Impact October 2016

UTMB Newsletter • OctoBER 2016

Best Care in action President’s Cabinet Awards benefit Galveston and beyond Spotlight on Rebecca Saavedra, Strategic Management

Interpreting the signs

Photo: Sandy Adams

Annette Macias Hoag, associate vice president, Health System Operations and associate chief nursing officer, and Christine Wade, director of Patient Care Services and assistant chief nursing officer for Emergency Services, chaired the 20th annual American Heart Associations’ Black Tie and Boots Gala on Sept. 17 at Moody Gardens in Galveston. The gala celebrated 20 years of honorees, including UTMB Drs. George and Nikoletta Carayannopoulos. It also focused on the initiatives and achievements over the past 20 years, including lifesaving technologies the American Heart Association has helped fund at UTMB and local hospital systems. Over the last two decades, the annual black-tie event has raised more than $3.5 million.

Dr. Susan McCammon, associate professor in the Dept. of Otolaryngology and co-director of the Center for Cancers of the Head and Neck, was recognized for her compassionate, patient-centered care as the recipient of the 2016 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Award for Humanism in Medicine. McCammon has served as a medical director of the only non-profit hospice care center in Galveston County for the last three years and is the faculty sponsor of UTMB’s Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, an interprofessional student interest group. The national award was presented to McCammon at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation in San Diego in September.

Larry Timaeus, a member of the Angleton Danbury Campus Auxiliary, went above and beyond his volunteer duties to help out the ADC Health Information Management team pack hundreds of boxes with patient charts.

Melodie Wootton, a medical records technician, said, “When we found out that we were going to have to remove our roller storage that housed all of our paper charts, we didn’t know how on earth we were going to do it, but Larry stepped in and helped out tremendously. In fact, he packed most of the 440 boxes himself.” Timaeus has been a volunteer at ADC since 2010 and also enjoys driving patients and visitors from the parking lots to the front door of the hospital. Thanks, Larry, for all you do!

Physical Therapy faculty members Laurie Farroni, DPT; Michael Furtado, DPT; Adrianna Laprea, DPT; and Dana Wild, PhD were invited to participate in Rice University’s Innovate Design-AThon Assistive Devices for Adults and Children with Disabilities. UTMB faculty served as panelists, presenters and mentors to Rice engineering students, Texas Woman’s University students and UTMB Physical Therapy students. UTMB’s Luis Guajardo, Ashley Mitchell, Laura Kim, Lindsey Wells, Amethyst Guerrero and Luke Wang participated in this three-day event. The students worked to identify a problem to address which could be helped with some sort of assistive device.

UTMB’s Infant Hearing Screening Program received the highest level of certification after an annual review was conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Newborn hearing screening programs in Texas are certified as Distinguished, Standard or Provisional. With a score of 99 percent, UTMB received “Distinguished” certification and beat the state average on seven of the eight metrics measured. Infant hearing screeners and audiologists with UTMB’s Center for Audiology and Speech Pathology continue to work to ensure quality hearing screenings for all newborns at birth, and appropriate follow-up services to all who are at risk for hearing loss.

School of Medicine students Adam and Christine Kley have received 2016 American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Ben Kean Travel Fellowships. The highly competitive fellowship is the only medical student award dedicated to nurturing a career path for physician-scientists in tropical medicine. Twenty-one fellows from 19 medical schools across the country were selected to receive airfare and up to $1,000 in living expenses for clinical training or a research project that takes place in an area where tropical diseases are endemic. The Kleys will travel to Cusco, Peru for the submitted project, “Impact of Fascioliasis among Children in the Peruvian Highlands.”

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From the President Welcome to the newest issue of Impact! This edition features articles about some of the people and initiatives that are contributing to our mission of becoming one of the leading academic medical centers in the U.S.

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This edition also highlights the 2016 State Employee Charitable Campaign, which began Oct. 7 and runs through Nov. 14. The campaign is a great opportunity to help improve the quality of life for people in need in our communities and across the state, nation and world. You can learn more about SECC at https://www.utmb.edu/secc Best Care in action

Among the other highlights from this issue:

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• A day in the life of Eileen Schubert, a certified American Sign Language interpreter at UTMB who bridges communication gaps between medical staff and patients or caregivers • A profile of Rebecca Saavedra, vice president for Strategic Management • A closer look at Best Care in Action with Dr. Eric Walser, UTMB’s chair of Radiology • Twenty-one faculty, staff and students who received UTMB President’s Cabinet awards for projects that promote outreach, education and improved patient care in the community • The annual Hector P. Garcia Awards Luncheon, featuring winners of the essay and poster contests • Tips for communicating with your health care team by Savannah Parks at the UTMB Health Resource Center • Numerous accomplishments and kudos in the Working Wonders column and throughout the newsletter

A day in the life of a sign language interpreter Page 8

I’d also like to encourage everyone to visit the following websites for important information about campus security and fire safety and our efforts to ensure a drug-free campus.

