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- Collaborative research brings bench findings to patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome
In the midst of a pandemic, when the world was focused on survival and infection prevention, a cross-section of collaborative clinical and basic science McGovern investigators embarked upon a multisite clinical trial to help the sickest COVID-19 patients — those... - Citardi recognized with ARS Golden Head Mirror Award
Martin J. Citardi, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery, and vice dean for clinical technology at McGovern Medical School has been honored with the American Rhinologic Society’s prestigious Gold Head Mirror Award.... - Reach Out and Read
Photos courtesy of UTHealth Houston A child’s book can launch a lifetime of learning. Thanks to a generous $100,000 gift CenterPoint Energy is helping expand the Children’s Learning Institutes’ Reach Out and Read Program to bring early literacy resources to... - What’d You Find?
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications First-year students from the McGovern Medical School Class of 2029 participate in the annual scavenger hunt as part of the orientation festivities during their first week on campus. - Specialized brain aneurysm surgery has patient flying aerobatics
Mijali Munoz Proestakis, 56, is a self-admitted bit of a daredevil who loves aerobatic flying, jet surfing, mountain biking, and free diving, among other adventure sports. But he wasn’t taking any chances after he suffered a stroke out of the... - Hwang earns Jess Hay Fellowship
The University of Texas System has named Sseu-Pei Hwang, PhD candidate and graduate research assistant in the lab of Catherine Denicourt, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, as a recipient of the Jess Hay Chancellor’s... - Space medicine team reaches for the stars to cure diseases
At first glance, the words “space medicine” may bring to mind images of astronauts floating in zero gravity and managing emergencies aboard distant spacecraft. But for Bentley Bobrow, MD, UTHealth Houston’s inaugural vice president for health care innovation, and Kris... - Nixon Lectureship
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications The Department of Family and Community Medicine welcomes Richelle J. Koopman, MD, professor and chair in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Missouri to present the 2025 Sam &... - Getting Online
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications The McGovern Medical School Class of 2029 receives their laptops as part of the computer check in process before classes begin. - Happy Retirement, Dr. Marshak!
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications The Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy celebrates the retirement of David Marshak, MD, after more than 40 years of service at McGovern Medical School. Marshak joined the Medical School as an assistant professor in... - Lahoti named vice dean, Admissions and Student Affairs
Dean of Education LaTanya Love, MD, announced the appointment of Sheela Lahoti, MD, as vice dean for Admissions and Student Affairs at McGovern Medical School, effective Aug. 1, 2025, after successfully serving in the interim capacity. “I am confident Dr.... - Meet the Newest Faces of the Class of 2029
The 2025-26 school year is underway at McGovern Medical School and the Class of 2029 officially began their medical school journeys on Aug. 4. The McGovern Medical School Class of 2029 is made up of 240 students from 14 states,... - Vasquez to lead NIH study section
Valeria Vasquez, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, recently was appointed chair of the Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes Study Section, Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics Integrated Review Group, Center for Scientific Review. Vasquez was appointed on behalf... - Dahr research explores role of medications in DME risk
A recent study led by Sam Dahr, MD, professor and Mary Farish Johnston Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology, and Texas A&M medical student Jawad Muayad, examined how commonly prescribed systemic medications may influence the risk of developing diabetic macular edema (DME).... - State of the School
Keep an eye out in your email inbox for a special message from executive dean John Hancock. Alongside leadership from McGovern Medical School and UTHealth Houston, Dean Hancock will deliver a State of the School video message focusing on the... - Ortho Research
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications The Department of Orthopedic Research hosts its annual Research Day, June 20 at the Fayez S. and Susan K. Sarofim Research Building. Keynote speaker for the event is Robert V. O’Toole, MD, professor of... - Learning to Listen
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications First-year McGovern Medical School students in the Class of 2029 enjoy the first lecture of their medical school journey with the Art of Listening on the first day of classes, Aug. 4. - Run in style at the UTHealth Houston Half Marathon & 10K
Lace up, sign up, and gear up — registration is now open for the 2025 UTHealth Houston Half Marathon & 10K, set for Oct. 26 in downtown Houston. This year, joining Team UTHealth Houston doesn’t mean just crossing the finish... - Kaul named chief of Otology
The Department of Otorhinolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery has appointed Vivian Kaul, MD, assistant professor and fellowship-trained neurologist, as chief of the Division of Otology. In her role as division chief, Kaul will lead the development and growth of... - In memoriam: James Arens, MD
James Arens, MD, former chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, died July 27, 2025, in Brenham, Texas. He was 91. He graduated from medical school at Creighton University and completed a rotating internship at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii.... - Educational Awards
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications Congratulations to the winners of the University Classified Staff Council Educational Awards. The UCSC celebrated its award winners at a ceremony, June 26. - A New Family
Photo by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications Trainees from the Department of Family and Community Medicine pose for a fun photo during their headshot day at McGovern Medical School. - New Frontiers
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications The Department of Otorhinolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery hosts the annual ORL Frontiers conference. - Welcome, Class of 2029
Photo by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications Students from the McGovern Medical School Class of 2029 pose for a group photo as part of orientation week. - Pediatrics’ Division of Cardiology leader named
The Children’s Heart Institute at Children’s Memorial Hermann and McGovern Medical School Department of Pediatrics have named Holly Bauser-Heaton, MD, PhD, the new chief, Pediatric Cardiology and executive co-director of CHI. “Dr. Bauser-Heaton is a remarkably gifted physician and a... - First Person: AI MedTrailblazers Education Platform
First Person is an occasional series, providing firsthand accounts of outreach programs involving the McGovern Medical School community. This issue features McGovern Medical School students and AI MedTrailblazers Co-Founders, Pranav Mehta, Emily Zhou, and Matthew Ramsey. Revolutionizing Medical Training: How... - Ophthalmology to host Low Vision Education Day
The Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science will host Low Vision Education Day, Friday, Sept. 12 in the UTHealth Houston Dan Arnold Center for Vision Rehabilitation in the TMC Innovation Center (2450 Holcombe Blvd.). The half-day event creates a... - Long-term stroke survivors avoid second occurrence
Sergeant Danny L. Beckworth of the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office had completed a two-day, 148-mile cycling event and a half marathon before deciding to learn jujitsu at age 55. Former attorney Frank Bennett “Ben” Harvie Jr. set an age... - Shift Complete
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications Trainees for the Department of Anesthesiology and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery celebrate graduation from their respective programs. - Withers Lecture
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications The Department of Family and Community medicine hosts Gerardo Moreno, MD, MSHS, to present the 2025 Henry W. Withers Lectureship in Family Medicine, July 2. - Honoring Caregivers
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications Department of Neurology faculty receive pins from the Honor Your Caregiver program. The Honor Your Caregiver program provides an avenue for patients to acknowledge a wonderful caregiver — a nurse, physician, dentist, or multitude... - Koopman to present Nixon Lecture Aug. 6
The Department of Family and Community Medicine hosts the Sam & Elizabeth Nixon Lectureship in Family Medicine, Aug. 6 in MSB 2.135 and via Zoom. Keynote speaker for the 2025 Nixon Lecture is Richelle J. Koopman, MD, professor and chair... - UTHealth Houston brings relief to mother living with rare neurological disorder
For nearly four years, 29-year-old Kiara Bess battled strange, uncontrollable movements that slowly began to take over her body. The aspiring nurse and mother of two was able to manage her symptoms for a time, but in 2023, they became... - Neerukonda elected to NBME Advisory Committee
The American Medical Association Board of Trustees has selected third-year McGovern Medical School student Sanjay Neerukonda, as the medical student representative of the National Board of Medical Examiners Advisory Committee. “Serving as the medical student member on the NBME Advisory... - Class of 2029 ready for Henry Strobel Retreat
McGovern Medical School officially welcomes the Class of 2029 with the 49th Annual Henry Strobel Retreat on Friday, Aug. 1 at Camp Cho-Yeh in Livingston, Texas. The Henry Strobel Retreat is a chance for incoming McGovern Medical School students to... - In memoriam: Roger James Bulger, MD
Roger James Bulger, MD, former president of UTHealth Houston, died June 13 at the age of 91. A nationally respected physician and health policy leader, Bulger served as second president of the institution from 1978 to 1988, guiding the university... - Dean’s Research Awards
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications Congratulations to the 2025 winners of the McGovern Medical School Dean’s Research Awards presented by the Graduate Student Education Committee. 2025 winners are: Nicolas Moreno – Molecular and Translational Biology Meredith McCarty – Neuroscience... - Behind The Numbers: Class of 2029
Graphics by Omar Aguado/Office of Communication As the upcoming school year draws closer, take a look at some of the demographics that make up the entering Class of 2029. - Cheers to 100 Years
Photos by Will Guinn, Memorial Hermann Hospital This July, UTHealth Houston joined Memorial Hermann-TMC, one of our primary teaching hospitals, in celebrating 100 years of excellence in patient care since they opened their doors to treat the first patients in... - Patients honor caregivers with gifts
The relationship between a patient and their physician is built on trust, compassion, and vulnerability. It’s a bond formed during life’s most uncertain moments, when the healing presence of a caregiver becomes a source of hope and reassurance. To thank... - Call for nominations: Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Award
The UTHealth Houston Neuroscience Research Center is accepting applications for potential submission for the Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Awards in the Neurosciences. The Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars program will support individual scientists of exceptional creativity who have an MD or PhD... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Laura Moore, MD, FACS
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Laura Moore, MD, FACS, professor in... - Initial CENTURY Trial results published in European Heart Journal
A culmination of 15 years of research led by K. Lance Gould, MD, professor of cardiology, The Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished University Chair, and executive director of the UTHealth Houston Weatherhead PET Imaging Center, has resulted in the publication of the... - UT System Regents name Melina R. Kibbe, MD, sole finalist for UTHealth Houston presidency
The University of Texas System Board of Regents has named Melina R. Kibbe, MD, as the sole finalist for the presidency UTHealth Houston. Kibbe currently serves as chief health affairs officer at UVA Health and dean of the University of... - Mask Fitting
Photo by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications Incoming residents in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, get fitted for their new N-95 particulate respirators and surgical masks. - Health Educators Graduation
Photos by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications Congratulations to the 2025 graduating cohort of the Health Educators Fellowship Program. The HEFP is designed to expand the teaching skills of participating faculty and enhance the educational mission of UTHealth Houston. - How to Operate
