A Message to Our Alumni
from Dr. Salim Hayek, Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine
Dear Colleagues,
Dr. Barney Karnath and Dr. Marc Shabot have been working on something special: documenting the history of our Department over the last 134 years. As I go through what they have assembled, I keep coming back to how many of you are deeply woven into this story. The residents and students you taught. The programs you have built. The way you kept us moving forward despite hurricanes, budget cuts, and everything else that comes our way. I inherited something special built by you, the people who refused to let it fail. That strong foundation is still here, and we are building on it. I want you to see where we are now.
We have held our annual CME conference, Essentials in Internal Medicine for 35 years now, which is truly remarkable. But this coming year—April 9-11, 2026—we are doing something different. We’re making it true reunion. Not just CME lectures (though we’ll have those), but actual time on campus with tours of facilities that likely did not exist when you were here. There will be time for conversations with faculty you mentored, and a chance to see what the place looks like now. We are planning some special events as well, though I am still finalizing details.
Last year, following a national search, I was asked to become the next Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. I won’t lie: it’s a big job, and I feel the weight of it. But I have got good people around me, and that includes you. About one year ago, we launched a program called “Moving Medicine Forward”. It is built around six principles that we are putting up signs for on the walls: Transparency, Rewarding Achievement, Excellence in Patient Care, Value, Career Building, and One Team. I know mission statements can feel like wallpaper, but we are trying to make decisions through that lens.
So here’s what’s been happening. We have grown significantly. Over twenty-one new physicians joined us this year, and our patient volume hit nearly 118,000 visits. That’s up 17% in a year, which tells me that Southeast Texas really does need us badly. Our research portfolio is stronger than it’s been in years with 148 active grants, $13.7 million in total funding, up 46% from last year. We reopened the Palliative Care Clinic in September and are rebuilding the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology under the leadership of Dr. Maurice Willis who many of you already know as a longstanding UTMB leader and program director. We are also rolling out AI documentation tools across divisions. I was skeptical about AI’s utility until I saw our faculty actually getting their notes done more quickly, and going home at reasonable hours.
Here is something that did not surprise me: the latest AAMC faculty survey showed greater than 80% job satisfaction in our department. That’s higher than our peer institutions and higher than most departments here at UTMB. It did not surprise me because the culture of UTMB is what makes our institution special. The values you built into this department, including looking out for each other and putting patients first, haven’t gone anywhere.
UTMB is very different now than when most of you were here. We are a real multi-campus system which spans far beyond Galveston alone. We now have UTMB campuses with hospitals and clinics in League City, Clear Lake, and Angleton. Of course, Internal Medicine is central to that growth, which changes what we are training residents for. As you well know, most of our residents are not headed to academic jobs. Among other purposes, we are preparing physicians to lead clinics in underserved areas, bring subspecialty care to populations that never had that access before, and build research programs where none existed. It’s a broader mission than we have ever had in the past.
I’m writing partly because we need your help. You know a great deal about what did and did not work here, and I need to hear that from you. If you are at another institution and you know someone who would be a great divisional research leader, we are hiring for those roles. If you can support the Department financially, that money goes directly into the development of special programs such as our new substance abuse clinic led by Dr. Carlos Dostal. As you know, recruitment packages and seed grants are what help us compete nationally. Finally, just the way you talk about UTMB when colleagues ask, helps shape our reputation far more than any marketing campaign ever could.
Come to Galveston in April if you can. Walk around campus. Meet the new faculty. See the residents who remind you of yourself twenty or thirty or more years ago. I’d like to shake your hand and thank you in person. This Department wouldn’t be what it is without you.
Warm regards,
Salim Hayek, MD
Edward Randall and Edward Randall Jr. Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine
Professor and Chair, Department of Internal Medicine Chief Transformation Officer sahayek@utmb.edu
P.S. If April doesn’t work, email me anyway. I mean it when I say my door is open to alumni.
Reflections from the 2025 Department of Internal Medicine Alumni Society and Scientific Meeting.
Scientific Meeting
The day began with Dr. Lindsay Sonstein opening the 34th Annual Essentials in Internal Medicine Scientific Meeting on April 4th at Moody Gardens Hotel & Convention Center. It has become a tradition now since the 2022 conference, that Dr. Sonstein delivers a Morning Report. She presented 3 intriguing cases to the audience from the resident morning report archives. Our astute alumni had no problem solving the three clinical cases. Dr. Sonstein attends resident morning report each day in her role as residency program director for internal medicine. The 34th annual conference was filled with presentations from faculty from each division in the department of internal medicine. The annual meeting attracted 55 attendees again this year. Although the number of attendees has fallen in the post-pandemic era, the quality of our CME conference hasn’t. A wide variety of topics were covered with updates from Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Hematology, Pulmonary Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Oncology and General Medicine. The conference this year offered 11.5 hours of CME including 1 hour of Ethics CME. The noon hour on Friday, April 4th was dedicated to the chief resident reunion and a review of the meaning of the Deiss society including reflections about Dr. William P. Deiss from Dr. Robert E. Beach. It was only our 3rd chief resident reunion.
The 34th Annual Department of Internal Medicine Alumni Society Dinner was a success as we celebrated our alumni and their outstanding accomplishments and contributions. We were pleased to have our academic leadership past and present in attendance.
Dr. Salim Hayek – Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine
Alumni Society Dinner
The evening began with a reception in the Gulf Room of Gaido’s where many alumni members reconnected. There was a strong presence of past Cardiology fellows as we honored Dr. Masood Ahmad for his 43 years of service to UTMB in the cardiology division.