Spotlight on Rebecca Saavedra

• www.utmb.edu/securityreport • www.utmb.edu/drug-free

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As always, I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Impact, and I thank you for all you do to improve health for Texans and for those around the world.

President’s Cabinet Awards

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!

ON THE COVER: Eileen Schubert, a certified American Sign Language interpreter at UTMB, makes the sign for “interpreter.”

Schubert connects the deaf and hearing worlds, bridging communication gaps between medical staff and patients or caregivers who are hearing impaired.

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

Vice President Marketing & Communications Steve Campbell

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

Associate Vice President Marketing & Communications Mary Havard

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

301 University Boulevard

Galveston, TX 77555-0144

Editors KirstiAnn Clifford Stephen Hadley Art Director Mark Navarro

Best care

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Face-to-face communication is important to UTMB’s Chair of Radiology, Dr. Eric Walser.

“Now, they are happy when they see me coming. The face-to-face communication has made everyone’s jobs more productive and there’s a lot less frustration and miscommunication. And now Since the opening of the Jennie Sealy Hospital, Walser has made that all the nurses have gotten to know me, they know how to it a daily habit to trek from his office in the University Health contact me and will text me if something urgent comes up.”

Clinics building to the new hospital, where he makes a stop Nicole Young, a nurse manager for Internal Medicine, said on most floors to talk directly with physicians, nursing staff Walser’s strategy works. and patients.

“It’s so great that he comes through here on a regular basis,” said “When people think of radiologists, they think of a person sit- Young. “He facilitates these patients that are ready to be disting in a dark room studying charged and are just waiting digital X-rays all day, but I want for tests like a cardiac echo to make sure radiology stays or an MRI, and he’ll talk with clinically relevant and involved patients and their families with patient care, even though if they have any questions or we are not nearby,” said Walser. concerns.”

His goal is to make sure each In addition to his daily visits to patient gets the right tests done hospital units in Jennie Sealy, at the right time—and building Walser also has proactively in-person relationships with set up a phone number (409staff and patients and their 772-4MRI) to expedite MRI families has played a large role appointments for patients. in making that happen.

Hearing complaints that One recurring issue Walser wanted to tackle is patient length of stay. Sometimes, patients may wait days for a simple test to be done before they can be discharged. Not only is that inefficient and costly, it can lead to complaints from patients and doctors alike.

Walser now makes a point of visiting each floor of Jennie Sealy Hospital to ask what is needed to expedite patient flow.

“Most nurses weren’t used to having a radiologist come up to them directly and ask them what they need,” said Walser, who has radiology residents accompany him on his rounds.

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Dr. Eric Walser visits nurse manager Nicole Young in Jennie Sealy Hospital to see what he can do to expedite patient flow.

“Most nurses weren’t used to having a radiologist come up to them directly and ask them what they need. Now, they are happy when they see me coming. The face-to-face communication has made everyone’s jobs more productive and there’s a lot less frustration and miscommunication.”

patients were having to wait months for an MRI, Walser found there was a problem with the scheduling system.

The phone number was set up so patients can call and talk to a real person on the other end of the line who can schedule appointments in a timely manner.

“It’s worked out well, but I’ve got a lot more to do,” said Walser. “I was trained at Mayo Clinic, so Best Care is simple to me: The needs of the patient come first.

Whatever is best for the patient is best for all of us.”

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Being the best in correctional managed care B y K irsti A nn C lifford

This year’s CMC Summer Conference in Houston began with an introduction to UTMB’s top priority for 2017: Best Care.

Donna Sollenberger, executive vice president and chief executive officer for UTMB Health, spoke about the efforts to achieve a top 20 ranking among academic medical centers by fiscal year 2018, and explained how CMC employees fit into the initiative.

Although CMC is not directly involved in the study that evaluates and ranks academic medical centers, they have their own Best Care goals in the correctional health care environment, which

include reducing length of stay and improving access to care.

Sollenberger emphasized that everyone plays a part in making UTMB the best in patient care, research and education.

“The work you do makes me so proud to work at UTMB,” said Sollenberger. “I came into health care because I believe that every human being has a right to good health care, and you exemplify that every day with your focus on making sure our patients get the best care. So thank you for doing that—it humbles me to be able to work with people like you.”

2016 Correctional Managed Care Employee Service Awards The 2016 Employee Service Awards also were announced at CMC’s Summer Conference Sept. 8. Congratulations to all CMC employees nominated this year for always striving to provide Best Care!