Photo by Dwight Andrews/Office of Communications From AI ROI to strategy execution, Chief Operating Officers and Chief Strategy Officers from across the UT System met at McGovern Medical School, June 26. The groups set to tackle cost, capacity, and innovation,... - Employee support resources available for recent Central Texas flooding
The emotional stress from the devastation and heartbreak of the flooding in Central Texas is far-reaching, with many deeply affected here in Houston. In such distressing times, knowing where to get support can be crucial. UTHealth Houston provides resources to... - Trio aides Spain after massive floods
Cesar Soutullo, MD, PhD, John S. Dunn Professor and Vice Chair and Chief of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry; Leslie Taylor, PhD, associate professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; and Sarly Butte, LPC, director... - Gentry earns infectious disease fellowship
The Infectious Diseases Society of America recognized Clare Gentry, MD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, with a Fellowship in IDSA. Fellowship in IDSA is one of the highest honors in infectious diseases. It recognizes individuals whose careers... - Study: Stroke risk tied to pregnancy complications
Women who experienced any of five common pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, faced a higher risk of stroke even decades after giving birth, according to a new study by researchers at UTHealth Houston. The findings, led by Casey... - PECP graduates ninth cohort
The Physician Educator Certificate Program celebrated the graduation of its ninth cohort in May. This milestone included 75 residents and fellows from over 41 programs. The Physicians Educator Certificate Program is a collaborative effort between McGovern Medical School and Houston... - Furr-Stimming named assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs
After an internal search, the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs has named Erin Furr-Stimming, MD, professor in the Department of Neurology and Memorial Hermann Endowed Chair, as assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, effective June 1, 2025. Furr-Stimming... - An lab discovers novel nasal treatment for influenza
New data from researchers at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine exploring novel therapeutic approaches to treating Influenza A viruses has been published in Nature Communications. The paper, titled “An intranasally administered IgM protects against antigenically distinct subtypes of influenza... - Woolverton to present Carmel Dyer, MD Lecture Series
The UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging welcomes Cindy Woolverton, PhD, assistant professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences, to present the next installment if the Carmel Dyer, MD Lecture Series, July 21. Woolverton will... - New autism support, internship program creates meaningful impact
To support young adults with autism transitioning into adulthood and the workforce, particularly those within Latino communities, UTHealth Houston recently implemented the bilingual Launching! to Adulthood program. The first 12 weeks of the program involve both in-person and virtual therapy... - Chandra claims top honors at AANS meeting
Ankush Chandra, MD, fifth-year resident in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, earned top honors at the 2025 American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting, one of the largest neurosurgical gatherings in the world with over 5,000 attendees.... - Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award: Faith Atai, MD
Faith Atai, MD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, is the 2025 recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award annually honors faculty... - Lee’s lab discovers nanocarrier to fight GBM
A recent study from researchers at McGovern Medical School discovered a novel engineered exosome model to help deliver therapeutic treatments to glioblastoma tumors, which could potentially enhance treatments for a notoriously fatal cancer. Findings from the study, led by Tae... - Moreno to present Withers Lecture July 2
Gerardo Moreno, MD, MSHS, professor and chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, will present the Department of Family and Community Medicine’s 2025 Henry W. Withers Lectureship in Family Medicine, July... - Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Master Clinical Teaching Award: Karthik Bhandari, MD
Karthik Bhandari, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, is the winner of the 2025 Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Master Clinical Teaching Award. Established in 2001 and made possible by a gift from the DuPonts, the... - Some storms leave emotional damage: How to cope after a traumatic weather disaster
Hurricane Beryl left a historical path of destruction in its wake, killing 64 people, leaving nearly 3 million without power, and causing billions of dollars in infrastructure damage. The visible aftermath of a hurricane or a traumatic weather event is... - Terrell named Outstanding Student in Gross Anatomy
The Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy has named Zachary Terrell, MS4, as the winner of the Outstanding Student in Gross Anatomy 2025 Award. Terrell was honored for his excellence performance in the Gross Anatomy course as well as his generous... - Study uncovers RNA changes in Alzheimer’s disease
Researchers at McGovern Medical School have gained insights about what happens inside brain cells during Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a devastating neurodegenerative disorder. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Communications on June 6, could help scientists better understand and eventually... - Hestla wins John P. McGovern Award
Gregory Hestla, MD, assistant professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is the 2025 recipient of the John P. McGovern Award as the exceptional clinical teacher. The John P. McGovern Award is given annually... - Link between heart attack severity and circadian rhythm unveiled
The molecular mechanism behind why heart attacks can vary in severity depending on the time of day has been uncovered by researchers at UTHealth Houston, potentially paving the way for innovative treatments that align with the natural circadian rhythm. The... - Torres named NBA Outstanding Student
The Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy has named Jose Torres, MS4, as the winner of the Outstanding Student in Neuroscience 2025 Award. Torres is the top scholar in the neuroscience course and said he is thrilled to have matched in... - University researchers receive more than $5 million from CPRIT
Three UTHealth Houston researchers, including two from McGovern Medical School, received more than $5 million in funding from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), furthering the state’s mission to prevent and treat cancer through innovative science and... - Benjy F. Brooks, MD, Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award: Marina Petsalis, MD
Marina Petsalis, MD, chief resident in the Department of Surgery, is the 2025 winner of the Benjy F. Brooks, MD, Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award. Established in 1991 by the Alumni Association, the Benjy Brooks Award is presented by the McGovern... - Flores named Mid-Career Clinician Educator of the Year
The American Geriatrics Society has honored Renee Flores, MD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, with its 2025 Outstanding Mid-Career Clinician Educator of the Year Award. “The American Geriatrics society is honored to recognize Renee Flores, MD, EdD,... - ORL Frontiers set June 20
The Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery will host its annual ORL Frontiers conference June 20 at the TMC3 Collaborative Building (7255 Helix Park Ave.). The full-day continuing medical education meeting highlights cutting-edge research and emerging technology in... - In memoriam: Baxter Montgomery, MD
Baxter Montgomery, MD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, died May 24, 2025. Montgomery was a world-renowned cardiologist, an active teacher at UTHealth Houston, where he held an adjunct appointment for over two decades and an attending... - John Freeman Faculty Teaching Award – Han Zhang, MD
Han Zhang, MD, professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy is the 2025 recipient of the John H. Freeman Award for Faculty Teaching. Chosen by the senior class, this is the eighth time Zhang has received the award, which... - McGovern shines at Health Science Education conference
McGovern Medical School was well-represented at the 2025 Innovations in Health Science Education 21st Annual Conference for The University of Texas System Kenneth I. Shine, MD, Academy of Health Science Education, with 40 attendees and a multitude of grant and... - Novel nanoscintillator concept leads to improved outcomes in pancreatic cancer
Research from the lab of Sunil Krishnan, MD, professor and John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Chair in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, seeking to push the limits of light-activated therapies used to kill cancer cells has... - Student author pens book for pediatric dermatology patients
Inspired by her sister’s journey with skin conditions, a rising fourth-year student at McGovern Medical School has combined her passion for dermatology and storytelling to create a children’s book designed to help young patients embrace and celebrate their skin. “My... - Pediatrics to host resident, fellow research symposia
The Department of Pediatrics will host the 3rd Annual Pediatric Research Symposium and the 14th Annual Pediatric Fellow Research Symposium May 21 and May 22, respectively. The 3rd Annual Pediatric Resident Research Symposium is a free event held from 12:30-4:30... - Common genetic variants linked to drug-resistant epilepsy
Certain common genetic changes might make some people with focal epilepsy less responsive to seizure medications, according to a new global study led by researchers from UCL in London and UTHealth Houston. Focal epilepsy is a condition where seizures start... - 2025 Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards
Congratulations to the 2025 winners of the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards. May is designated as teaching excellence month for McGovern Medical School. New to the awards in 2025 is a shifted focus toward junior faculty. Senior faculty who have been... - Human placenta stress response to maternal COVID-19 infection reinforces maternal-fetal barrier
A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology by researchers at UTHealth Houston, Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions reveals that maternal COVID-19 infection triggers distinct stress responses in the placenta, including upregulation of preeclampsia-associated genes. The stress... - Seeing 20/20 becomes possible again for patient
More than a decade after undergoing radial keratotomy surgery in 1990 to correct her myopia, or nearsightedness, Shubhra Ghosh noticed she was beginning to strain her eyes to see. Radial keratotomy, a precursor to Lasik surgery, involved making multiple cuts... - Applications open for 2025 Pruessner Scholarship
The Harris County Academy of Family Physicians is accepting applications for the Harold T. Pruessner, MD, Medical Student Scholarship. The deadline to apply is May 33. Applicants must be third-year medical students in good standing and have completed their family... - Research identifies novel gene regulator of microglial inflammation
Recent research by Gab Seok Kim, PhD, and Sean P. Marrelli, PhD, on interferon proteins and how they spread neuroinflammation in the brain has been published in Nature Communications. Kim is an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and... - From hardship to healing: Daniel Martinez’s journey
For Daniel Martinez, the road to medicine didn’t begin in a classroom. It started in the low-income neighborhoods of Los Angeles and Lewisville, Texas, in the emergency rooms where his mother worked nights cleaning up after patients, and in physicians’... - Research employs AI to diagnose unsolved genetic syndromes
Using a deep learning tool, new research from the Division of Medical Genetics illuminates the importance of in-depth genetic testing, especially for hard-to-diagnose patients. “Non-canonical splice variants in thoracic aortic dissection cases and Marfan syndrome with negative genetic testing” recently... - Carlin increases McGovern Center’s visibility with national award
Nathan Carlin, PhD, director of the John P. McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics, has been unanimously selected as the winner of the 2025 Health Humanities Visionary Award. He was presented the award from the Health Humanities Consortium at its... - Fallon to present Ertan Lectureship
The Department of Internal Medicine welcomes Michael Fallon, MD, chair in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, for the 10th Annual Ertan Lectureship. Fallon will present on “Complications of Portal Hypertension 2025” beginning... - Hypoxia surviving proteins could be possible lung disease therapy