Dr. Don Powell – Past Chair for the Department of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Randal Urban – Past Chair for the Department of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Marc Shabot – Vice Chair of Development and Immediate Past Vice Chair of Alumni Relations.
Chief Residents Reunite (Past, Present and Future).
Front Row (left to right) – Alokika Patel, Jennifer McCracken, Paul Park, Nadia Ahmed, Astrud Leyva, Melissa Victory, Brent Kelly, Darshan Anadu. Back Row (left to right) – John Updegrove, Sidra Qureshi, Michaela Ginn, Marcus Ynalvez, Jordan Malone, James Scott, D.J. Sweet, Rick Waldo, Scott Ream, Robert Beach, James McHenry, Raakhi Menon, Lindsay Sonstein.
Past Chief Residents Connect at the 34th annual meeting. Past Chief Residents Connect at the 34th annual meeting.
Top Photo Left to Right: John Updegrove, Robert Beach, Darshan Anadu, Bottom Photo Left to Right: Linsday Sonstein, Brent Kelly, Scott Ream
We also had special Alumni guests including Dr. Richard Helmer who currently serves as president elect of the John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association.
The department of internal medicine alumni society started in 1992 and we celebrated our 34th annual meeting this year. This would not be possible without the efforts of Dr. Marc Shabot and our past Chair of Medicine Dr. Don Powell. I want to thank them both for their leadership over the years. At our 34th annual meeting, Dr. Salim Hayek presented a departmental update. Dr. Hayek spoke highly of our faculty and their dedication to clinical care, education and research. He talked about the growth of our department. Dr. Hayek joined UTMB as Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer of the Faculty Group Practice in 2023 and became interim chair of the department of internal medicine in 2024 and was recently appointed as chair.
center in the University of Michigan system. His research expertise lies in bench-to-bedside translational science. Dr. Hayek presented a lecture on Cardio-oncology on Saturday, April 5th at our 34th annual conference.
The Alumni Honoree this year was Dr. Masood Ahmad, professor emeritus in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Tributes were paid to Dr. Masood by his past cardiology fellows including Dr. Qiangjun Cai and Dr. Geru Wu. Dr. Hani Jneid also paid tribute to Dr. Ahmad noting his decades of service to UTMB and the development of the echocardiography lab. The following day, our scientific meeting resumed. Dr. Masood Ahmad delivered the William P. Deiss, Jr. M.D. Lecture in Medicine. He spoke about the importance of telemedicine and his involvement in delivering cardiac care to the south pole.
On a final note, I want to thank Mrs. Meghan Hickman and Mrs. Briana Broderick for all their efforts in organizing this event and keeping the alumni society going strong. We simply could not do this without their dedication and exceptional administrative skills. We hope that you will come to our annual event each year. Please spread the word as we continue to grow our alumni society. Please take advantage of the lifetime membership benefits. Your alumni membership will go a long way to support our annual conference and dinner. We will honor Dr. Richard Helmer in 2026 and he will also deliver the Deiss lecture.
Dr. Hayek is a distinguished cardiologist with a focus on cardio-oncology. Dr. Hayek earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. He Completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. He also completed his Cardiology Fellowship in the Clinical Investigator Track, at Emory University SOM. Before coming to UTMB, Dr. Hayek served as Medical Director of the University of Michigan’s Frankel Cardiovascular Center Clinics, the largest multi-disciplinary cardiovascular
Written by
Bernard Karnath, M.D. Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine Hornstein Professorship in Internal Medicine in Memory of Edna S. and William C. Levin, MD Celebrating UTMB’s 125th Anniversary
Emeritus Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine
Distinguished Teaching Professor
UT System
Vice Chair of Alumni Relations CME Course Director
Dr. Hayek provides an update on the Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB to the Alumni.
Department of Medicine Alumni Teaching Award 2025
Lindsay Sonstein, MD
Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Medicine
Vice Chair of Education
Program Director Internal Medicine Residency Program
Laura Randall Schweppe Distinguished Professorship in Internal Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Sonstein was the recipient of the Department of Medicine Alumni Teaching Award for 2025. Dr. Sonstein is the Program Director for the Internal Medicine residency program, Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Internal Medicine. She joined the faculty in 2008, after completing her medical school education, residency training and chief residency at UTMB in Galveston. She is a graduate of the UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine in 2005. She completed her residency training here at UTMB in the Department of Internal Medicine in 2008 followed by a chief residency year. Her days are filled with focused patient centered clinical teaching. She is a member of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine and has been an active member of the program planning committee since 2018. She became the residency program director in 2016. She teaches at all levels including medical students, interns, and residents. She attends morning report daily in addition to her bedside teaching on rounds. This is a well-deserved honor for Dr. Sonstein and befitting to be presented during the chief resident reunion this past year.