Outstanding Patient Care Award

Servant Leader Award

Gold: Penny Bomar, LVN/ICN, Hughes Facility

Silver: Jack Dailey, RN, Beto Facility

Silver: Michelle Munch, pharmacy clinical practice specialist, Huntsville

Above and Beyond Award

Bronze: Susan Perez, senior pharmacist, Huntsville

Bronze: Co Nguyen, medical director, Jester IV Facility

Gold: Nichole Ferguson, CCA, Hughes Facility Silver: Susan Dostal, SPM, Jester III Facility Bronze: Donna Bradley, RN, Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Beneficial Innovation Award Gold: Teri Smith, RN, Cluster NM, Hughes Facility

Gold: Urmila Rawat, RN, Travis Facility

Safety Awareness Award

Rising Star Award

Gold: Trisha McGhee, informatics pharmacist, Huntsville

Gold: Dana Boswell, CCA, Gist Facility

Silver: Jeanette Benskin, RDA, Murray Facility

Silver: Ekundayo Osho, pharmacy clinical practice specialist, Huntsville

Bronze: Denise Church, CCA, Polunsky Facility

Bronze: Allison Pearce, CCA, Woodman Facility

Silver: Shannon Sandridge, RN, nurse supervisor, Young Facility Bronze: Pamela Mudd, LVN, Polunsky Facility

Excellence in Team Spirit Award Gold: Neha Agrawal, pharmacy clinical practice specialist, Stafford Silver: Cynthia Yzaguirre, RN, TJJD Bronze: Cynthia Herrera, RDA, Torres Facility

Meritorious Achievement Award Gold: Angela Tanner, LVN, Plane Facility Silver: David Davis, MHCM, Hodge Facility Bronze: Margaret Wells, pharmacy technologist, Huntsville

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Dr. Owen Murray and Gold award-winners, (L-R) Teri Smith, Penny Bomar, Neha Agrawal, Urmila Rawat, Angela Tanner, Trisha McGhee and Nichole Ferguson.

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RESEARCH

A nearly $1.5 million grant will support a unique opportunity for young moms to get anti-cancer vaccine at baby’s appointments B y C hristopher S mith G on z ale z

In the first months of a baby’s life, parents usually concentrate on their newborn’s health. But the postpartum period is also a good time for mom to catch up on an important vaccination for herself.

tion and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) will help young southeast Texas moms start and finish the HPV vaccine series.

With this new funding, a team led by Dr. Abbey Berenson, director of the Center for The many doctor’s visits needed for a newInterdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health, born present a convenient way for mom to get will first reach out to women who are on the all three shots of the human papillomavirus postpartum ward of John Sealy Hospital.

(HPV) vaccine.

UTMB nurse Latha Joy administers the HPV vaccine to a patient Women who are 26 years old or younger Many young women are missing out on the while Dr. Abbey Berenson explains that a series of three injections will be eligible to get the first dose of the HPV HPV vaccine, which can prevent several kinds is necessary for complete protection. vaccine before they go home with their newof cancer, including cervical cancer and throat born. Then, the second and third HPV vaccine cancer. Now, a nearly $1.5 million grant awarded to UTMB by the Cancer Preven- shots will be scheduled with newborn checkups or other medical appointments.

RESEARC H B R I E F S Compiled from press releases written by Donna Ramirez, Christopher Smith Gonzalez and Kurt Koopmann. Find out more at www.utmb.edu/newsroom.

Dr. Elena Volpi, director of UTMB’s Sealy Center on Aging, received a $2.7 million grant from the National Institute on Aging for a five-year project that will identify the mechanisms that can accelerate loss of muscle size, strength and physical function in older adults with Type 2 diabetes and those who have been hospitalized. About onethird of older Americans have Type 2 diabetes, and about one third of the hospitalizations in the U.S. involve persons older than 65. Volpi’s project will study how diabetes and inactivity impact muscle growth and loss in older adults. “Loss of strength and muscle is an important problem of

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aging that decreases physical functioning and independence.

Research projects such as this one funded by the NIA will help develop knowledge to identify targets for treatments that can delay or slow the progression of functional loss in seniors,” Volpi said. The studies will be performed in UTMB’s Institute for Translational Sciences clinical research center with support from the UTMB Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center.

