk, who has been with UTMB since 1970 and is known throughout the field of radiology for his groundbreaking expertise in pediatric imaging and as an educator of radiology and pediatric medical students, residents and faculty members.

“I’m very excited, humbled and honored,” said Garcia. “I’m thankful to Dr. Kathryn Cunningham for giving me the opportunity to lead her division in this wonderful work they are doing both at UTMB and in the community.

My favorite thing about UTMB is the people—we just saw there are people who have been here for 40-plus years, and I work with people every day that I’ve known since the day I started.”

Among his discoveries, Swischuk found that X-rays can show the difference between viral and bacterial lung infections in children. This innovation has helped pediatricians make more accurate diagnoses, resulting in a decrease in the overuse of antibiotics to treat children.

The Leone Award, established in 1971, is made possible through an endowment from Dr. Nicholas Leone, a former commanding officer and director of the Public Health Service Hospital in Galveston, and his wife Katherine.

“Dr. Swischuk literally wrote the book—six of them to be exact—on pediatric radiology and has dedicated himself to our students, residents, staff and patients for an incredible 45 years,” said Sollenberger. “Dr. Swischuk is revered here at UTMB as a tremendous leader and mentor and for treating people with dignity and compassion.”

For more photos from the event, visit UTMB’s Flickr gallery at www.flickr.com/photos/utmb.

A video about Swischuk’s tenure at UTMB, along with comments from his colleagues, was played before he accepted his service pin and shared a few funny, but heartfelt words with the crowd.

“When I got here in 1970, I got off the plane and thought to myself, ‘what am I doing here?’” said Swischuk.

“But when I got up the next morning, I felt like a rose beginning to bloom in spring. I walked into UTMB and saw there was an enormous opportunity to do things from the roots and provide new knowledge—so away I went, and I’ve never looked back.”

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Steven Baines, Human Resources Talent and Organizational Development; Donna Sollenberger, CEO of UTMB Health System; winner Maria D. Garcia; Jonathan Hommel, PhD, assistant professor of Pharmacology, representing the Center for Addiction Research.

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2015 UTMB PRESIDENT’S CABINET AWARDS RECIPIENTS

Eight programs to benefit Galveston and beyond

Sixteen UTMB faculty and staff and one student recently received UTMB President’s Cabinet awards, totaling more than $230,000.

The President’s Cabinet provides financial resources that advance UTMB’s mission to improve health. The contributions of the cabinet’s 400-plus members, which include university friends, community and business leaders from the Houston-Galveston area, and UTMB faculty members, staff and alumni, provide seed money to launch initiatives designed to improve the quality of life in the community and beyond. President’s Cabinet members have contributed more than $5 million since 1993, with more than 100 awards given to innovative community programs. For information on the President’s Cabinet, visit http://development.utmb.edu/cabinet-intro.

Erin Kearney, Ann Ross, Elizabeth Ginn and Martha Norris “Shaping healthy families: Screening, treating, educating and preventing childhood and adolescent obesity and dyslipidemia in Galveston County” In order to combat obesity rates among Galveston County children and adolescents, this program will partner with the Teen Health Center Inc., to identify children 10 or older who are overweight or obese and provide family counseling, weight loss education and nutritional skills in addition to screens for high cholesterol.

Dr. Karen Szauter “We need to talk” Through a series of simulations, based on real-life examples, UTMB faculty members and staff will learn to master the skills needed to engage in difficult conversations with their peers, executive management and students while being coached and receiving feedback in a confidential setting.

Deana M. Gehring “Patient navigation-improving outcomes and reducing barriers to care” Navigators help patients overcome socioeconomic obstacles, maneuver through the health care system, coordinate follow-up appointments, investigate financial resources and provide continuity of services. To provide navigation services for uninsured and medically underserved women, the UTMB Cancer Center will extend this program to satellite clinics and allow the creation and administration of a comprehensive patient database to manage demographic, clinical, coding and billing information.