Dr. Lindsay Sonstein receives the Department of Medicine Alumni Teaching Award on April 4, 2025 from Dr. Bernard Karnath
Department of Internal Medicine
FACULTY – ALUMNI SOCIETY TEACHING AWARD RECIPIENTS
William P. Deiss, Jr., M.D. 1993
Jack B. Alperin, M.D. 1994
Marschall S. Runge, M.D. 1995
E. Benjamin Clyburn, M.D. 1996
Steven A. Lieberman, M.D. 1997
Don W. Powell, M.D. 1998
Michael C. Boyars, M.D. 1999
Akhil Bidani, M.D., Ph.D. 2000
William F. Jacobs, M.D. 2001
William F. Harper, M.D. 2002
Bruce Baethge, M.D. 2003
Tejinder Ahuja, M.D. 2004
Robert Beach, M.D. 2005
Bernard M. Karnath, M.D. 2006 Michael C. Boyars, M.D. 2007 Parantap Gupta, M.D. 2008
Richard W. Goodgame, M.D. 2011 Brock Harper, M.D. 2012
Parapudi, M.D. 2018
Anita Mercado, M.D. 2017
David Reynoso, M.D. 2018
N. Miles Farr, M.D. 2019
Erin Hommel, M.D. 2020
Sidra Qureshi, M.D. 2021
Maria Belalcazar, M.D. 2022
Hania Kassem, M.D. 2023
Vijaya Murthy, M.D. 2024
Lindsay Sonstein, M.D. 2025
Written by
Bernard Karnath, M.D.
Hornstein Professorship in Internal Medicine in Memory of Edna S. and William C. Levin, MD Celebrating UTMB’s 125th Anniversary Emeritus Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine Distinguished Teaching Professor UT System
Dr. Ahmad. Photographed from left to right: Bernard Karnath, Qiangjun Cai, Masood Ahmad, Hani Jneid, and Geru Wu.
The Alumni Society Honors Dr. Masood Ahmad
Professor Emeritus for the UTMB Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Alumni honoree for the 34th Annual Department of Internal Medicine alumni meeting.
Dr. Ahmad becomes the 21st Alumni Honoree for the Department of Internal Medicine, recognized at the 34th Annual Department of Internal Medicine Meeting. The annual alumni dinner has been held at Gaido’s restaurant in conjunction with the annual scientific meeting since 1993. The tradition of recognizing an alumni started in 2006 with Dr. Remmers. Past alumni honorees include:
PAST ALUMNI HONOREES
A. Ray Remmers, M.D. 2006
James C. Guckian, M.D. 2007
Jack B. Alperin, M.D. 2008
William C. Levin, M.D. 2008
Don W. Powell, M.D. 2009
Jerry C. Daniels, M.D., PhD 2010
Del Chumley, M.D. 2011
Tedd Mitchell, M.D. 2011
Jim Rohack, M.D. 2011
John Wallace, M.D. 2012
Patsy Koeppe, M.D. 2013
Roger D. Soloway, M.D. 2014
James Lindley, M.D. 2015
Richard Goodgame, M.D. 2016
Al Reinarz, M.D. 2017
Marc Shabot, M.D. 2018
Mike Boyars, M.D. 2019
Randy Urban, M.D. 2022
Robert Beach, M.D. 2023
Emilio Gonzalez, M.D. 2024
Masood Ahmad, M.D. 2025
Dr. Masood Ahmad has dedicated 43 years of service to UTMB in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Cardiology. Dr. Ahmad completed his residency training in internal medicine at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center Queens Hospital Center in New Hyde Park, New York in 1971. He completed his Research Fellowship in Cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas in 1974. After his fellowship, Dr. Ahmad became an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri Medical Center in Columbia, Missouri. He became chief of the Cardiology Section for the Harry S. Truman Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in Columbia, Missouri in 1978. Dr. Ahmad arrived at UTMB as an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in 1981. He became director of the Echocardiography Laboratory in 1982. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Ahmad became an inaugural member of the Academy of Master Clinicians at UTMB in 2015. Dr. Ahmad is a nationally and internationally recognized cardiologist. He has mentored numerous cardiology fellows.
It was my honor to sit at the table with Dr. Masood Ahmad along with Dr. Cai, and Dr. Wu as we recalled Dr. Ahmad’s many years of mentoring past cardiology fellows. We were joined by Dr. Hani Jneid, Professor and Chief of the Division of Cardiology here at UTMB, where he also serves as the Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Service Line and the John Sealy Distinguished Centennial Chair in Cardiology. Dr. Jneid is now Department Chair and Medical Director of The Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at UTMB. Dr. Qiangjun Cai is Associate Professor in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and Medical Director of the UTMB Health Angleton Danbury Campus Cardiology. Dr. Geru Wu is a Cardiologist in the Memorial Hermann system in Cypress, TX. Dr. Wu completed her fellowship in Cardiology here at UTMB in 2018.
Written by
Bernard Karnath, M.D.
Hornstein Professorship in Internal Medicine in Memory of Edna S. and William C. Levin, MD
Celebrating UTMB’s 125th Anniversary
Emeritus Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine
Distinguished Teaching Professor UT System
Dr. Ahmad speaks at the Alumni Dinner
The early days of Echocardiography at UTMB with Dr. Masood Ahmad.
Past Cardiology fellows (Dr. Wu and Dr. Cai) show their appreciation for
Internal Medicine Chief Resident Reunion
Dear
Alumni and Fellow Chief Residents,
It has been 10 years since our last chief resident reunion and 2025 was a great year to host another reunion. We had 21 former and current chief residents join us in Galveston on April 4-5, 2025, for our 34th Annual Essentials in Internal Medicine conference at the Moody Gardens Hotel & Convention Center with the Alumni Society Dinner on April 4, 2025 at Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant. Our past chief residents were recognized during the alumni luncheon on Friday, April 4, 2025.
Being a chief resident was one of the most formative times in my career and I am so thankful to be included among the legacy of UTMB Internal Medicine Chief residents. On the next page you will find a full list of our past and current chief residents, it is easy to recognize how many former chiefs have ascended into leadership positions within their field. We are so pleased with our 3rd chief resident reunion.