Jeff Temple, PhD, psychologist and associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has received a $3.07 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based healthy relationship and violence prevention program. The study, to be conducted in Houston-area middle schools, will allow for a rigorous evaluation of a new and enhanced version of “Fourth R,” a program previously shown to be effective in reducing risky behaviors among high school students. “Middle school is

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RESEARCH

Berenson’s team recently completed a pilot version of the program, which was available to women from Galveston County who delivered at UTMB. This initial program, also funded by CPRIT, was greatly successful. Before the program, only 26 percent of eligible women who delivered an infant at UTMB had received a dose of the HPV vaccine. Less than two years into the project, 81 percent had. The number of women who completed the three-dose vaccine series also grew, from 16 percent to 65 percent. Such a large proportion of HPV vaccine completers exceeds national averages. These results were described in a paper in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

While it may seem unusual for mom to get a shot at the pediatrician’s office, this method means that no separate doctor’s visits are added to mom’s busy schedule.

“The postpartum period is a great opportunity for catch-up vaccination,” Berenson said. “Moms are already likely to be interacting with the medical system many times. We should take advantage of that.”

a critically important time period characterized by rapid psychological, social and physiological changes,” said Temple. “It is an ideal time to implement this program.

We can teach skills that are important in healthy peer and romantic relationships including respect, equality, supportiveness, warmth and autonomy at a time when they are likely to be receptive to the content but are not yet engaging in high levels of risky behaviors.”

Alan Barrett, PhD, professor of Pathology, laid out what is needed to quickly develop a safe and effective vaccine for Zika in the new edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Certainly, a vaccine needs to be completed and deemed safe for people as quickly as possible. However, this is no small feat—researchers need to determine if the vaccine has differ-

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Some 3,400 doses of the HPV vaccine have been delivered through the initial project, which was the only prevention project to receive expansion/continuation funding from CPRIT this round. The new funding will ensure these positive efforts continue and grow as all eligible women who deliver at UTMB will now have the opportunity to be involved.

Berenson hopes that the success of the postpartum projects will inspire other health systems to offer HPV vaccination services to postpartum mothers.

“The HPV vaccine is medicine’s first true cancer-preventing treatment,” she said.

“We need to devise savvy solutions to ensuring all eligible patients receive it.”

ent effects on males and females, how to design the vaccine to be effective in one or just a few doses and be safe for everyone, especially pregnant women and children. Developing a vaccine during an epidemic is more challenging because time is of the essence. It generally takes about 10 years from the time a potential vaccine is first designed in a laboratory to reach the doctor’s office. Accelerating the production process for a Zika vaccine may require several early development activities to occur at the same time as testing on volunteers. “Taken together, developing, licensing and distributing a vaccine capable of affecting the current epidemic will require seamless coordination among developers, regulatory agencies, the World Health Organization and national health authorities, along with solid funding from governments and funding agencies,” said Barrett.

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A day in the life of a

sign language interpreter B y K irsti A nn C lifford

Eileen Schubert’s fingers rapidly flip and bend as she uses her hands to explain a doctor’s instructions to a patient.

As a certified American Sign Language interpreter at UTMB, Schubert connects the deaf and hearing worlds, bridging communication gaps between medical staff and patients or caregivers who are hearing impaired.

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“When I was told I could talk all day long for a career, I knew this was the job for me,” says Schubert with a smile, who started learning sign language at age 29 after taking part in a deaf play for community theater. “I started taking classes and it evolved into a college degree. If I had realized how hard it was to learn sign language then, I probably wouldn’t have done it. But in this case, ignorance is bliss (laughs).”

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I join Schubert early on a Tuesday morning in the Day Surgery waiting room at Jennie Sealy Hospital on the Galveston Campus. A young boy is scheduled for a tonsillectomy and his deaf mother needs the help of an interpreter as nurses and doctors prep for surgery.

Wearing her signature navy blue Patient Services jacket, Schubert interprets simultaneously between spoken and sign language for more than an hour, making sure the mother gets answers to all of her questions and understands the surgery plan.

“It’s a big responsibility,” says Schubert. “I have to understand exactly what the doctor is saying to accurately explain to the patient or their caregiver. Sometimes, I’ll stop the doctor and say ‘Are you saying take two pills in the morning and two pills at night or are you saying take two pills altogether?’ It’s so important to make it clear for the patient because their health and well-being depend on it.”

Schubert has been at UTMB for nearly a year, since her position was made possible through the 1115 Healthcare Transformation waiver. She travels everywhere UTMB has a hospital or clinic to provide interpretation services for patients—from UTMB’s three campuses to Regional Maternal and Child Health clinics in Conroe, Beaumont and Pearland—and averages more than 30 scheduled appointments a month.

“Sign language brings together people of all races, ethnicities and religious backgrounds because they all share a common language—deaf culture knows no boundaries,” says Schubert. “I love interacting with patients and being exposed to various sign-language accents. For example, I helped an older man from Galveston the other day who used very distinctive southern signs. Then, I worked with a deaf teenager who used more slang. Just like with English, words evolve or are used in a different way, so I’m constantly learning.”