Scientists at UTHealth Houston are investigating how the body naturally adapts to hypoxia – an insufficient oxygen supply to the body or specific organs – to develop new treatments for life-threatening heart and lung diseases. With a seven-year, $6.58 million... - Celebrate science with a STEM-tastic Adventure
Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the National Science Foundation with a hands-on, high-energy STEM experience, May 10 at the Children’s Museum Houston (1500 Binz St.). The event is a collaboration between the Children’s Learning Institute at UTHealth Houston, The Health... - Faculty participate in Resilience Through Creativity exercise
A new wellness initiative from the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development offers UTHealth Houston faculty the opportunity to explore creative writing in an effort to reduce faculty burnout. “The Office of Faculty Affairs is focused on well-being in order... - ACGME accredits Allergy and Immunology Fellowship
The Department of Internal Medicine has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for its Allergy and Immunology Fellowship – only the second such fellowship program in Houston. The fellowship received ACGME accreditation last month for... - In Memoriam: Paul H. Dahm, MD, MS
Paul H. Dahm, MD, MS, died April 14, after a battle with cancer. He was 49. Working as an associate professor of pediatric critical care medicine at McGovern Medical School, Dahm also served as the medical director of the Pediatric... - Research reveals ‘big picture’ of perioperative organ injury
After nearly four years researching the surgical outcomes of more than 28 million patients, McGovern Medical School investigators are illuminating the global impact of perioperative organ injury. Findings from “Impact of Peri-operative Organ Injury on Morbidity and Mortality in 28... - Research on gut microbiota published in Nature Communications
An imbalance in ligands, which are molecules produced by the body and the gut microbiota, can affect a key receptor protein that plays a role in brain inflammation after stroke, according to researchers at UTHealth Houston, who recently published their... - New perioperative institute launches to make surgery safer
UTHealth Houston announced the establishment of the Institute of Perioperative Medicine, which will span different schools, including McGovern Medical School and McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston. The institute is a research initiative dedicated to improving surgical outcomes... - Neurology project takes AHA/ASA Stroke Data Challenge prize
A paper from the team of Amanda Jagolino-Cole, MD, associate professor; Sushanth Aroor, MD, assistant professor; Anjail Sharrief, MD, MPH, professor; and Sunil Sheth, MD, associate professor in the Department of Neurology, won the 3rd Place Prize in the American... - Psychiatry hosts Eating Disorders Update May 3
The Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, will host the UTHealth Houston Center for Eating Disorders Update Conference: Bridging the Gap, May 3 at TMC3 Helix Park (1885 Old Spanish Trail). The conference will showcase presentations... - Institute of Perioperative Medicine to host inaugural retreat
The Institute of Perioperative Medicine will host its inaugural retreat from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., April 18 at the TMC3 Collaborative Building (7255 Helix Park Ave.). The inaugural retreat is hosted by Institute of Perioperative Medicine co-directors Cynthia Ju,... - Psychiatry offers two new fellowships
Helping to prepare the clinical workforce for specialized psychiatric expertise, the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences welcomes two new fellowships. The UTHealth Houston Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship and Interventional Psychiatry Fellowship are currently accepting applications. The... - Brain channels ‘stopped in time’ reveal chemical flow that enables learning, thinking
In an effort to understand how brain cells exchange chemical messages, scientists say they have successfully used a highly specialized microscope to capture more precise details of how one of the most common signaling molecules, glutamate, opens a channel and... - In Memoriam: Diana A. Racusin, MD
Diana A. Racusin, MD, holder of the Berel Held, MD, Professorship in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, died Saturday, March 29, 2025, following a yearslong battle with cancer. She was 41. Joining the McGovern Medical School faculty... - Population Health Symposium set for April 10
The Office of Population Health invites UTHealth Houston faculty, staff, and residents to join the inaugural Population Health Symposium from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., April 10 at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine. Registration for the event is... - Stem cell trial for early Alzheimer’s disease begins at UTHealth Houston
A stem cell therapy trial aimed at reducing neuroinflammation in patients with presymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease is underway at UTHealth Houston. In Alzheimer’s disease, deposits of beta-amyloid and tau lead to the buildup of plaques and tangles in the brain, which... - Gage to present Smythe Lecture April 8
McGovern Medical School welcomes Fred “Rusty” Gage, PhD, Vi and John Adler Chair for Research on Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Cheves Smythe Distinguished Lecture, on April 8.... - QI project increases syphilis screenings, JAMA
A recent viewpoint article stressing the importance of point-of-care syphilis testing to combat the troubling rates of congenital syphilis among pregnant patients in Texas has been published in JAMA. Research was led by Irene Stafford, MD, associate professor in the... - New clinical trial tests gene therapy vector for overactive bladder in SCI patients
A modified herpes virus that targets spinal cord nerve cells to treat neurogenic bladder in people with spinal cord injury is underway in a first-in-human clinical trial by UTHealth Houston at TIRR Memorial Hermann. Neurogenic bladder, also called neurogenic lower... - Women Faculty Forum – Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Susanna Spence, MD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Susanna Spence, MD, professor in the... - Research Committee presents Spatial Omics workshop
The Medical School Research Committee will host Spatial Omics: The New Era for Precision Medicine, a collaborative workshop to be held from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., April 2 in MSB 2.135. Understanding the spatial context of the changes and... - Chandra earns resident paper award
The Southern Neurosurgical Society awarded Ankush Chandra, MD, PGY-5, in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, with the Augustus McCravey Resident Paper Award. The August McCravey Resident Paper Award is given in honor of Augustus McCravey, MD, and was... - Cagle, Anderson named 2024 Distinguished Alumni
McGovern Medical School has named Leslie Cagle, MD ’83; and Larry Anderson, MD, PhD ’00, as its 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients. The Distinguished Alumnus Award honors alumni of McGovern Medical School who have made significant contributions in the areas... - Trio of alums receive Early Career Achievement Awards
The Early Career Achievement Award honors alumni of McGovern Medical School who have exhibited excellence and significant career contributions in the areas of medical science and education from the completion of their residency or fellowship through their first eight years... - Research reveals new approach to measure ophthalmic artery blood flow
McGovern Medical School research detailing a novel non-invasive measurement of blood flow in the ophthalmic artery recently was published in Cell Reports Method. Led by Iraida Sharina, PhD, associate professor of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, the paper, “Non-invasive Real-time Pulsed Doppler... - McGovern Medical School Class of 2025 students are ready for Match Day
From personal tragedy to volunteer work to a classmate’s enlightening speech, they were inspired by different events onto a common pathway that will lead to a career in medicine. On Friday, March 21, these students are among more than 200... - Scientific Retreat scheduled for April 22
The McGovern Medical School Department of Pediatrics and the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry Center for Craniofacial Research will host the 2025 Scientific Retreat, April 22 at the Cooley Center. The 2025 Scientific Retreat allows trainees of all disciplines to... - Hot Topics in Aging set for March 25
The UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging hosts the 9th Annual Hot Topics in Aging Conference, March 25, in the Gallery at the Deluxe Theater (3303 Lyons Avenue, Houston, Texas, 77020). The UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging, in collaboration with the... - Celebrate Match Day with Class of 2025 fundraiser
As the Class of 2025 prepares to take the next step in their medical careers on Match Day, March 21, the McGovern Medical School community has an exciting opportunity to give back in celebration of this special day. The White... - McGovern welcomes Dervay as commencement speaker
The Graduating Class of 2025 will receive their medical degrees at the McGovern Medical School Commencement Ceremony, beginning at 9 a.m., May 13 at NRG Arena (1 NRG Pkwy.). The event also will be live streamed for friends and family... - Research reveals role of skin in antimicrobial-resistant infection spread
Understanding how skin harbors and spreads antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in nursing home settings is the latest research published in Nature from the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics faculty. Diana Proctor, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, is... - Biliciler adds lifestyle medicine to treatment of neuromuscular diseases
Suur Biliciler, MD, recalled a clinic visit with a patient and family to explain the importance of adding protein to meals to help treat their loved one’s neuromuscular disease. The family said they could not do it since they tried... - Research on how our brains remember, store new words published in Nature Communications
Recent research on how the brain encodes and stores different words, led by Oscar Woolnough, PhD, assistant professor in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, has been published in Nature Communications. The paper, “Memorability of novel words correlates with... - Bovay Lecture features Barzilai March 21
Nir Barzilai, MD, director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, will present the 2025 Harry E. Bovay, Jr. Annual Lecture, at 11 a.m. March 21 in the Beth Robertson Auditorium at the Institute... - McGovern improves national ranking in NIH funding
McGovern Medical School has increased its National of Institutes of Health funding, reaching the top 35 percent of U.S. medical schools. With a total of $122,058,619 in NIH funding in 2024, McGovern is listed as 51st among all U.S. medical... - Findley inducted into Shine Academy
The University of Texas System recognized J. Chase Findley, MD, associate professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and assistant dean for Educational Programs, for his teaching excellence and commitment to enhancing health science... - LaPar serves as AHA Torchbearer
The American Heart Association honored Damien LaPar, MD, MSc, associate professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, as a “Torchbearer” at the annual Heart Ball, February 15. The role of torchbearer at the heart ball recognizes LaPar’s role in... - Nobel Laureate Bertozzi to present Knobil Lecture
The McGovern Medical School Office of Research Affairs welcomes Carolyn Bertozzi, PhD, 2022 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, as the 2025 speaker for the annual Ernst Knobil Distinguished Lecture, March 4. Bertozzi will present on “Therapeutic opportunities in glyoscience,” at 10:50... - Kolonin publishes research on role of telomerase in metabolic health
The laboratory of Mikhail Kolonin, PhD, published a new report, “Caloric Restriction and Telomere Preservation in TERT Knockout Adipocyte Progenitors Does Not Rescue from Metabolic Dysfunction due to a TERT Function in Adipocyte Mitochondria” in Aging Cell, which studied the effect... - Hancock announces Biochemistry leadership change
Executive Dean John Hancock announced that following 28 years as chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rod Kellems, PhD, will step down from this position at the end of this month. He will remain on the Department... - Turning Pro: Bungo named Distinguished Faculty in Professionalism Education
“Education toward professionalism is more than being skilled and knowledgeable. It requires a lifelong transformational change in how we think, act, and feel as doctors. Our professional formation (Turning Pro) is shaped by the community in which we are surrounded.”... - Narula discusses what 4,000-year-old mummies tell us about heart disease
An unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and smoking – considered to be a relatively recent societal curse – are all risk factors to heart disease. But if that is the case, did heart disease exist thousands of years ago? Renowned... - Denicourt publishes research on how cells make proteins