Lindsay Sonstein, MD, FACP
Professor
Laura Randall Schweppe Distinguished
Professorship in Internal Medicine
Program Director Internal Medicine Residency
Vice Chair Education
Department of Internal Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
BREAKTHROUGH TEXAS A UTMB HEALTH SHOWCASE
Breakthrough Texas: A UTMB Health Showcase in Galveston will be a unique opportunity to connect with university leaders, alumni and supporters. Come hear how UTMB Health is rede ning health care and pushing the boundaries of medicine. On April 9, 2026, we’ll delve into engaging insights and discussions that highlight the university’s growing impact of Texas and beyond. Be on the lookout for registration details.
Chief Resident Reunion 2025
Past Chief Residents for Internal Medicine
1954-1955 David C. Miesch, M.D. Eward Egbert, M.D.
1958-1959 H. Gene Sarles, M.D. A. Ray Remmers, M.D.
1959-1960 A. Ray Remmers, M.D.
1960-1961 Irving H. Schweppe, M.D.
1961-1962 Archie Leder, M.D.
1962-1963 Robert Fortran, M.D.
1963-1964 Maurice Herring, M.D.
1964-1965 Max Y. Harris, M.D.
1965-1966 Fredrick Gregory, M.D.
1966-1967 Oscar Fonseca, M.D.
1967-1968 Jack W. Moncrief, M.D.
1968-1969 Jonathan F. Deckard, M.D.
1969-1970 Gerald A. Beathard, M.D.
1970-1971 James D. Lindley, M.D.
1971-1972 Glen H. Stanbaugh, M.D.
1972-1973 Roger Kiser, M.D.
1973-1974 Robert L. Ward, M.D.
1974-1975 Del L. Chumley, M.D.
1975-1976 Gary E. Erwin, M.D.
1976-1977 R. Scott Ream, M.D.
1977-1978 Rick T. Waldo, M.D.
1978-1979 Pete Reuter, Jr., M.D
1979-1980 James. W. Wright, M.D.
1982-1983 Robert E. Beach, M.D.
1983-1984 J. James Rohack, M.D.
1984-1985 Michael A. Ainsworth, M.D.
1985-1986 Neil K. Dorsey, M.D. Gregory A. Braden, M.D.
1986-1987 Michael J. Borucki, M.D. Victor, Cardenes, M.D.
1987-1988 S. Louis Bridges, Jr, M.D., Ph.D. S. Michael Clark, M.D.
1988-1989 John D. Updegrove, M.D. Thomas M. Weber, M.D.
1989-1990 Lisa L. Dever, M.D. Ann Rosson, M.D.
1990-1991 Thomas D. Fisher, M.D. Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.
1991-1992 Claro Diaz, M.D.
Gus W. Krucke, M.D.
1992-1993 Darshan P. Anadu, M.D.
Rich R. Lieux, M.D.
1993-1994 Pamela Clanton, M.D.
Louis (Bo) Self, M.D.
1994-1995 Sue Prill, M.D.
Gino Sedillo, M.D.
1995-1996 James T. Jackson, M.D.
Russell LaForte, M.D.
1996-1997 Donna Sue Dolle, M.D.
Thomas F. Gregrory, M.D.
1997-1998 Nancy Hughes, M.D.
Steven Sibbitt, M.D.
1998-1999 Michael Blackmon, M.D.
Maria Chee, M.D.
Bradley Meek, M.D.
1999-2000 Kristine B. Patterson, M.D.
John W. Hollingsworth, M.D.
2000-2001 Chris Chiles, M.D.
Lane Miller, M.D.
Kate Westmoreland, M.D.
2001-2002 Todd McGehee, M.D.
Rosalyn Stewart, M.D.
Brooks Watson, M.D.
2002-2003 Jennifer James, M.D.
Pamela Havlen, M.D.
Brent Kelly, M.D.
2003-2004 Erica Campagnaro, M.D.
Iyad N. Daher, M.D.
Jonathan D. Greifenkamp, M.D.
2004-2005 Serena Aunon, M.D.
Drew Beaty, M.D.
Steve Quach, M.D.
2005-2006 Angela Hewlett, M.D.
Batul Valika, M.D.
C. Keith Cofas, M.D.
2006-2007 Brad Broussard, M.D.
Gerardo Garza-Gutierrez, M.D.
Maria Nicole Perez, M.D.
2007-2008 Kristie Blank, M.D.
Juan G. Martinez M.D.
Sabeen Najam, M.D.
2008-2009 Erica Gregonis, M.D.
Lindsay Hilbert, M.D.
Neel Shah, M.D.
2009-2010
Tran C. Huynh, M.D.
Chandandeep Takkar, M.D.
Phong Tang, M.D.
2010-2011 Michaela Ginn, M.D.
Astrud Leyva, M.D.
Chuck Mathers, M.D.
2011-2012 Michael Babineaux, M.D. Jason Bell, D.O. Cindy Lyou, M.D.
2012-2013 Pilar Acosta, M.D. Giovanni Geslani, D.O. Parham Parto, M.D.
2013-2014 Bashar Hmoud, M.D. Jennifer McCracken, M.D. James Pattarini, M.D.
2014-2015 Munira Mehta, D.O.
Habeeb Salameh, M.D.
Geoff Weikle, D.O.
2015-2016 Muhannad Al Hanayneh, M.D. Ada Burroughs, M.D. Patricia Rodriguez Lozano, M.D.
2016-2017 Khannah Baxter, M.D. Tracey Lindeman, M.D. Roshni Patel, D.O.