“Sign language brings together people of all races, ethnicities and religious backgrounds because they all share a common language—deaf culture knows no boundaries.”

My attention shifts back to the young boy as he is wheeled off to the OR. Schubert gets the mother settled in the waiting area and shows her how to track her son’s patient number on the TV monitors. Schubert will be back to help interpret post-surgery, but in the meantime, she is needed for a post-partum appointment at the Primary Care Pavilion across the street. Schubert is familiar with the patient—she interpreted throughout the woman’s labor and delivery a few weeks ago.

“That was a hectic day,” says Schubert. “I had been in Angleton with another patient and got a call that I needed to get to Galveston ASAP for a woman in labor. Once I got here, I stood for the entire birth, interpreting everything the doctor said. During the ‘push’ phase, I was telling her to take deep breaths and push while counting at the same time. I was even holding my breath, too, and doing everything with her, so she could watch my face for guidance. At the same time, I tried to stay out of the way of the doctors and nurses. Right after the baby was born, I was called to interpret at Hospital Galveston (UTMB-TDCJ Hospital) for a critical patient who was having some heart issues. It was nonstop!”

As we walk into the PCP, Schubert’s face lights up as she spots the new mother she helped through labor. The two immediately start signing about how the first few weeks of motherhood have gone, and Schubert sits with her during the appointment. Besides providing the new parents with additional support and explanations, she also ensures that the doctor understands the unique needs of the baby and mother.

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“Building ongoing relationships with patients is beneficial for everyone,” says Schubert. “I don’t just act as the voice of the doctor or the voice of the deaf person; I get invested in their long-term health plans and serve as an advocate. I learn how to read their body language and facial expressions and know when to ask a physician to explain something more so the patient can truly understand how to best have their medical needs met.”

Over the years, Schubert has become accustomed to being included in others’ intimate moments—such as the birth of a child or the last moments of a person’s life.

“There are emotional times when I have to stay professional and just focus on doing my job,” says Schubert.

After the PCP appointment, we walk back to Jennie Sealy to see how the young boy and his mother are doing. The boy is spending the night at the hospital, so Schubert will be back later to check on him. She heads to her office on the second floor to see if any additional appointments that day require an interpreter. Shubert is accustomed to last-minute requests, cancellations and changes in schedules.

She checks the Epic electronic medical record several times a day for the latest appointment information and will use an outside vendor or Video Remote Interpretation technology if needed. VRI uses iPads to offer patients on-demand video language interpretation services with a live person on screen. The most common languages accessed at UTMB are Spanish and ASL, but a total of 12 video languages are available. If a patient requires a language not included in the program, a separate audio interpretation service is available in more than 200 languages.

Schubert spells out UTMB Impact in American Sign Language.

There’s no need for VRI today, as Schubert has one final appointment in Audiology at the University Health Clinics. The patient has been having trouble with one of his hearing aids.

Schubert works with his doctor to help clear up confusion about his insurance coverage and arrange a payment plan for the needed repair.

Once everything gets straightened out, the patient leaves with a smile on his face and Schubert leaves feeling reassured that she chose the right career—she was able to talk all day long and make a difference in patient’s lives.

“I enjoy my job because it’s different every day—different clinics, different people, different reasons why they are here,” says Schubert. “What never changes is my goal to break down language barriers and make sure every patient receives the best care possible.”

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lea d e r s pot l i gh t

Spotlight on Rebecca Saavedra, vice president for Strategic Management As Vice President for Strategic Management, Rebecca Saavedra, EdD, provides support to fellow members of the executive leadership team to develop, manage and execute UTMB’s strategic plan. In addition, she leads efforts to enhance accountability, assessment and performance improvement initiatives. She has served as co-chair of the Professionalism Committee since 2000.

Saavedra holds a doctorate in higher education from the University of Houston, and began her career at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston before joining the UTMB School of Allied Health Sciences in 1987. Since then, she has served UTMB in a number of roles, including director of Campus Life and as UTMB’s first Student Ombudsman. In 2001, she was appointed associate vice president for Student Services before she took the role of vice president for Strategic Management in February 2008.

She has been instrumental in implementation of the UTMB Honor Pledge, the Hector P. Garcia Cultural Competence Carrie King and daughter, Anna Xia. Essay Competition andher the11-year-old UTMB Professionalism Summit.

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

Improving Best Care is the prime directive this year in the “Road Ahead.”

My contribution to the attainment of this goal is to support the executive leadership team in creating an environment for performance improvement and to ensure that the strategies and tactics we choose are consistent with what we know patients want and need.

What are the biggest challenges you face as VP for Strategic Management?

The world is changing fast all around us. The biggest challenge is the ability to adapt to a new generation of students, patients, faculty, markets and technological advances. UTMB has shown that it is resilient and willing to adapt to change; that will help us thrive in the future.