Recent research from the lab of Catherine Denicourt, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, uncovers the vital role of the enzyme TRMT1L in the process of protein production. The Denicourt lab research focuses on understanding... - Medical School research retreat scheduled for March 4
Registration is open for the annual McGovern Medical School Research Retreat, sponsored by the Research Committee, where faculty, graduate students, and fellows can learn more about research conducted on campus and interact with their peers. The event will be held... - Love named interim president of UTHealth Houston
LaTanya Love, MD, an esteemed leader known for fostering academic success and enhancing the overall student and employee experience, has been named interim president of UTHealth Houston, effective March 1. The University of Texas System announced Love’s interim role on... - Bonow to present Willerson Lecture
The Department of Internal Medicine presents the James T. Willerson Annual Endowed Lecture at noon, Feb. 27 in MSB 3.001 and virtually via Zoom. The 2025 edition of the lecture features Robert O. Bonow, MD, Max and Lilly Goldberg Distinguished... - Introducing the new 3D STED microscope at McGovern
A new chapter in scientific discovery is unfolding at McGovern Medical School with the installation of a cutting-edge super-resolution microscope: the Abberior Facility Line Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) system. This innovative technology is the first 3D-STED microscope in the Texas... - Two McGovern research projects receive Rice-TMC seed grants
Two McGovern Medical School research projects received seed grants in 2024 through the Provost’s TMC Collaborator Fund. These grants were facilitated by Rice University’s Office for Educational and Research Initiatives for Collaborative Research (ENRICH). In total, seven research partnerships involving... - Fetal institute to focus on clinical care, research discovery, and education
Five years after the first groundbreaking fetoscopic spina bifida repair surgery using an innovative patch pioneered by researchers at UTHealth Houston, the fetal medicine team is celebrating the milestone of more than 100 procedures performed by the physicians and the... - White to present Dean’s Lecture, Feb. 12
The Office of Research Affairs welcomes Eileen White, PhD, to present the 2025 Dean’s Lecture at 12:15 p.m., Feb. 12 in MSB 1.006. White is the deputy director, chief scientific officer, and associate director for basic research at the Rutgers... - Huffington Lecture scheduled for Feb. 14
The Joan and Stanford Alexander Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, in the Department of Internal Medicine presents the Phyllis Gough Huffington Lecture Series, from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m., Feb. 14 via Zoom. Keynote speaker for the lecture series... - 35th Preventive Cardiology Forum set for Feb. 15
Physicians, nurses, dietitians, caregivers, and other health care professionals with an interest in cardiovascular disease prevention are invited to attend the 35th annual Preventive Cardiology Forum on Feb. 15. The event will be held virtually from 8 a.m. until 12:15... - Jayaraman NMDA research published in Nature Communications
Recent research from the lab of Vasanthi Jayaraman, PhD, professor and John S. Dunn Chair in Biochemistry and Microbiology, studying the role that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play in converting chemical signals in the brain to electric ones, has been published... - Joint Psychiatry Conference set for March 1
The Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, along with Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Children’s Hospital, will host the Joint Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Conference on March 1 at the Cooley Center. The 2025... - Momeny receives NETRF grant
The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation has announced Majid Momeny, PhD, instructor at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine Center for Translational Cancer Research as a recipient of its newest neuroendocrine cancer research grants. “I am grateful to receive this... - Astronauts to headline Women and Girls in Science Symposium
The McGovern Medical School Women Faculty Forum will host the seventh annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science Symposium from 3:30-6:30 p.m., Feb. 11, in the Memorial Hermann Conference Center. The International Day of Women and Girls in... - Applications open for Student & Trainee Travel Awards
The Office of Global Health Initiatives is accepting applications for the Student & Trainee Travel Awards for Global Health through Feb. 15. The awards aim to provide students and trainees with invaluable opportunities to engage in global health work while... - Retiring this year? Stay in touch with university retiree group
If 2025 is your year to retire, consider staying active and in touch with fellow UTHealth Houston retirees by joining the university’s retiree association. The University of Texas Houston Retirees Organization (UTHRO) is a self-funded group that offers retirees a... - Call for nominations: WFF Excellence Awards
Nominations are open for the John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Faculty Excellence Awards presented by the Women Faculty Forum. The awards recognize outstanding contributions from women faculty at McGovern Medical School in two categories: Excellence in Research and... - Project to redesign clinical trials for neurologic conditions funded with $2.9M grant
In an effort to close the gap in neurological outcomes for underserved populations, a UTHealth Houston project funded with $2.9 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will engage community partners to improve the design of clinical trials. Neurologic... - New humanities certificate program open to physicians
The McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics is accepting applications for a new certificate program open to all physicians. The Medical Humanities Workforce Training Program for Physicians will explore contexts, experiences, and critical conceptual issues in medicine and health care,... - UTHealth Houston to lead data coordinating center on $11.4M multi-site clinical trial
UTHealth Houston researchers will serve as the principal investigators of the data coordinating center on an $11.4 million, groundbreaking clinical trial studying the efficacy of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) in treating newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). The study aims... - Hall named assistant dean, admissions and student affairs
LaTanya Love, MD, dean of Education, has announced David Hall, MD, associate professor of surgery, as assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, effective Jan. 1. Hall joined the McGovern faculty in 2015 and serves as an associate program director... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Ji Young Yoo, PhD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Ji Young Yoo, PhD, associate professor... - Undergraduate internship available through BIG-TCR
Applications are open for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Summer Undergraduate Internship, where outstanding undergraduate students can work closely with UTHealth Houston faculty to conduct cancer-related research. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m., CST, Feb.... - Lehnhardt named director of Space Medicine Program
The Space Medicine Program at UTHealth Houston welcomed Kris Lehnhardt, MD, as its new director, effective Jan. 1, 2025. “Dr. Kris Lehnhardt brings a remarkable blend of expertise, innovation, and passion to our rapidly expanding UTHealth Houston Space Medicine Program,”... - Class of 2028 to receive white coats Jan. 17
McGovern Medical School students from the Class of 2028 will take the next step in their medical education journeys when they participate in the annual White Coat Ceremony on Jan. 17. The White Coat Ceremony begins at 1 p.m. at... - Novel glioblastoma treatment research published in Neuro-Oncology
Recent research on the discovery of a novel therapeutic treatment using the oncolytic virus to treat patients with glioblastoma, led by Ji Young Yoo, PhD, associate professor, and Tae Jin Lee, PhD, assistant professor in the Vivian L. Smith Department... - First Person: B.R.I.D.G.E to Health: A student-organized refugee fair
First Person is an occasional series, providing firsthand accounts of outreach programs involving the McGovern Medical School community. This issue features Deepa Iyengar, MD, MPH, professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and Stanley G. Schultz, MD, Endowed Professor... - McGovern faculty earn Healthcare Leadership MBA
A cohort of six faculty members from McGovern Medical School successfully earned their MBAs through the Healthcare Organization Leadership Executive MBA program, an innovative initiative sponsored by Harris Health System. The graduates are part of the first Harris Health cohort... - The study of art helps medical students become better doctors
No two people look at a painting or watch a performance the same way. One might pick up color, brushstrokes, the resonance of a voice. Another might see a hidden figure, the shape of a smile, or the lightness in... - Kellam wins OTA Lifetime Achievement Award
The Orthopaedic Trauma Association announced James Kellam, MD, professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, and Orthopaedic Residency Associate Program Director, as the winner of its 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor is among the highest distinctions within the field... - GSHTC debuts novel hemophilia gene therapy
A novel hemophilia gene therapy drug has been successfully administered to the first patient in Texas outside of a clinical trial setting by physicians at McGovern Medical School and the Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Center. The patient was administered... - History of Medicine elective course begins Jan. 8
In its ninth-year presentation, the elective course “Reflections Based on the History of Medicine” will be presented in a virtual format accessible to any member of the McGovern Medical School community beginning Jan. 8. The course, which provides knowledge and... - LoneStar LEND Conference set for Jan. 23-24
The Department of Pediatrics will host the 2024 LoneStar LEND Conference Jan. 23-24 at the Denton A. Cooley, MD & Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center (7440 Cambridge St.). The two-day event is themed around “Self-Care: Effective Strategies for... - Research uncovers genetic variants in mitral valve conditions
Recent research from second-year McGovern Medical Student Kishan Asokan, and the lab of Siddharth Prakash, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, on genetic variants of mitral valve conditions has been published in the Journal of the American... - Soto wins Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinson’s Research
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has awarded the 2024 Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinson’s Research to Claudio Soto, PhD, professor in the Department of Neurology and director of the George and Cynthia Mitchell Center... - In Memoriam: Elizabeth Jones, MD
Elizabeth Jones, MD, professor of emergency medicine, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at her home, following a battle with gastric cancer. She was 64. A graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, she completed residencies in internal medicine... - Tebo named assistant dean of global health
Kevin Morano, PhD, senior vice president of Academic and Faculty Affairs and senior associate dean for Faculty Affairs, announced Kristi Tebo, MD, as the inaugural assistant dean of Global Health for McGovern Medical School, effective Dec. 1, 2024. A graduate... - McGovern earns recognition for lifestyle medicine integration
McGovern Medical School recently earned Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Curriculum Certification status from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) for its integration of lifestyle medicine into medical student coursework. Lifestyle medicine uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary modality... - At-home brain stimulation for depression is safe and effective
A device that delivers direct stimulation to the brain was found to be a safe and effective means of treating depression at home, according to a new study by researchers at UTHealth Houston; the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience... - Women’s Health Collaborative Workshop set for Dec. 10
The McGovern Medical School Research Committee will host the Women’s Health Collaborative Workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 10 in MSB 3.001. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and will feature keynote addresses from Kathryn Gray, MD,... - Herrmann honored as CAP Resident of the Year
The College of American Pathologists (CAP) presented Amanda Herrmann, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, with the 2024 CAP Resident of the Year Award during a ceremony at CAP24 in October in Las Vegas. Herrmann... - New findings uncover dynamic brain mechanisms driving motivated behaviors