2017-2018 Ryan Gullatt, M.D.
Vincent Petros, M.D.
Sidra Qureshi, M.D.
2018-2019 Steven Klimczak, M.D.
Sharon Li, M.D.
Paul Park, M.D.
2019-2020 Rawan Dayah, M.D.
Zakari Kwota, M.D.
Anh Nguyen, D.O.
2020-2021 Cesar Perez, M.D. Christopher Perez, M.D. Krishna Suthar, M.D.
2021-2022 Aesha Aboueisha, M.D. Nadia Ahmed, M.D. D.J. Sweet, D.O
2022-2023 Alexander Dang, M.D. Elizabeth Davis, M.D. Christopher Nguyen, D.O.
2023-2024 Anna Archbold, M.D. Sarah Jenkins, M.D.
Marissa Lee, D.O
Joseph Orndorff, D.O
2024-2025 Jordan Malone, D.O.
James Scott, D.O.
Melissa Victory Brodman, M.D.
Marcus Ynalvez, M.D.
2025-2026 James McHenry, M.D.
Raakhi Menon, D.O.
Alokika Patel, D.O.
Shini Shaji, M.D.
35th Annual Essentials in Internal Medicine and Department of Internal Medicine Alumni Society Meeting
UTMB FACULTY
The 35th Annual Essential in Internal Medicine and Department of Internal Medicine Alumni
Society Meeting will be held on April 9-11, 2026, at the Moody Gardens Convention Center and on the Campus of UTMB. The 34thAnnual Essential conference was a huge success including the Chief Resident reunion, and we hope that this year will bring even more alumni back to our annual meeting. The meeting agenda is listed to the right. We have excellent speakers and topics as always. Please visit our alumni website to register for this conference. Please use the QR code below. We look forward to seeing you there. Dr. Richard Helmer III will be delivering the Deiss Lecture on Saturday April 11, 2026. Please also come to our Alumni Dinner on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Gaido’s where Dr. Richard Helmer III will be our Alumni Honoree.
Thank you,
Bernard Karnath, M.D.
Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine
Hornstein Professorship in Internal Medicine in Memory of Edna S. and William C. Levin, MD Celebrating UTMB’s 125th Anniversary Emeritus Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine
Distinguished Teaching Professor UT System
Vice Chair of Alumni Relations
CME Course Director
Kelly Caldwell
Archivist for the Blocker History of Medicine Collection University of Texas Medical Branch
Totini Chatterjee, MD
Assistant Professor in the Division of Geriatrics and Nephrology Department of Internal Medicine University of Texas Medical Branch
Michael Jamieson, MD, FRCP (Edin) Past Senior Director, Internal Medicine: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Field Medical Director, Pfizer US Medical Affairs
Bernard Karnath, MD, FACP
Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine Hornstein Professorship in Internal Medicine in Memory of Edna S. and William C. Levin, MD
Celebrating UTMB’s 125th Anniversary Emeritus Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine
Distinguished Teaching Professor UT System Vice Chair in Alumni Relations CME course Director
Richard Helmer III, MD, FACP Retired Hematologist and Medical Oncologist President Elect of the John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association
Salim Hayek, MD
Professor of Medicine
Edward Randall and Edward Randall, Jr. Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine
John Sealy School of Medicine Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer
Paul Park, MD
Assistant Professor in the Division of General Medicine Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program University of Texas Medical Branch
Michael Nguyen, MD, FACP
Assistant Professor in the Division of General Medicine Vice Chair, Community Clinical Programs University of Texas Medical Branch
Shawn Nishi, MD
Division Chief ad interim and Professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Medical Director, Comprehensive Lung Cancer Screening Program Interventional Pulmonary
Gabriel Reep, MD
Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine University of Texas Medical Branch
Louma Rustam, MD
Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine University of Texas Medical Branch
Daniel Stanton, MD
Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Internal Medicine University of Texas Medical Branch
Maurice Willis, MD, FACP
Professor and Division chief of Medical Oncology Department of Internal Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch
The 35th Annual Essentials in Internal Medicine Department of Internal Medicine Presentation Schedule
AGENDA APRIL 9-11, 2026
Thursday, April 9, 2026
UTMB CAMPUS – RESEARCH BLDG. 6 CONFERENCE ROOM 1.206
Noon Internal Medicine Grand Rounds Guest Speaker
MOODY MEDICAL LIBRARY – FACULTY LOUNG ON THE 3RD FLOOR
1:00 PM Alumni Mixer
2:00 PM Blocker Collection Tour
JOHN SEALY ANNEX ROOM 4.130
Dr. Salim Hayek
Ms. Kelly Caldwell
3:00 PM Divisional Showcases Division Directors
4:00 PM Tour of Jennie Sealy Hospital IM Chief Residents
LEVIN HALL DINING
5:30 PM Breakthrough Texas; A UTMB Health Showcase Dr. Jochen Reiser
Friday, April 10, 2026
MOODY GARDENS HOTEL FLORAL BALLROOM
8:00 AM Internal Medicine Morning Report
8:30 AM Evaluation of Lung Masses
9:00 AM Catheter Associated UTI’s
9:30 AM Break
10:00 AM Cancer Management
10:30 AM Topics in Primary Care
11:00 AM Break
11:30 AM Depart for UTMB Campus
UTMB CAMPUS LEVIN HALL DINING
Dr. Paul Park
Dr. Shawn Nishi
Dr. Daniel Stanton
Dr. Maurice Willis
Dr. Michael Nguyen
Noon LUNCH
12:30 PM History of the Department of Internal Medicine
2:00 PM Alumni Group Photo (Health Education Center)
2:30 PM Campus Tours (Health Education Center, Jennie Sealy Hospital, Old Red)
4:30 PM Return to Hotel
Dr. Bernard Karnath
6:30 PM Alumni Dinner Honoring Dr. Richard Helmer III (Gaido’s restaurant)
Saturday, April 11, 2026
MOODY GARDENS HOTEL FLORAL BALLROOM
8:00 AM Eosinophilic Esophagitis
8:30 AM Colon Cancer Screening