You serve as co-chair of the Professionalism Committee. How important is it to have a culture of professionalism at UTMB?

My first job here at UTMB many, many years ago was as a student counselor in the Office of Student Affairs in the School of Health Professions (then the School of Allied Health Sciences). That position and my next as director of Campus Life, which I held for 10 years or so, were the most fun and inspiring in my career. I was there when students came up with great programs, such as the St. Vincent’s Student Clinic, Frontera de Salud, the Honor Pledge and Quest (the three-day student orientation). Lots of fun was had working with passionate and committed student leaders from all schools.

“A major value of any successful and vibrant institution is respect. Respect is the number one value; it is the foundation of all of our relationships.”

Promoting professionalism and ensuring ethical behavior is a critical piece of our commitment to the public, our students and our workforce. It is critical when you are engaged in education and health care. As a consumer, I want my health care providers and professors to be the best professionals—or else I will go somewhere else. A major value of any successful and vibrant institution is respect. Respect is the number one value; it is the foundation of all of our relationships.

What was your first job ever? And what was your first job at UTMB? During the summer in high school, I worked as a Head Start teacher’s aide.

Head Start was a program to help at-risk preschoolers get ready for school. I was paid $1.65 an hour!

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Saavedra and her husband, Neal Hammond, enjoy some family time during Easter with their son, Drew; daughter, Lauren; daughter-in-law, Jennie; and their two granddaughters, Harper and Hadley.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love to go to the movies, concerts and the theater. My first concert ever was Jimi Hendrix, when I was in high school.

I still see many concerts every year and I love to go to New York City to see musicals and plays. This year we are going to see Hamilton! I can’t wait.

Do you have any hidden talents?

Don’t even ask me to sing… But I can make tamales! My family and friends usually have a tamalera party around the holidays and make about 30 dozen of all kinds.

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

Learn how to play the piano! But like I said, that is a dream!

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

South America. Machu Picchu in Peru, Argentina and Chile. I have never been to South America—I would be forced to practice my Spanish!

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edu cati on

Incorporating empathy, cultural competence in medicine Second-year medical student Ali Mahmoud was named the winner of the 2016 Hector P. Garcia M.D. Cultural Competence Award during a luncheon Sept. 16.

This year’s event marked the 20th year anniversary of the essay contest and awards ceremony. The program, sponsored by the Office of the President and the Hispanic Center of Excellence under the direction of Dr. Norma Pérez, recognizes a student “who demonstrates commitments to providing quality health care to all by incorporating cultural competence in his or her service to others.”

The award is named in honor of Dr. Garcia, who graduated from the UTMB School of Medicine in 1940, and became well known throughout Texas and the U.S. as a trailblazer in the fight for civil rights for Mexican-Americans in Texas. Dr. Garcia’s efforts contributed greatly to improving access to health care for minorities and ending segregation in Texas hospitals.

“As someone who comes from a religious and ethnic minority in this country, improving life for minorities in whatever way I can has been something I’ve been passionate about from a very young age,” said Mahmoud.

“My mentors have guided me in the direction of learning about other cultures and backgrounds and that’s where I find purpose. This work has allowed me to integrate my desires as a physician and my passions as a human being and a minority.”

Mahmoud’s essay relayed the importance of cultural competency in a clinical atmosphere, where patient interactions are becoming ever shorter.

This year’s event also introduced an abstract/ poster contest that was won by third-year medical student Paige Hoyer.

During the luncheon, Rebecca Saavedra, vice president for Strategic Management, was honored for initiating the event and maintaining Dr. Hector P. Garcia’s enduring legacy at UTMB. The luncheon, attended by members of Dr. Hector P. Garcia’s family, also featured a keynote speech

by Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, chief medical officer for Prevention for the American Heart Association, which focused on the importance of cultural competency, diversity in medical schools and health and health care for Hispanics in Texas.

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Excerpt from the winning essay

By Ali Mahmoud “Cultural competence is a skill that takes years to develop but is truly manifested in a few, sacred moments. It’s a skill that is most relevant with patients of a particular racial, ethnic, religious, or sexual minority, and in today’s clinical atmosphere of shorter patient interactions, being prepared to act properly around patients of different backgrounds is essential to being a competent physician.

The uniquely beautiful quality about cultural competence is that it cannot be rushed or faked. It is not something that can be picked up by simply reading a textbook. A mentality of tolerance coupled with dedicated time spent learning about another culture, language, or way of life is the only way for a physician to exhibit true cultural competence. Without adequate work, a physician will not have the ability to truly connect with patients from minority backgrounds in a way that is meaningful to them.