Maria C. Swartz, PhD, and Elizabeth Lyons, PhD “Pink warrior: Support group toolkit for breast cancer survivors”

Partnerning with the UTMB Breast Cancer Support Group, this project will help increase physical activity among breast cancer survivors by funding a program impact

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coordinator and development of a “toolkit” of materials to serve women in Galveston County. Trained facilitators will deliver a 12-week, evidence-based physical activity program through group- or home-based sessions.

Rebecca Trout

“The return of UTMB’s Mini Medical School” In an effort to provide the general public with an understanding of science and the importance of biomedical research, UTMB will reinstate the Mini Medical School concept and offer a series of seven weekly classes to be taught by UTMB faculty members and centered on the university’s strengths and medical expertise.

Kelsey Berg and Barbara Slusher, PhD

“Teaching Others Oral Technique and Hygiene (TOOTH)” To help combat tooth decay—the No. 1 chronic disease of childhood—the TOOTH project will be implemented at Galveston’s Parker Elementary School with a series of three, 30-minute sessions on the importance of oral health.

Christine Arcari, PhD, Shannon Ronca, Ariel Ludwig, Michaela Huynh and Sergio Rodriguez “Building the future of UTMB Health and Galveston through urban farming”

By transforming underused plots of land into organic, urban farm sites, this program will provide sustainable and organic fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and goat dairy products to island residents year-round.

David Marshall, DNP

“Establishing a MakerNurse Medical Makerspace at UTMB Health” The UTMB Makerspace, the first of its kind in the U.S., will enable nurses to create innovative breakthrough solutions in medical technology to improve patient care. This 800-square-foot dedicated area is equipped with necessary tools and materials and has a resident design fellow to help develop prototypes for new devices or upgrades to existing devices.

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UT M B 12 5

Let the celebration begin!

UTMB kicks off 125th anniversary festivities

BY KIRSTIANN CLIFFORD

UTMB leaders joined a large crowd of employees and students in front of Old Red on Oct. 5 to kick off a yearlong celebration honoring UTMB’s 125th anniversary and its lasting commitment to defining the future of health care.

“Today is about the celebration,” said UTMB President David Callender. “Over the next year, we will reflect upon all the accomplishments we’ve made since opening as Texas’ first academic health center in 1891—and also consider what we’ll make possible in the next 125 years.”

Hundreds of attendees enjoyed the beautiful fall weather and were treated to lunch while listening to Dr. Danny Jacobs, executive vice president and provost and dean of the School of Medicine, and Pamela Watson, ScD, dean of the School of Nursing, provide comments about UTMB’s rich history and legacy.

It was on Oct. 5, 1891, when the founding members of the University of Texas Medical Department met for the first time—in Old Red—with 23 students and 13 faculty members.

Little did they know that UTMB would become a center for scientific inquiry, a training ground for the future of health care and a catalyst for improving the health of society.

“Today, we’ve educated more physicians in Texas than any other school in the state and have built a robust research enterprise that has earned a national and international reputation for excellence,” said Jacobs. “We look forward to a very bright future as a university and as a public trust.”

As the university begins a yearlong celebration that will culminate in October 2016—UTMB’s 125th birthday—the School of Nursing is concluding its own 125th anniversary celebration. UTMB’s SON first opened in 1890 as the John Sealy Hospital Training School for Nurses.

“Over the course of 125 years, we have helped transform the nursing profession, and we will continue to advance nursing education, research and practice for the next 125 years and beyond,” said Watson.

More pictures from the kick-off celebration, as well as UTMB facts, key accomplishments and alumni, historical photos and more are available at www.utmb.edu/125. Stay tuned for future events!

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VALUES

The new Town Hall concept for UTMB in which leaders head out “on the road” to meet employees where they are kicked off in September. Since then, Dr. Callender has met with employees at Clear Lake Center, the Clinical Sciences Auditorium and

the Rebecca Sealy Building. Watch for details on sessions near you as more are scheduled.