9:00 AM Geriatric Nephrology
9:30 AM BREAK
10:00 AM Deiss Lecture – Thrombocytopenia
10:30 AM Perioperative Medicine
11:00 AM Ethical Interactions with Pharma Industry (Ethics)
Noon Adjourn – Please Claim your CME Credit
Conference Registration information is available now. Please visit our Alumni Society webpage for more information. https://www.utmb.edu/internalmedicine/for-our-faculty/alumni-society
Dr. Gabriel Reep
Dr. Louma Rustam
Dr. Totini Chatterjee
Dr. Richard Helmer III
Dr. Sunil Sahai
Dr. Michael Jamieson
Dear Alumni,
A Return to Campus
This will be our 35th annual meeting. The alumni society originated in 1992 under the leadership of Dr. Marc Shabot and Dr. Don Powell. The first Department of Internal Medicine Reunion and Scientific Program was held on campus on October 16-17, 1992 in William C. Levin Hall. Dr. Jerry C. Daniels was the session moderator. Speakers for the conference included Don W. Powell, Jack B. Alperin, David L. Ware, Michael A. Ainsworth. The Deiss Lecture was given by Harold J. Fallon, visiting Professor and Chair from the Department of Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia. All lectures were given in the Main Auditorium of the William C. Levin Hall.
The annual meeting would move off campus in 1997 to the Tremont House and would become a 3-day conference. The conference was also moved to the Spring. Dr. Masood Ahmad would be the first speaker, giving a lecture on diastolic dysfunction on Thursday, May 1, 1997, at the Tremont House. The conference would move again in 1998 to the San Luis Resort, again as a 3-day conference. Finally, the conference would move to Moody Gardens in 1999 and has been there ever since.
With our 35th annual meeting, we would like to give alumni the opportunity to return to the UTMB campus for a 3-day conference. The UTMB campus has grown so much in recent years. We plan activities to include tours of the Health Education Center that opened in 2019 and is a state-of-the-art teaching facility, the Jennie Sealy Hospital that opened in 2016 and is a state-of-the-art patient care facility. We also invite alumni to attend internal medicine Grand Rounds on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Grand Rounds is a weekly conference where faculty, residents and fellows attend an update on medicine. We plan an alumni mixer in the Faculty Lounge of the Moody Medical Library immediately after grand rounds and tour of the Blocker Collection of the History of Medicine also in the Moody Medical Library. The conference will return to Moody Grands on Friday morning and Saturday morning for traditional CME lectures. On campus activities will take place on Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon to include additional tours and special presentation (Breakthrough Texas: A UTMB Health Showcase) on Thursday evening by Dr. Jochen Reiser, President of UTMB and CEO, UTMB Health System. Join us as we delve into the future of heart health with engaging insights and discussions that highlight the university’s growing impact of Texans and beyond.
Written by
Bernard Karnath, M.D.
Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine
Hornstein Professorship in Internal Medicine in Memory of Edna S. and William C. Levin, MD
Celebrating UTMB’s 125th Anniversary
Emeritus Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine
Distinguished Teaching Professor UT System
Photo of Alumni in 1992 on the steps of William C. Levin Hall. The Department of Internal Medicine Reunion and 1st Annual Scientific Program and Alumni Meeting on October 16-17, 1992
The History of the Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB
Dear Alumni,
I am writing to you with some good news. I recently completed my research into the history of our Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB. This endeavor was an 18-month long journey into the history of our department from its origins in 1891 to the present day. I take the approach of looking into the era of each chair of our department with key developments that happened along the way such as the establishment of a formal residency training program in 1936 and the opening of the 2nd John Sealy Hospital in 1952.
Time under each chair of medicine was unique. I will talk about the development of other clinical departments at UTMB during the leadership of Dr. Marvin Graves our 3rd chair of medicine. These new clinical department in the 1920’s would include Pediatrics, Ob-Gyn and Psychiatry. Time under Dr. Charles T. Stone, our 4th chair of medicine, would see development of the divisions of medicine including Cardiology and the establishment of chief residents for the Department of Internal Medicine in 1954.
Dr. Stone was a graduate of UTMB in 1915. He would rise to the position of Chair of Medicine in just 11 years post-graduation.
Dr. Stone was chair of the department from 1926 to 1958. Under his time, a formal residency program was created.
Dr. Stone would go on to receive the Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1966, in only its 2nd year of existence. Only 4 alumni per year are given this honor.
Chairs of the Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB 1891 – Current.
Hamilton A. West 1891-1897
James W. McLaughlin 1897-1905
Marvin Graves 1905-1926
Charles T. Stone 1926-1958
James V. Warren 1958-1961
Raymond L. Gregory 1961-1967
William P. Deiss 1968-1984
James C. Guckian 1984-1985
W. L. Johansen 1985-1990
Roger D. Soloway 1990-1991
Don W. Powell 1991-2002
William E. Mitch 2002-2004
Randall J. Urban 2004-2018
Rex M. McCallum 2018-2021
Peter Cram 2021-2024
Salim Hayek 2024-Current
The 2nd John Sealy Hospital would open in 1952 during Dr. Stone’s time as chair of our department.