New research on the brain circuits regulating motivated behaviors in response to environmental signals, from the laboratories of Fabricio Do Monte, DVM, PhD, associate professor, and Michael Beierlein, PhD, professor, in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, has been published in... - BICAN data available
The first public release of data from the BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN) is now available, thanks to the creation of a data ecosystem built by UTHealth Houston researchers. The first Rapid Release Inventory project features data from six... - Grants 101, 102 begins Jan. 13-14
The New Investigator Development Program (NIDP), led by the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic & Research Affairs, offers an introductory grant preparation program for junior faculty members and administrative support staff beginning with the Grants 101 course... - 8th MASSIN Congress brings global neurosurgery leaders to Houston
The 8th Madjid Samii Society of International Neurosurgery (MASSIN) Congress, held in October, welcomed more than 200 attendees from around the world to the Texas Medical Center, marking a pivotal gathering of neurosurgery professionals. Led by this year’s president, Jacques... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Susan Wootton, MD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Susan Wootton, MD, professor in the... - Grant seeks improvement for stroke patients with large blood vessel blockages
Improving clinical outcomes in stroke patients by closing a gap between successful re-opening of a blocked vessel through endovascular surgery and a reduction of disability is the focus of a $2.5 million grant awarded to UTHealth Houston researchers. The five-year... - First Person: Study on child and maternal nutrition in Colombia
First person is an occasional series, providing firsthand accounts of outreach programs involving the McGovern Medical School community. This issue features Andrea Ramirez Varela, MD, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the UTHealth Houston School of... - Meet the 2024-25 UTHealth Houston | Leads McGovern Medical School Fellows
UTHealth Houston | Leads is a one-year student fellowship program to develop future leaders in health care. In the program, UTHealth Houston students learn how to develop self-awareness, increase their leadership confidence, lead others, and effectively influence systems. A total... - Research reveals cellular mechanisms of acute pancreatitis
Led by Department of Surgery faculty and a fourth-year medical student, recent published research sheds light on the role of pancreatic fibroblasts in acute pancreatitis. “Characterization of Pancreatic Collagen-Expressing Fibroblasts in Mouse Acute Pancreatitis”, from Yanna Cao, MD, and Tien... - Jalloul awarded 2024 Crow Scholarship
Dounya Jalloul, PhD candidate in the laboratory of Michael Beierlein, PhD, professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, is the 2024 recipient of the Terry J. Crow, PhD, Scholarship in Neuroscience. Jalloul received the scholarship for her outstanding scholastic... - Call for nominations: President’s Scholar Awards
The President’s Scholar Awards for Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Clinical Service are given annually to recognize distinguished service by UTHealth Houston faculty members. All members of our UTHealth Houston community are invited to nominate outstanding faculty members for these... - Study focuses on microRNA’s link to intestinal inflammation
Recently published research from faculty in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine reveals a promising innovative approach to treating inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Researchers report that a novel mechanism involving a... - Akassoglou to present Fields Lecture Nov. 8
The Department of Neurology welcomes Katerina Akassoglou, PhD, professor and director of the Gladstone-UCSF Center for Neurovascular Brain Immunology at the University of California in San Francisco to present the 2024 William S. Fields Lecture. Akassoglou’s lecture titled “Neurovascular Interactions: Mechanisms,... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Anna Konovalova, PhD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Anna Konovalova, PhD, associate professor in... - First infusion in Houston for new Alzheimer’s drug administered at UTHealth Houston
UTHealth Houston is the first institution in Houston to administer an FDA-approved drug, Kisunla (donanemab-azbt), for the treatment of early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. The recipient was 79-year-old Terrie Frankel. “We’re making history today,” Frankel said. Frankel began experiencing memory loss... - Khabele to present Dean’s Lecture Nov. 7
The Office of Research Affairs welcomes Dineo Khabele, MD, to present the 2024 Dean’s Lecture at noon, Nov. 7 in MSB 3.001. Khabele, the Mitchell and Elaine Yanow Professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington... - Fries receives Dunn Foundation Award
Gabriel Fries, PhD, assistant professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, was recently awarded a 2024 John S. Dunn Foundation Collaborative Research Award in conjunction with the Gulf Coast Consortia. Fries will team up... - Innovative stem cell trial for bipolar disorder gives patient hope
Ashley Hallock, 35, describes the day she joined a clinical trial studying stem cells for bipolar disorder as the most important day of her life. “For me, it was a godsend,” she said. Hallock had always struggled a little with... - Research reveals gene regulation breakthrough
Research from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology revealing a breakthrough in understanding gene regulation in human cells was published Oct. 17 in Molecular Cell. “Structural basis of the human transcriptional Mediator regulated by its dissociable Kinase module” from... - Roland wins ASA Mentoring Grant
The American Society of Anesthesiologists has awarded fourth-year medical student Gavin Roland with a $5,000 ASA Mentoring Grant Award for a new conference to be held at McGovern Medical School in 2025. The goal of the ASA Mentoring Grant Award... - Hill awarded grant from the NIMH
The National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) has awarded Mandy J. Hill, DrPH, MPH, professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and director of Population Health, with an R34 grant following the completion of her pilot program as a Ujima... - Prakash research published in PLOS One
Recent research identifying potential novel candidates for genetic testing in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) defects, led by the lab of Siddharth Prakash, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, and primary contributors Hasan Albasha and Steven... - Treatment extends hope to patients with medication-resistant epilepsy
Findings of a study on a novel and minimally invasive laser therapy for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy caused by periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNVH) have been published by UTHealth Houston researchers in the American Neurological Association’s Annals of Neurology. Led by... - Ramirez-Varela earns PRIME award to support active lifestyles for Latino children
The UTHealth Houston School of Public Health awarded Andrea Ramirez-Varela, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Epidemiology at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, with PRIME funding for her study Supporting Active... - Blackburn, Rui earn Brain Aneurysm Foundation Grants
The Brain Aneurysm Foundation has announced Sprios Blackburn, MD, associate professor, and Yanning Rui, PhD, assistant professor, in the Department of Neurosurgery as recipients of the foundation’s 2024 research grants. The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is the leading advocacy organization supporting... - Collaboration establishes CDC Injury Control Research Center
The only Injury Control Research Center in Texas has been established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at UTHealth Houston in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine. “I’m beyond thrilled to bring an Injury Control Research Center to... - Academy of Master Educators welcomes 2022, 2023 inductees
The Academy of Master Educators (AME) honored the 2022 and 2023 inductees in an induction ceremony and dinner held on Thursday, Aug. 22, at III by Wolfgang Puck. Vineeth John, MD, chairman of the academy, welcomed 13 new inductees for... - Geriatric Trauma Symposium set for Nov. 15
McGovern Medical School and Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center will host the 2024 Geriatric Trauma Symposium on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Denton A. Cooley, MD, and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center. Held from 8 a.m. until 5... - 28 faculty named Champions of the Clinical Learning Environment
As a continual knowledge of the work it takes to foster a positive and professional learning atmosphere, the Directors of Learning Environment at McGovern Medical School announced 28 faculty members who have earned the title of 2024 Champions of the... - Jayaraman named Biophysical Society fellow
The Biophysical Society announced Vasanthi Jayaraman, PhD, professor and John S. Dunn Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, as a fellow in the 2025 Society Fellows cohort. Fellows will be honored at the Biophysical Society’s 69th Annual Meeting, Feb. 15-19,... - Taegtmeyer receives IACS-NAS Merit Award
A renown cardiology faculty member is the recipient of the Merit Award from the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences – North American Section. Heinrich Taegtmeyer, MD, DPhil, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, recently received this highest honor bestowed... - Mood Disorders Conference set for Oct. 11-12
The Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences hosts the 2024 UTHealth Houston Mood Disorders Conference, Oct. 11-12 at the Cooley Life Center (7440 Cambridge St.). The theme for the event is Bipolar Disorder Across the Lifespan... - Research identifies rare genetic variant in bicuspid aortic valve disease
Genetic variants linked to a rare form of bicuspid aortic valve disease that affects young adults and can lead to dangerous and potentially life-threatening aortic complications have been identified by researchers at UTHealth Houston. The study was published in the... - UTHealth Houston recruits star investigator team to expand clinical and outcomes research
UTHealth Houston has recruited two renowned scientists from Cleveland Clinic to bolster clinical research across the institution. Daniel Sessler, MD, the most published and cited scientist in any field at Cleveland Clinic, will serve as the inaugural vice president for... - Hill publishes research from INSPIRE Study
Recent research led by Mandy Hill, DrPH, MPH, professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, studying how individuals perceive their own health after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms has been published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. The research,... - Colasurdo announces plan to step down as UTHealth Houston president
Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, MD, announced Monday that he will be stepping down from his position as president and Alkek-Williams Distinguished Chair at UTHealth Houston. Colasurdo has served in the role for 12 years—the longest tenure of any UTHealth Houston president—and... - Symposium on Aging Research scheduled for Oct. 16
The 7th Annual Uthealth Houston Symposium on Aging Research, highlighting the ongoing clinical and basic aging research at UTHealth Houston, will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Oct. 16 at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine. Registration... - CME office increases programming
Since its move back to the Medical School in 2022, the Office of Continuing Medical Education has dramatically increased its number of conferences and activities and offers new technology for learners. In the last fiscal year, the office managed 30... - Roy awarded scholarship to attend AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting
Sharmily Roy, MPH, PhD candidate in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, was recently awarded a scholarship to attend the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting (ARM). The research meeting brings together a wide variety of health... - Pediatric residents earn AAP Grant
The Section on Pediatric Trainees of the American Academy of Pediatrics has selected Alexandria Laws, MD, PGY-2, and Andrea Pinto, MD, PGY-2, from the Department of Pediatrics as recipients of SOPT Community Access to Child Health Resident Grant. The Community... - 15th annual Yatsu Day set for Oct. 4
The UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease will host the 15th Annual Yatsu Day Symposium, “Reviving Hope: AI Innovations and Emerging Technologies in Stroke Recovery,” from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Oct. 4 at the Cooley Center at... - $3.3M grant will study eating pattern impacts on circadian rhythms