Dr. David Callender recognized several UTMB employees for their great work with “Way to Go! Awards” during his Town Hall On the Road presentations.

Sandra Fontenette, nurse and patient care facilitator in the ACE Unit, with Dr. Callender.

Norma Dryer, purchasing manager; Eric Williams, purchasing director; and Chris Gross, purchasing manager, with Dr. Callender.

Laura Orellana, patient access specialist; Gail Farr, nurse clinician in Access Center; and Darwin VanDyke, associate director of Information Services, with Dr. Callender.

Bike Around the Bay On Oct. 17–18, UTMB employees and students participated in Bike Around the Bay, a 170-mile bike ride around Galveston Bay to benefit the Galveston Bay Foundation. The UTMB cycling team was recognized as one of the top five fundraising teams.

All proceeds will help preserve, protect and enhance the natural resources of the Galveston Bay estuarine system and its tributaries for present users and for posterity.

Left to right: Imelda Wicks, Amanda Hancock, Sarah Jones, Bret Howrey, Victor Moreno, Luis Trigo, Scott Walton, Jesse Erasmus, Emily Blomberg and Adam Spieker. (Not pictured: Danny Jacobs, Cornelis Elferink, Dwight Wolf, Eric Wold, James Kitchens, Elizabeth Cooper, Karla Fenton, Kelly Prevou, Loren Skinner, Kevin O’Connell, Roy Alanis, Selwyn Rogers and Stacey Usie) More photos on UTMB’s Flickr gallery at www.flickr.com/photos/utmb.

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VA L UE S

Welcome to the UTMB family On Oct. 1, the Family Practice Associates of Angleton joined the UTMB family.

While the clinic’s name changed to UTMB Health Family Medicine, Angleton, it continues to operate at the same location, 136 E. Hospital Drive, in Angleton. The integration of this clinic into the UTMB Health System is part of our overall mission to improve access to advanced care, in convenient locations for patients. For more information, visit www.utmbhealth.com.

UTMB raises Breast Cancer Awareness Dr. Joan Richardson claims she was framed! But on Oct. 8, the only thing she was guilty of was being a good sport with a big heart. Employees paid to bail her, and others, out of jail—or keep them in—with all proceeds going to UTMB’s Susan G. Komen fundraising efforts. The make-shift cell in the John Sealy Hospital foyer held these high-profile jailbirds, all for a good cause: Dr. Martin Colman, professor and chair of Radiation Oncology Dr. Vicente Resto, associate professor and chair of Otolaryngology Dr. Joan Richardson, professor and chair of Pediatrics Loren Skinner, associate vice president of Academic Enterprise Operations Dr. Eric Walser, professor and chair of Radiology David Hileman, administrator, Medicine Services Shawn Norman, executive director of Academic Enterprise Finance Dr. Mariano Garcia-Blanco, professor and chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Together, they raised $4,819! Donations are still needed. The Susan G. Komen Houston program is an integral part of the UTMB and Komen partnership to assist uninsured and underinsured women in receiving breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and support services. Contact Susan Stephensen at sustephe@utmb.edu to donate.

Women from the Galveston County area community, including more than 50 breast cancer survivors, enjoyed food and door prizes while browsing local vendors at this year’s Ladies Night Out event. The festivities were held in conjunction with National Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day at the UTMB Health Specialty Care Center at Victory Lakes on Oct. 21. See more photos from the event on UTMB’s Flickr gallery at www. flickr.com/photos/utmb.

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SE CC

STAY INFORMED: UTMB and the CAMPUS CARRY LAW A bill passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year will permit concealed handguns by licensed holders on Texas public university campuses, effective Aug. 1, 2016.

Chancellor William H. McRaven has directed each of the UT System institutions to establish campus-specific policies for implementing the law, and UTMB’s Campus Carry Committee—which comprises faculty, staff, student and community representatives—is working to develop policies that are appropriate for our campuses and other facilities.