Dr. Charles T. Stone, Chair of the Department of Medicine from 1926 – 1958
I will also talk about notable professors in each division including the long and illustrious career for Dr. George Herrmann in the Division of Cardiology and the establishment of the heart station and cardiac clinic. We will also talk about the leadership of Dr. Marschall S. Runge, who is the grandson of Dr. George Herrmann. Dr. Runge was instrumental in developing the art of teaching auscultation at UTMB with the purchase of Harvey, the cardiac auscultation trainer. Dr. Marschall S. Runge would become division director in 1993 and oversee the growth of the division of Cardiology, including the catheterization lab.
I will talk about Dr. August Remmers and Dr. Harry Sarles and the establishment of the artificial kidney service at UTMB. Dr. A. Ray Remmers was our first alumni honoree at the 2006 internal medicine alumni meeting. Dr. Remmers was also the first recipient of the James W. Powers Memorial award for excellence in clinical teaching.
I know that all of you have fond memories of your training here at UTMB. I will capture each moment and look forward to reminiscing with you about the good old days of our training. I know that faculty are best remembered by the people they trained, and I hope to hear your stories from the past. As I have pieced together our departmental history, I have had the opportunity to talk with alumni at our annual meeting including past chief residents.
Dr. Marschall S. Runge teaches a cardiac auscultation session with the Harvey simulator in 1995.
Dr. A. Ray Remmers and Dr. H. Gene Sarles
Portrait of Dr. A. Ray Remmers and Dr. H. Gene Sarles. Both Dr. A. Ray Remmers and Dr. H. Gene Sarles would serve as co-Chief Residents from 1958-1959 before joining the department as faculty members. They were pioneers in dialysis.
Dr. George R. Herrmann (at bedside), a renowned UTMB cardiologist, would make rounds in the original John Sealy Hospital. He is shown at the bedside here along with a photo of what the original John Sealy Hospital looked like in 1940.
I recently gave my presentation on the History of the Department of Internal Medicine at the 121st meeting of the UTMB Osler Club on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025, at Open Gates. In attendance was our current Residency program director, and fellow alumni member, Dr. Lindsay Sonstein, who encouraged me to present this topic again at our September 4th, 2025, Grand Rounds. The Grand Rounds presentation was a huge success. I received so many compliments and thank you messages after this presentation and I know that you too will be inspired by this presentation.
I honestly find it humbling to walk in the footsteps of so many faculty alumni who came before me. I feel like I know all of them after my research into their work. I hope that you can come to our 35th Annual Alumni Meeting on April 9-11, 2026, where I will present my 3rd iteration of “The History of the
Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB” to our illustrious alumni. We will have a special Luncheon on Campus in William C. Levin Hall, the site of our 1st Annual Alumni meeting where I will give my presentation on Friday, April 10th, 2026 from Noon to 2:00 PM. Shortly after my presentation, we will take an alumni photo on the steps of the new Health Education Center here at UTMB. Although we have had 3 chief resident reunions, we have not taken a full alumni group photo since 1992. We will have campus tours afterwards and then our Alumni dinner at Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant later in the evening.
Written by Bernard Karnath, M.D.
Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine
Hornstein Professorship in Internal Medicine in Memory of Edna S. and William C. Levin, MD
Celebrating UTMB’s 125th Anniversary
Emeritus Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine
Distinguished Teaching Professor UT System
Vice Chair of Alumni Relations
CME Course Director
The Syndrome 1966 Internal Medicine Residents and Fellows Sitting L to R: Don Blanton, Earl Stoufflet, James Johnson, Gerald Beathard, Fred Gregory (Chief Resident) Standing L to R: John Deaton, Jack Moncrief, Eric Reiner, James Guckian, Robert Bhiselli, Ron Deniell, Garney Dunkerly, Oscar Fonseca, Jack Mantell, Robert Faust, Jacqueline Hart, Gerado Lopez
Department of Internal Medicine Faculty and House Staff in 1978 with Dr. William P. Deiss (Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine 1968 – 1984)
Professor rounds and morning report with Dr. William P. Deiss in 1969
The University of Texas Medical Branch Funding Opportunity
The Chairman’s Council and the William P. Deiss Society
Dr. William P. Deiss was more than an able leader. He was an outstanding physician in his own right. He was the owner of an expert and generous scientific mind. And he was a dedicated servant to the profession, as evidenced by his presidency of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Dr. William P. Deiss was more than an able leader. He was an outstanding physician in his own right. He was the owner of an expert and generous scienti c mind. And he was a dedicated servant to the profession, as evidenced by his presidency of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
As UTMB’s largest department, the Department of Internal Medicine is a collection of 12 divisions providing patient care, conducting research and o ering training in the management of acute and chronic diseases. Home to 136 faculty and 162 residents and fellows, it represents a sizeable portion of the university’s patient care enterprise and is one of the pillars of medical education at UTMB.
To ful ll its promise, the Department of Internal Medicine relies on the involvement and support of our alumni, grateful patients and other friends. rough their generosity, they become partners in the future of medical care, education and research at UTMB— enabling us to prompt innovations in treatment, provide seed funding for promising but untested research projects and lay the groundwork for advances in medical training. To recognize the generosity of our benefactors, the department has established two groups that honor their contributions.