A groundbreaking research project to understand how diet and eating patterns can affect the body’s internal clock and influence aging is underway at UTHealth Houston, thanks to a $3.3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging. The study is... - Taegtmeyer wins mentoring award
A longtime cardiology faculty member is the recipient of the 2024 International Society for Heart Research North American Section’s Eric N. Olson Mentorship Award. Heinrich Taegtmeyer, MD, DPhil, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, is the fifth recipient... - Mahdavinia to lead new Allergy and Immunology Division
The Department of Internal Medicine has announced that Mahboobeh (Maha) Mahdavinia, MD, PhD, professor and John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Chair, has joined McGovern Medical School as the Division Director for the newly established Allergy and Immunology Division,... - Sickle Cell Disease Symposium set for Sept. 27
The UTHealth Houston Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences will host the Sickle Cell Disease Symposium from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Sept. 27, at the Memorial Hermann Hospital – Texas Medical Center. The Sickle Cell Disease Symposium brings experts... - Caretti earns PERF research grant
The Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation has awarded the 2024 PERF CNS Elterman Research Grant to Viola Caretti, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics. The PERF CNS Elterman Research Grant is awarded to early-stage investigators who are within... - UTHealth Houston Salutation set for Sept. 5
All UTHealth Houston students are invited to attend the 26th annual Student InterCouncil Salutation on Thursday, Sept. 5. The event, co-sponsored by the UTHealth Houston President’s Office, will feature free food and drinks, giveaways, and prizes such as monthly parking... - Registration open for 11th Annual IACS-NAS Meeting
McGovern Medical School will cohost the 11th Annual Meeting of the North American Section of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences in a tribute to James T. Willerson, MD, from Sept. 19-21. The three-day event is co-hosted by McGovern Medical... - Furr Stimming receives TNS Lifetime Achievement Award
Erin Furr Stimming, MD, professor and Memorial Hermann Endowed Chair in the Department of Neurology, has been honored with the 2024 Texas Neurological Society Lifetime Achievement Award at the society’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in Austin. The TNS Lifetime Achievement Award... - Meet the Newest Faces of McGovern Medical School
The 2024-25 school year is underway at McGovern Medical School, and the Class of 2028 officially began their medical school journeys on Aug. 5. The McGovern Medical School Class of 2028 is made up of 240 students from 10 states,... - Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award: Brandi Karnes, MD
Brandi Karnes, MD, assistant professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. The Leonard... - Devlin receives first-ever Sacco Scholarship
The American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association awarded the first-ever Ralph L. Sacco Scholarship for Brain Health to Patrick Devlin, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Neurology. Devlin receives a $150,000 two-year scholarship to support... - Danielski earns grant to attend ACNP
Lucineia Danielski, PharmD, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the Translational Psychiatry Program at the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, received a grant from the International Brain Research Organization to attend the ACNP conference in December 2024... - Saltarrelli named FADLM
Jerome G. Saltarrelli Jr., PhD, D (ABHI), assistant professor and HLA Lab director in the Department of Surgery, has been inducted as a Fellow into the Academy of Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine. The ADLM is a respected institution that serves... - Soutullo named AACAP Distinguished Fellow
Cesar Soutullo, MD, PhD, John S. Dunn Professor in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and vice chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, has been named an American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Distinguished Fellow. The... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Bindu Akkanti, MD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Bindu Akkanti, MD, associate professor and... - Medical School adds Master of Science in Anesthesia Program
McGovern Medical School recently matriculated its inaugural class to its master’s of science degree in anesthesia program. The 35 students started class in August. Supported by the Medical School’s Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, the program is... - In memoriam: Jorge Quesada, MD
Jorge Quesada, MD, retired faculty member from the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, died July 31, 2024. He was 77. He joined the McGovern Medical School faculty in 2008 and retired in 2022. A graduate from... - Class of 2028 ready for Henry Strobel Retreat
McGovern Medical School will officially welcome the Class of 2028 to campus with the 48th Annual Henry Strobel Retreat on Aug. 14 at Camp Cho-Yeh in Livingston, Texas. The Henry Strobel Retreat is a chance for incoming McGovern Medical School... - Genetic testing alerts family to lurking danger
More than a decade after the death of Matt’s father, in 2005 doctors discovered Matt’s 11-month-old son—rushed to the hospital after turning blue—had an enlarged aorta. Also known as thoracic aortic aneurysm, the condition can be deadly if left undiagnosed... - Boscutti awarded scholarship to attend ACNP
Andrea Boscutti, MD, postdoctoral research fellow in the Louis A. Faillace, MD Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, was recently awarded an American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) travel award to attend the 2024 ACNP conference in Phoenix in December. Boscutti... - Mosqueda to present Nixon Lecture Aug. 14
The Department of Family and Community Medicine will host the Sam & Elizabeth Nixon Lectureship in Family Medicine, Aug. 14 in MSB 2.135 and via Zoom. The keynote speaker for the lectureship will be Laura Mosqueda, MD, professor in the Department... - CCTS secures $55.5 million grant, extends leadership in translational research
The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences at UTHealth Houston has secured a $55.5 million grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, an agency of the National Institutes of Health, extending its funding through 2031. The continuation of... - McGovern adds service learning to medical school curriculum
To strengthen its commitment to service, McGovern Medical School is adding a service learning program to the first- and second-year curriculum beginning in the 2024-25 school year. “Service learning exposes students to real-world contexts, allowing them to become aware of... - Research uses circadian rhythm to attack pancreatic cancer
Recent research from the lab of Faraz Bishehsari, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and director of the Gastroenterology Research Center, showing that pancreatic cancer cells follow daily circadian rhythm cycles has been published in JCI Insight... - Institute on Aging brings renewed focus to specialized care for older adults
From their unique physiology, to illnesses that commonly affect them, to specific precautions required for their care, older adults are as distinct in their health needs as children. Yet while parents can readily find a pediatrician, older adults often struggle... - 9 tips for remote work during and after major weather events
In the face of major weather events, remote work can become a challenge — as we just experienced with Hurricane Beryl. However, with the right IT strategies, you can ensure seamless connectivity and productivity. A list of UTHealth Houston information... - Women Faculty Forum honors six with excellence awards
The Women Faculty Forum honored six winners of the John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Excellence Awards on July 23 in the Fifth Floor Gallery. The WFF Excellence Awards recognize outstanding contributions made by women faculty at the Medical School.... - From basketball pro to medical resident, aspiring surgeon reaches for new heights
A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, where she served as captain of the women’s basketball team, Krystle Henderson, MD, ’23, always loved science and held a fascination with the workings of the human body. After an overseas... - Circadian clock impact on cluster headache funded by $2.4M NIH grant
The link between severe headache disorders and the body’s circadian clock in pain timing and thresholds will be studied with a $2.4 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to UTHealth Houston researchers. The research... - Bishehsari to establish Gastroenterology Research Center
The Department of Internal Medicine welcomed Faraz Bishehsari, MD, PhD, on June 2024, to establish the Gastroenterology Research Center (GRC), a new multidisciplinary gastroenterology research center at McGovern Medical School. The GRC will integrate translational research with patient care, focusing... - Hospital named in Rios’ honor
The National Government of Panama and the Caja del Seguro Social unanimously decided to name the country’s newest cancer institute in honor of Adan Rios, MD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine. The Institute of Cancerologia Dr. Adan Rios... - Circadian rhythm research published in Cell Reports
Recent research from the lab of Kristin Eckel-Mahan, PhD, associate professor at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, has been published in the June edition of Cell Reports. The paper, titled “Cell-specific regulation of the circadian clock by BMAL1... - JAMP students learn about medical school and themselves
Medical school, MCAT preparations, interview tips, philanthropy, team building: these are all things undergraduate students learn during the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) of McGovern Medical School. But most importantly, they learn about themselves. Funded by the Texas Higher Education... - Routt named AONA educator of the year
The AONA has named Milton ‘Chip’ Routt, MD, professor and Andrew R. Burgess, MD, Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery Trauma, as the recipient of the AO North American Jeff Mast Educator of the Year Award. Routt received the award at the... - Risk-taker sidelined by sarcoidosis delays adventures for treatment
Extreme athlete doesn’t begin to describe Ian Rivers. At 58, his accomplishments read like a script in an adventure movie: climbed Mount Everest, swam the longest river in England, and was the 16th person in the world to complete the... - Teams rally to aid hurricane recovery efforts
Like many in the Greater Houston area, McGovern Medical School was not spared the wrath of destruction from Hurricane Beryl July 8. But unlike many residents who continue to repair these storm damages, McGovern Medical School has quickly rebounded from... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Vasanthi Jayaraman, PhD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Vasanthi Jayaraman, PhD, professor and John... - Research unveils target to reduce inflammation in aging brain
Research from the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Management and the Department of Internal Medicine reveals a new understanding of age-related inflammation in the brain, paving the way for possible treatments of multiple neurological disorders. Led by Wei... - Bobrow named inaugural VP of healthcare innovation
Following a national search, former chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine Bentley J. Bobrow, MD, has been selected as UTHealth Houston’s first vice president for healthcare innovation, effective July 1. Bobrow, the Nancy, Clive and Pierce Runnells Distinguished Professor... - Connect brains to computers at NRC Forum
The UTHealth Houston Neuroscience Research Center invites the community to the 2024 Neuroscience Public Forum on “Connecting Your Brain to Computers.” Featuring leading experts in the neurosciences, the event will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at The... - Annual Benefits Fair Fiesta set for July 11
The UTHealth Houston Office of Payroll and Benefits will host its Annual Employee Benefits Fair Fiesta from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston’s Leather Lounge, 6431 Fannin St. The event is... - PECP graduates eighth cohort
The Physician Educator Certificate Program celebrated the graduation of its eighth cohort in May. This milestone included 33 residents from 11 residency programs at McGovern Medical School and 18 residents from 13 residency programs at Houston Methodist. To date, the... - McGovern Hosts 2024 Health Career Collaborative Finale
The Student Educational Outreach Committee at McGovern Medical School welcomed students from Cesar Chavez High School and Yes Prep East End High School for the 2024 Health Career Collaborative Finale on May 3. The event is a culmination of a... - Beta-blockers may help decrease bone loss in male patients with dementia