As someone who came from a religious and ethnic minority that has had a history of being marginalized in this country, I was drawn to the idea of activism and tolerance at a very young age. I have been active in volunteering within my local community since my early years in high school through attending interfaith events and raising awareness on issues of discrimination. This inspired me to pursue a degree in sociology in college, as well as start a minority social fraternity that was the first of its kind. These activities did not only allow me to build pride in my religion and heritage, but it allowed me to understand and appreciate the struggles of other backgrounds in my community as well. Social justice and tolerance could not be monopolized by any particular group. The more I worked with my community and learned about others, the more I realized that the problems of my community were From left: Dr. Norma Pérez, director of UTMB’s Hispanic Center of Excellence, often part of a second-year medical student and essay contest winner Ali Mahmoud and larger systemic Dr. David Callender, UTMB president. issue in our country. Our community’s problems were simply a different form of the same problem that other communities were facing. The true solution was in working with other community activists, understanding their struggles, and figuring out how we could work together to make our common home a better place for everyone.

From left: Dr. Norma Pérez and Read the entirety of Ali Mahmoud’s award-winning essay at www.utmb.edu/impact

Paige Hoyer, third-year medical school student who won the inaugural poster contest.

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Pe o p l e

2016 President’s Cabinet Awards

Twenty-one UTMB faculty, staff and students recently received UTMB President’s Cabinet awards for projects that promote outreach, education and improved patient care in the community. The nine funded projects total more than $200,000 and were presented during a banquet on Sept. 9 at The San Luis Resort in Galveston.

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.

For information on the President’s Cabinet, visit https://development.utmb.edu/cabinet-intro.

Cognitive Rehabilitation for Cancer Survivors

HOPE Initiative: Mindfulness at St. Vincent’s Clinic

Theresa Smith, PhD, and Karen Ratcliff School of Health Professions—Occupational Therapy

Karen Aranha, PhD, Jacob Moran, Elizabeth Wright and Alison Kelly Schools of Health Professions and Medicine

A program to offer cancer patients in Galveston County a series of group sessions to provide attention and memory strategies, compensation techniques, planning and organization, problem solving skills and cognitive training. UTMB occupational therapy students will run the classes and gain experience in developing, implementing and measuring cognitive rehabilitation outcomes.

The Student Healer Association, an interprofessional student organization at UTMB, plans to teach mindfulness meditation techniques for the management of stress, chronic pain and various life changes to occupational therapy and psychiatry patients at St. Vincent’s Clinic.

UTMB Adolescent Weight Loss Program

Jaquelyn Svoboda School of Nursing

Dr. Kanika Bowen-Jallow Surgery The establishment of a multidisciplinary clinic at UTMB where adolescents and their parents can meet with a nutritionist, pediatric gastroenterologist, pediatric surgeon and a personal fitness instructor. Participants may also receive consultations to psychiatry and pediatric endocrinology.

Establishing the UTMB President’s Cabinet Fab Lab at Ball High School Maurine Nichols and Rebecca Trout Moody Medical Library and Health Policy and Legislative Affairs Due to the success of the MakerHealth Space supported by a 2015 President’s Cabinet grant, this project will create a similar lab at Galveston’s Ball High School to provide higher level learning experiences to the next generation of health care, research and biomedical science workers. This fabrication laboratory (Fab Lab) will combine tools and materials for woodworking, metalworking, electronics, robotics, textiles, computers and soft circuits and will become part of the school’s career and technology education program.

Impacting Community Health through Pressure Ulcer Prevention Dell Roach and Dr. Jillian McLaughlin Nursing APS and Surgery This special surgical intensive care unit quality-improvement intervention program will provide hospital staff, patients and their families with visual cues such as checklists, signage, patient risk bracelets and color pictures in an effort to promote awareness of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (bed sores) and decrease the number of incidents.

The BAMBI/School of Nursing Collaborative Project The Baby and Mother Bonding Initiative at UTMB offers pregnant offenders the opportunity to live with their babies after delivery, rather than sending them away to family or foster care.

This project seeks to improve maternal bonding through student-led educational sessions that will improve the mother’s knowledge of prenatal health and infant care.

Empowering Future Generations of Neuroscientists and Health Professions Giulio Taglialatela, PhD, Ashley Nilson, Michele Comerota, and Andrea Dimet Neuroscience and Cell Biology Enhancing and expanding the current efforts of the Galveston Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience by providing funding for new exhibits, activities and educational materials for the group’s annual Brain Fair event and community outreach projects.

Parent-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Cara Pennel, DrPH, Dr. Juliet McKee and Dr. Naiomi Jamal Preventive Medicine and Community Health To increase parent-adolescent communication regarding sexual health, this project will develop and implement a parent-based teen pregnancy prevention program. Classes will be held for parents of children ages 11-16, with UTMB residents and students facilitating each session.