The committee also will provide recommendations to UTMB President Dr. David Callender regarding buildings and grounds, if any, from which firearms should be excluded under the new law.

CAMPUS CARRY TOWN HALL MEETING Monday, Nov. 16 • Noon to 1 p.m.

Levin Hall Main Auditorium

WEBSITE & RESOURCES Visit www.utmb.edu/campuscarry for updates on the development of our campus carry policy and to offer your input on how best to implement the new law at UTMB. The site has a number of resources, including FAQs, a list of Campus Carry Committee Members and a link to Texas Senate Bill 11 (Campus Carry bill), among others. www.utmb.edu/campus-carry

Remote viewing options available. See iUTMB for details. Video of the meeting will be posted after the event.

THE STATE EMPLOYEE CHARITABLE CAMPAIGN, created in 1993 for state agency and higher education employees throughout Texas, kicked off Nov. 5 for UTMB.

Last year, UTMB employees gave generously to several charities, with donations totaling $524,000. This year, we hope to give even more.

One of the great benefits of the SECC is the wide variety of charities and causes.

They range from local organizations to large and well-known national and international groups.

Giving to a favorite charity through the SECC is an easy, effective and cost-efficient way to give. These contributions help improve the quality of life for people in communities locally, across the country and around the world.

Each fall, UTMB gives you the opportunity to learn about the charities in the SECC to help you choose which ones you wish to help. You can review the available charities on our SECC website at www.utmb.edu/secc. There are about 300 organizations this year.

Local charities throughout the areas we serve rely heavily on donations from the SECC in order to accomplish their important work.

The “Give Where You Live” option of SECC is always popular. With three campuses, a large network of Correctional Managed Care sites, 30-plus clinics in the Regional Maternal and Child Health Program, plus many other community clinics, our employees are spread out across the state. SECC makes it easy to give to agencies and causes in the communities where we live and work.

UTMB’s long legacy of kindness and caring has provided strength and support for the weakest and most vulnerable. When you’re ready, make your gift through payroll deduction (monthly or a single gift) or through a one-time gift via cash or check. May the force be with us!

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'Tis the season to be healthy

By Sukwan Jolley, MPH, RD, LD, bariatric dietitian at UTMB’s Center for Obesity and Metabolic Surgery With holiday feasting right around the corner, Negotiate your choices: follow these three key strategies to combat • Choose a dessert or an alcoholic drink, weight gain. but not both.

Avoid the triggers altogether: • For starchy sides, choose one medium • Remove candy dishes at home or from your desk at work.

• Avoid holiday beverages like pumpkin spice lattes at coffee shops. If you can’t resist the temptation, opt for nonfat milk and forgo the whipped cream topping.

serving or two small servings instead of a helping of everything.

• If you choose red meat as the main course, then eat non-starchy vegetable sides.

• Have tiny servings of two or three of your favorite desserts: a thin sliver of pumpkin or pecan pie, a mini brownie square or one small-sized candy bar. Sometimes just a taste is enough to satisfy your cravings!

For baked goods or treats, modify recipes to cut down on fat and sugar and boost nutrients: • Use whole-wheat flour or half regular flour.

• Carry your own snack while shopping instead of eating at the food court in malls.

• Substitute applesauce for oil in quick breads and cakes.

• Don’t show up at parties hungry. While there, socialize away from the food table and sip on a noncaloric drink.

• Use egg substitutes or egg whites instead of whole eggs.

• Reduce sugar content to three-quarters of the original recipe.

• Use fat-free evaporated milk instead of heavy whipping cream.

• Try unconventional recipes such as chocolate zucchini bread or pinto bean fudge.

PA RTI N G S HOT

We’ve got spirit!

The UTMB Employee Service Day celebration was filled with high energy and excitement as UTMB employees celebrated their service milestones on Oct. 21.

Pictured, Sarah Toombs Smith, PhD, boardcertified science editor for the Sealy Center on Aging. See story on page 14.

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