Men with dementia who were taking beta-blockers showed a slight decrease in the rate of bone loss compared with men who were not, according to a small observational study led by researchers at UTHealth Houston. Women in the study, published... - McKay receives Kaiser Permanente grant for gun violence research
The Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education has awarded Sandra McKay, MD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, with a grant to further gun violence research and interventions. McKay received a $60,000 Category 1 grant designed... - Two decades of spina bifida research published in Science
The culmination of over two decades of research from Hope Northrup, MD, professor, and Kit Sing Au, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, on the genetic factors associated with spina bifida has been published in Science. According to... - Inguinal hernia research published in JAMA
Delaying surgical inguinal hernia repair in preterm infants until after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) appears to reduce the likelihood of serious adverse events, according to researchers at UTHealth Houston. A study led by first and corresponding... - Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature: Lillian Kao, MD, MS, FACS
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Lillian Kao, MD, MS, FACS, professor and... - Carlin named editor of leading international journal
Boosting the prominence of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics, Nathan Carlin, PhD, has been named the editor of the Journal of Medical Humanities. Effective July 1, Carlin, director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics, will serve... - TEACH-S holds annual educational symposium
The Texas Educator’s Academies Collaborative for Health Professions – Southeast (TEACH-S) held its annual Educational Symposium on May 3 at the Health Education Center at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. The annual event serves as a... - Canfield receives Presidential Award from AUA
The American Urological Association honored Steven Canfield, MD, professor and CR Bard, Inc./Edward J. McGuire, MD, Distinguished Chair in the Department of Surgery and Cecil M. Crigler Distinguished Chair in Urology, as a recipient of its Presidential Citation Award. AUA... - LRC to undergo first major facelift since its relocation in 2005
Students at McGovern Medical School will soon have a top-of-the-line area to study and relax after upcoming renovations to the Learning Resource Center. According to Tamika Cain-Proctor, senior project manager, an architectural firm has been hired to develop options for... - In Memoriam: Cathy Doughty
Catherine Doughty, former DMO for the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, died Friday, May 24, 2024. She was 65. She earned her bachelor’s of arts degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles and completed a master’s... - Paulino, Leech named Emerging Leaders in Hospice and Palliative Care
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) has named Rex Paulino, MD, assistant professor, and Ana Leech, MD, MS, associate professor, in the Department of Internal Medicine, as Emerging Leaders in Hospice and Palliative Care for 2024. AAHPM... - Zhu wins John P. McGovern Award
Michael L. Zhu, MD, ’18, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, is the 2024 recipient of the John P. McGovern Award as the exceptional clinical teacher. The John P. McGovern Award is given annually to the outstanding clinical... - Fairbrother named assistant dean
Dean of Education LaTanya Love, MD, announced that following an internal search, Hilary Fairbrother, MD, MPH, is the new assistant dean for Pre-Clerkship Education in the Office of Educational Programs, effective June 1. A well-rounded academic leader, Fairbrother is a... - In Memoriam: Jan Hendrickson
Jan Hendrickson, senior administrative manager in the Office of Technology Management, died May 21, 2024. She was 67. She joined the Medical School staff in 1986. Her co-workers were like her family. “Jan was the embodiment of a team player... - In memoriam: Dr. Sam Kaplan
Samuel Kaplan, PhD, founding chair of the McGovern Medical School Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, died Saturday, May 25, 2024. He was 90. A world-recognized expert in the biology of photosynthetic bacteria, Kaplan is particularly well-known for fundamental discoveries... - Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Master Clinical Teaching Award: Dia Waguespack, MD
Dia Waguespack, MD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, is the winner of the 2024 Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Master Clinical Teaching Award. Established in 2001 and made possible by a gift from the DuPonts, the... - Writing fellow published in Paris Review
When Emily Barr learned that the McGovern Center for Humanities & Ethics would offer a writing fellowship, she applied with a specific goal in mind – to submit for publication an essay she began working on years earlier as part... - Bartley named Outstanding Student in Gross Anatomy
The Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy has named Brooke Bartley, MD, ’24, as the winner of the Outstanding Student in Gross Anatomy 2024 Award. The award honors Bartley for her excellent performance in the Gross Anatomy course during her first... - Benjy F. Brooks, MD Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award: Akemi Kawaguchi, MD
Akemi Kawaguchi, MD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, is the 2024 winner of the Benjy F. Brooks, MD, Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award. “I am surprise, elated, and humbled to receive this award,” Kawaguchi said. “I am so... - UTHealth Houston receives $3.4 million in grants for trauma research initiatives
Groundbreaking research initiatives to advance the treatment of traumatic injuries at UTHealth Houston have been funded with $3.4 million in grants from the Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Collaborative (TRC4), an initiative of The University of Texas System. “These research... - Physicians to trade stethoscopes for sheet music at ‘Doctors in Recital’
The Steinway Piano Gallery is set to host an evening of music with its upcoming event, “Doctors in Recital,” featuring local physicians who are trading stethoscopes for sheet music in support of a noble cause. Scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday,... - Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature: Carmen Dessauer, PhD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Carmen Dessauer, PhD, professor, chair, and... - QuestionPro replacing Qualtrics as preferred survey platform
The IT Department has changed its preferred survey platform from Qualtrics to QuestionPro after analysis and consideration of various factors, including user-friendliness and cost-effectiveness. QuestionPro offers several advantages that will streamline the survey process. The QuestionPro login link is now... - John Freeman Faculty Teaching Award – Ronald “Chris” Mackenzie, PhD, FRSB
Ronald “Chris” Mackenzie, PhD, FRSB, assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, is the 2024 recipient of the John H. Freeman Award for Faculty Teaching. Chosen by the senior class, the John H. Freeman Award recognizes McGovern... - Harris Health breaks ground on new hospital project on LBJ campus
UTHealth Houston celebrated alongside its hospital partner as Harris Health System broke ground for a new $1.6 billion hospital on the Lyndon B. Johnson campus in Northeast Harris County that will enhance health care in one of the county’s most... - First Person: Bridging Healthcare Gaps: The JSH Diabetes 360 Camp
First person is an occasional series, providing firsthand accounts of outreach programs involving our McGovern Medical School community. This issue features first-year McGovern Medical School Student Pranav Mehta. Jainism. It’s one of the rarest religions in the world. The Jain... - UT System awards STARs funding to McGovern
McGovern Medical School received $3.5 million in UT System STARs funding during FY24 in support of 11 faculty members. Established in 2004, the UT System STARs (Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention) program provides funding to help purchase state-of-the-art research... - MSB 5.001 to undergo major renovation
A common gathering place for all members of the McGovern Medical School community will soon have a new look as renovations are set to begin on modernizing the Fifth Floor Gallery on May 17. “The renovation of the fifth floor... - LoneStar LEND Conference set for May 30-31
***The LoneStar LEND Conference has been postponed until January 2025*** The Department of Pediatrics will host the 2024 LoneStar LEND Conference May 30-31 at the Denton A. Cooley, MD & Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center (7440 Cambridge St.).... - 2024 Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award
Congratulations to the 2024 winners of the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards. May is designated as teaching excellence month for McGovern Medical School. Anesthesiology Daniel An, DO Kendra Brown, MD Janefrances Egbosiuba, MD Kristin Falce, MD Michelle Ge, MD John Gray,... - Stenz named outstanding neuroscience student
The Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy has named Emma Stenz, MS4, as the winner of the Outstanding Student in Neuroscience Award. Stenz matched in her area of passion, ophthalmology, and will be a resident physician at the University of Washington... - Kuchel to present Smythe Lecture May 21
McGovern Medical School welcomes George Kuchel, MD, professor of medicine and Travelers Chair in Geriatrics and Gerontology at UConn Health, as the keynote speaker for the 2024 Cheves Smythe Lecture on May 21. The Cheves Smythe Lecture, hosted by the... - McGovern hosts SGEA Conference
McGovern Medical School joined Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Medical Branch in hosting the 2024 Southern Group on Education Affairs (SGEA) Annual Conference April 11-13 at the Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria. The theme... - Applications open for 2024 Pruessner Scholarship
The Harris County Academy of Family Physicians is accepting applications for the Harold T. Pruessner, MD, Medical Student Scholarship. The deadline to apply is May 31. Applicants must be third-year medical students in good standing and, have completed their family... - ACC President Biga to present Distinguished Speaking Series
American College of Cardiology (ACC) president Cathleen Biga, MSN, FAAC, will speak at UTHealth Houston on May 14 as Cizik School of Nursing celebrates the launch of its new Cardiovascular Advance Practice Series. The UTHealth Houston Office of Faculty Affairs... - Research uses machine learning to distinguish threats
Nearly 100 years after Pavlov first proposed conditioned threat associations, researchers from McGovern Medical School are using machine learning to understand how the brain detects and responds to threats, paving the way to new treatments for fear-based and anxiety disorders.... - UTHealth Houston students take part in mass casualty simulation
UTHealth Houston’s Center for Interprofessional Collaboration held its annual large-scale mass casualty simulation Thursday, April 11, an effort to train students in responding to mass casualty incidents. In the exercise, held at the Cooley University Life Center courtyard, employees portrayed... - Novel ELIP research published in Pharmaceutics
Research from the Department of Internal Medicine, published in Pharmaceutics, and titled “Efficient Gene Editing for Heart Disease via ELILP-Based CRISPR Delivery System,” explored a novel approach for efficient gene editing in heart disease treatment through the use of echogenic... - Medical leadership announced for MH-TMC, Children’s
Seven members of the McGovern Medical School faculty have been named to new medical leadership positions at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. This new structure was developed to serve the growing inpatient services at McGovern’s primary... - Villareal, Koshy publish first children’s book
Arun is just starting the first grade, and it has become apparent that he is experiencing some challenges at school and home. After his new teacher notices his situation is ADHD, she’s able to help Arun’s family find strategies to... - Neurosciences to host epilepsy symposium
UTHealth Houston Neurosciences will host the Epilepsy Comprehensive Update and Board Review across May 8-9 at the Westin Houston Medical Center (1709 Dryden Rd.). The Epilepsy Comprehensive Update & Board Review is an educational symposium that aims to educate neurologists,... - In Memoriam: Dr. David Loose
David S. Loose, PhD, professor emeritus in the Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, died April 10, 2024. He was 71. He earned his bachelor’s of science degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his PhD from Stanford University,... - In Memoriam: Dr. Barbara Murray
Barbara E. Murray, MD, J. Ralph Meadows Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, died April 11, 2024. She was 76. A member of the Medical School’s ID faculty since 1980, she was a... - Spine Symposium scheduled for April 26