Health-Fair-Kits-to-Go: Turning Service into Service-Learning Christine Arcari, PhD, and Lynda Chowdhury Preventive Medicine and Community Health Expanding the current collection of Health-Fair-Kits-To-Go exhibits and educational displays to address health issues and create a website to measure the initiative’s success. The kits are for adults, children, teenagers and elderly at health fairs across the region.

Awardees and Committee 14

OCTOBER 2016

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UT MB New s

Give with your heart: Support the 2016 SECC The State Employee Charitable Campaign returns to UTMB Health this month, and it promises to raise more than just dollars. With a zombie and Halloween-inspired theme, it’ll be spooky and it’ll be fun. But most importantly, it’ll provide UTMB’s incredibly generous workforce an easy way to put their dollars to work for good, for the communities and causes that matter to them.

This year, James Graham, from the Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, leads the charge in a campaign unlike any other. Watch as he unearths a legion of generous contributors who will claw and crawl toward our goal of $525,000.

The campaign allows employees to decide what and who they support, selecting from hundreds of local, national and international charities.

No pledge is too small, and contributions may be made online, via payroll deduction, or via paper pledge forms. The campaign runs from Oct. 7 through Nov. 14.

Supporting a favorite charity through the SECC is an easy, effective and cost-efficient way to give. It will make you feel alive.

Learn more, review the available charities and make your pledge at www.utmb.edu/SECC.

We’re growing!

Adult and Pediatric Urgent Care Clinic 10121 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway • Texas City, TX 77591 www.utmbhealth.com/urgentcare Located within the current Primary and Specialty Care Clinic.

Open weeknights from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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OCTOBER 2016

New clinics open on the Mainland

Adult Primary Care Clinic

17448 Hwy 3, Suite 200 • Webster, TX 77598 (832) 505-1748 Located within the current Women’s and Surgical Specialties Clinic. Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Top tips for communicating with your health care team

By Savannah Parks, UTMB Health Resource Center The most important part of taking an active role in your own care is good communication with your health care team, which includes doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists and others who care for your physical and mental health.

• Know who to call. You might have more questions once you leave the doctor’s office or are discharged from the hospital, so it’s important to know who you can call for more information.

The following tips can help improve communication with your health care team—and ultimately help you take charge of your own health by becoming a better informed, more engaged patient.

• Get a second opinion. Even if your doctor has treated other people with the same condition(s), you may wish to get another opinion on your specific situation to make sure that you have all the information you need to make the best choice about your treatment. Most doctors understand and will support your decision.

• Research your condition. The more you understand your condition(s), the easier and more helpful your discussions will be. Become familiar with terms that your doctor may use when talking to you about your condition(s).

• Be familiar with common symptoms of your conditions(s) and track them between your medical appointments.

Bring this information to your doctor at each appointment. It is an easy way to show them what you have been experiencing and how it changes over time with any treatments prescribed.

• Make a list of questions or topics to talk about. Put together a list of questions for your doctor in advance of your appointments. Find out if your doctor is willing to have you email your questions ahead of time.

• Take notes during your appointment.

Taking notes, or bringing someone along to take notes for you, can help ensure that you

remember everything that is discussed at your office visit. Keep a notebook to track questions and information from each visit.

• Bring someone with you. It helps to have another person come along with you to your appointment, to listen and offer other questions you might not have thought about.

• Make sure you understand what your doctor says. Do not be afraid to ask the doctor to explain words or instructions you don’t understand. Use “I” statements, such as “I don’t understand,” rather than saying “You are not being clear.”

• Do not be shy about talking about other concerns. There are many things that affect your ability to stay healthy. If you are sad because of life changes due to your illness, your doctor can refer you to someone to talk with. If you are having trouble affording your medications, there are programs that can help, including support from pharmaceutical companies.

• Stop by UTMB’s Health Resource Center.

Located in the main lobby of Jennie Sealy Hospital, the center is a calm, welcoming space where patients, guests and primary caregivers are invited to access information about specific health conditions and treatment options, learn about helpful hospital resources, and much more. A patient resources specialist is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.utmb.edu/ health-resource-center.

Parting Shot

Fight the flu!

Tammy Canales, a senior business coordinator for Radiation Oncology, smiles as she waits to receive a flu shot from Richard Bond, LVN. Free flu shots were available beginning Sept. 13 for all UTMB employees, retirees and volunteers.

This year’s vaccine protects against the four viruses experts believe will cause the most illness in the upcoming flu season, which can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. For more information on the university’s vaccination requirements and locations, visit https://hr.utmb.edu/ehc/flufree.

OCTOBER 2016

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