The Chairman’s Council
Contributions to The Chairman’s Fund or The William P. Deiss Society should be addressed to:
Individuals who make unrestricted gi s of $1,000 or more to the department in any given year become members of e Chairman’s Council. Used at the chairman’s discretion, these resources support the department’s greatest needs. Such funds might allow a resident to travel to a professional meeting to present a paper, they might underwrite student educational activities or they might purchase a piece of equipment crucial for a young investigator’s work, resulting in the preliminary ndings essential to attracting future outside funding.
Members of e Chairman’s Council are recognized at the department’s annual Alumni Society Dinner, held in conjunction with the Department of Internal Medicine Alumni Society meeting.
The Deiss Society
Named for the respected physician-educator who guided the Department of Internal Medicine from 1968 to 1984, e William P.Deiss Society is an organization of alumni and other friends who contribute $10,000 or more to the department or to any of its divisions or programs. Whether these donors contribute a lump
sum of $10,000 or more or their cumulative gi s reach the $10,000 mark, they become lifetime members of this select group.
In addition to recognizing members at the department’s annual Alumni Society Dinner, the department, with their permission, permanently records their names on a plaque displayed at the entrance to the chairman’s suite.
e Deiss Society is a chance for us to re ect on the legacy of one of UTMB’s nest—to connect Dr. Deiss’s name with the e ort to enlist broad-based philanthropic support for the department’s future.
A Message
On behalf of the department, we thank our alumni for carrying forward our specialty’s tradition of excellent patient care, scienti c exploration and mentoring of future generations of internists. We would also like to express our appreciation to all the department’s friends for their generosity and for their encouragement. We would be happy to answer questions about our programs and to welcome interested visitors to campus.
Salim Hayek, MD
Vice President and Chief Transformation O cer Chair ad interim, Department of Internal Medicine sahayek@utmb.edu
Deiss Society Members
Abdominal Specialists of South Texas
Mr. Philip and Dr. Bincy P. Abraham
Dr. and Mrs. Jack B. Alperin
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Attas III
Dr. Anjrejs and Gail Avots-Avotins
Mr. and Mrs. Lin T. Barker
Drs. M. Ruth and Virgil Baxter
Dr. and Mrs. Gerald A. Beathard
Dr. and Mrs. William R. Berry
Dr. and Mrs. Michael C. Boyars
Drs. Michael and Patricia Brannan
Dr. Bruce and Vicki Bauknight
Dr. Carlos O. Canales
Mr. and Mrs. Armin Cantini
Dr. and Mrs. James Cao
Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Chester
Dr. and Mrs. Delbert L. Chumley
Dr. and Mrs. Philip L. Cimo
Dr. and Mrs. Ernest W. Cochran
Drs. Charles and Rosemary Conlon
Dr. and Mrs. David L. Cottom
Dr. and Mrs. James R. Cotton, Jr.
Mr. Jack T. Currie
Dr. Jerry C. Daniels
Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Day
Dr. and Mrs. William J. DeGroot
Dr. and Mrs. Craig L. Dearden
Dr. Mahmoud Dweik
Mr. and Mrs. Tilman Fertitta
Dr. and Mrs. Emilio Gonzales
Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Goodgame
Dr. and Mrs. Sanjeev Goswami
UTMB Internal Medicine Alumni Society Membership Application/Renewal
2026-2027: ❑ New Member ❑ Renewal Member
Please take advantage of the new lifetime membership option
Name
Address
Home Phone Office Phone
❑ I am enclosing $10,000 to join The Deiss Society or the first of five payments of $2,000/each
❑ I am enclosing $1,000 to join the 2026-2027 Chairman’s Council
❑ I am enclosing my annual dues ($50.00) payable to UTMB Internal Medicine Alumni Society
❑ I am enclosing $500 for my Lifetime Membership to the UTMB Internal Medicine Alumni Society
❑ I am enclosing my voluntary contribution to the James C. Guckian Resident Education Fund
❑ I am enclosing my voluntary contribution to the Don W. Powell Excellence in Residency Award
❑ I am enclosing my voluntary contribution to the William P. Deiss, Jr Lectureship in Medicine
❑ I am enclosing my voluntary contribution to the Alumni Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award
❑ I am enclosing my voluntary contribution to the Department of Internal Medicine Mentorship Program Fund
TOTAL ENCLOSED: $
$50.00
To make a voluntary donation online, please visit the website: www.utmb.edu/internalmedicine/home/for-our-faculty/alumni-society/ways-to-give
❑ Yes, I am interested in considering a larger gift and would like to speak with the Director of Development
Please make checks payable to: Internal Medicine Alumni Society (IMAS)
Mail to: Internal Medicine Alumni Society c/o Bernard Karnath, MD
The University of Texas Medical Branch
301 University boulevard Galveston, TX 77555-0566
Questions?
Phone: (409) 266-1665
Fax: (409) 772-8762
E-mail: imedalum@utmb.edu
Moody Gardens Hotel & Convention Center Galveston, Texas
We will be honoring Dr. Richard Helmer III at the Alumni Society Dinner on April 10th at Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant
Course Directors:
Bernard M. Karnath, MD, FACP
Lindsay K. Sonstein, MD, FACP
Michael T. Nguyen, MD, FACP
J. Marc Shabot, MD, MACP, FACG
Please visit our website for more information by scanning the QR code below. Click on annual meeting for conference registration details. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and MOC credit. Book Hotel Reservations Early: Call 409-741-8484 to secure a room in our block at a special conference rate. Please reference the Internal Medicine Annual Conference.