The McGovern Medical School Department of Orthopedic Surgery hosts the inaugural UTHealth Houston Spine Symposium in the Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center Hermann Conference Room (6411 Fannin St.) April 26. The symposium is taught in collaboration by McGovern Medical School... - Hecht receives 2024 IADR Distinguished Scientist Award
Jacqueline Hecht, PhD, professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Distinguished Scientist Award in Craniofacial Biology Research by the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research.... - OB/GYN recognized as center of excellence
The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences recently achieved accreditation from the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) as a Center of Excellence. This accreditation recognizes the department’s commitment and high standard of patient care and safety. Asha Bhalwal, MD, and... - Commencement set for May 10 at NRG Arena
The Graduating Class of 2024 will receive their medical degrees at the McGovern Medical School Commencement Ceremony, beginning at 10 a.m., May 10 at NRG Arena (1 NRG Pkwy, Houston, Texas, 77054). The event will also be live-streamed for friends... - Get to know Copilot – UTHealth Houston’s approved AI solution
In an effort to maintain the strongest measures of safety within the university’s online work environment, the IT Department recommends students, faculty, trainees, and staff use UTHealth Houston’s approved AI chat solution, Microsoft Copilot. Copilot offers capabilities similar to other... - Scott to present Dean’s Lecture April 16
The McGovern Medical School Office of Research Affairs welcomes John Scott, PhD, Edwin G. Krebs-Speights Professor of Cell Signaling and Cancer Biology Chair of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Washington for the next installment of the Dean’s... - CLI formally establishes TSR-RAP apprenticeship
The Children’s Learning Institute at UTHealth Houston celebrated the formal signing ceremony for its Texas School Ready-Registered Apprenticeship Program (TSR-RAP) on March 20. The ceremony, which included representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor and local and regional partners, formally... - Stay safe during the solar eclipse
On Monday, April 8, more than 30 million people in the U.S. will experience a total solar eclipse as the moon’s shadow travels in an arc from Texas to Maine. Whether in the path of totality or in a place... - Schneider to present Withers Lecture
David Schneider, MD, professor and chair of Family and Community Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, will present the Department of Family and Community Medicine’s 2024 Henry W. Withers Lectureship in Family Medicine April 10. Schneider will present on “The... - Kolonin lab discovers novel function of telomerase in vascular cells
Ramifications of vascular senescence for organ physiology is the subject of the study published in Aging Cell by a research team led by Mikhail Kolonin, PhD, professor and Harry E. Bovay, Jr. Distinguished University Chair in Metabolic Disease Research with... - Women in Leadership Seminar highlights individual paths to success
Five distinguished speakers shared their unique journeys and insights into leadership, mentorship, and self-care at the Women in Leadership Seminar series on Thursday, March 21, at the Beth Robertson Auditorium in the Fayez S. and Susan K. Sarofim Research Building.... - Bright named Distinguished Faculty in Professionalism Education
The McGovern Medical School Office of Professionalism has named Asia Bright, PhD, assistant professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and director of the Office of Professionalism, as the winner of the John P. and... - Pediatric Residency Program awarded AAP Visiting Professorship
The American Academy of Pediatrics has awarded Sandra McKay, MD, FAAP, associate professor, and Prajakta Yeragi, MD, assistant professor, and the Department of Pediatrics Residency Program, with a Leonard P. Rome CATCH Visiting Professorship Grant to promote advocacy for children and... - Office of Continuing Medical Education welcomes Ruiz as director
The McGovern Medical School Office of Continuing Medical Education welcomed Mayra Ruiz as its new director, effective Dec. 11, 2023. In March 2022, McGovern Medical School transitioned its accreditation for continuing medical education (CME) activities to its Office of Continuing... - A tale of resilience: Samsuhadi’s journey to medicine
Second-year medical student Karina Samsuhadi’s path to medicine is woven with threads of fortitude and gratitude after she struggled with housing instability. Her journey to medicine began in the heart of familial sacrifice. Born to parents who traversed oceans and... - MMS Satellite Fitness Center opens in April
The new McGovern Medical School Fitness Center is slated to open in April with a two-week free trial membership for all UTHealth Houston faculty, staff, residents, and students who have pre-registered. The 1,800-square-foot space in the MSB penthouse, which has... - Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature: Anjail Sharrief, MD, MPH
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Anjail Sharrief, MD, MPH, associate professor in... - Hotez to present Kirkendall Lecture
The Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Medicine welcomes Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, DSc (Hon), dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, as the keynote speaker for the Walter M. Kirkendall, MD and... - Meet the 2023-24 UTHealthLeads McGovern Medical School fellows
UTHealthLeads is a one-year student fellowship program to develop future leaders in health care. In the program, UTHealth Houston students learn how to develop self-awareness, increase their leadership confidence, lead others, and effectively influence systems. A total of 23 UTHealth... - Dessauer named chair of IBP
Following an international search, Executive Dean John Hancock has announced that Carmen W. Dessauer, PhD, is the new chair of the Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, effective March 18, 2024. Dessauer currently serves as professor of integrative biology and... - Class of 2024 to meet their matches March 15
One student survived a cancerous brain tumor. Another was called to medicine when a family member suffered a panic attack on an airplane and no doctors were on board. A third worked his way through the military and became an... - Swails inducted into Shine Academy
Jennifer Swails, MD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, has been inducted as a member of the 2024 class of The University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine, MD, Academy of Health Science Education. The award is presented to... - Psychiatry Update Conference set for April 13
Registration is now open for the 2024 UTHealth Houston Psychiatry Update Conference, hosted by the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, April 13 at the Institute of Molecular Medicine (1825 Pressler St.). The symposium is designed... - An wins ASPET scientific achievement award
The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) has named Zhiqiang An, PhD, professor and Robert A. Welch Distinguished University Chair in Chemistry and vice president of Drug Discovery, as the winner of its 2024 Scientific Achievement Award in... - ENT Symposium set for March 22-23
The Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery will host the annual Texas Hill Country ENT Symposium, March 22-23, at the Lakeway Resort and Spa in Austin. The symposium focuses on new information that can be applied at the point of... - White Coat Ceremony moved to April 1
After the previous event was postponed due to inclement weather in the area, the McGovern Medical School Class of 2027 students will participate in the annual White Coat Ceremony at 1 p.m. on April 1 at the Hobby Center for... - Mancias, Burgess named 2023 Distinguished Alumni
McGovern Medical School has named Pedro Mancias, MD ‘87, and Congressman Michael Burgess, MD ’77, as its 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients. The Distinguished Alumnus Award honors alumni of McGovern Medical School who have made significant contributions in the areas... - Doris produces novel murine reference genome assembly
As the world’s leading resource for disseminating genomic information, the NIH’s National Center for Biotechnology Information places special emphasis on three mammalian species that are key to medical research. A recent addition to these genomes has been produced in a... - Buja retires, named dean emeritus
Following 35 years of service to UTHealth Houston, including seven years as Medical School dean, L. Maximilian Buja, MD, celebrated his retirement Feb. 27 in the Fifth Floor Gallery. President Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, MD, presented Buja with a framed title... - Four receive UTHealth Houston’s most distinguished awards
Three faculty members who have demonstrated longstanding excellence in areas of research, teaching, and clinical care, and a fourth recognized for overall exemplary dedication and service, received top honors from UTHealth Houston President Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, MD, Alkek-Williams Distinguished Chair,... - Registration open for 2024 Houston Shock Symposium
The Center for Advanced Cardiopulmonary Therapies and Transplantation and UTHealth Houston Heart and Vascular will host the Sixth Annual Houston Shock Symposium, March 22-24 at Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston Galleria (2222 West Loop South). The 2024 Houston Shock Symposium’s theme... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Kristin Eckel-Mahan, PhD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Kristin Eckel-Mahan, PhD, associate professor in... - McCullough wins stroke association lecture award
The American Stroke Association has named Louise McCullough, MD, PhD, professor and Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Distinguished Chair in the Department of Neurology, as the 2024 Thomas Willis Lecture Award winner. The Thomas Willis Lecture Award recognizes contributions... - Parchem awarded Preeclampsia Foundation grant
The Preeclampsia Foundation announced Jacqueline Parchem, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, as a recipient of its 2024 Peter Joseph Pappas Research Grants at the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine 44th Annual Pregnancy Meeting,... - Holt-Lunstad to present Knobil Lecture
The McGovern Medical School Office of Research Affairs welcomes Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, as the 2024 speaker for the annual Ernst Knobil Distinguished Lecture, March 5. Holt-Lunstad, the director of the Society,... - Congratulations to the 2023 STAR awardees
UTHealth Houston relies on the dedication, knowledge, and expertise of employees to continue advancing the university’s key mission areas of health care, research, and education. Each year, UTHealth Houston celebrates the leadership and longevity of employees by recognizing their milestone... - Leadership change for the Department of Emergency Medicine
Following five years of exceptional leadership at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Bentley J. Bobrow, MD, has announced his plan to step down as professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, effective June 30. In the coming... - Houston PAP Project achieves grassroots success in community
“When you find something so precious, you want everyone to know.” Those are the words from cervical cancer survivor Juana Espino, who now serves as project coordinator of the Houston PAP Project. This UTHealth Houston program provides no-cost cervical cancer screenings... - Medical School moves up 4 spots in NIH funding
McGovern Medical School has increased its National Institutes of Health funding, as evidenced by the latest Blue Ridge rankings – moving up to 53 from 57 the prior year. An independent, nonprofit organization, the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research... - Transplant program’s growth gives new life, hope
The lack of donors for kidney transplants is a growing public health crisis in the United States, with more than 90,000 people waiting for a kidney but only 20,000 transplants performed annually. The Division of Immunology and Organ Transplantation in... - Arts & Resilience to feature Garzón, Magana
The John P. McGovern, MD, Center for Humanities and Ethics’ Arts & Resilience Program welcomes artists Nela Garzón and Gabriela Magana for the first of two events in the spring of 2024. The event begins at noon, Feb. 22 on... - MBID Research Retreat scheduled for March 7
Registration is open for the 2024 Molecular Basis of Infectious Disease (MBID) Research Retreat. The annual event will be held March 7 at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine (1825 Pressler St.). The MBID retreat, which began in 2008,... - Recruitment open in RISE-UP clinical drug trial for sickle cell anemia
A medication that appeared to stabilize the function and shape of red blood cells in an earlier study for patients with sickle cell disease is now part of a Phase III clinical trial that is open for enrollment at UTHealth... - Hot Topics in Aging Conference set for March 5
The UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging hosts the 8th Annual Hot Topics in Aging Conference, March 5 at the Denton A. Cooley, MD, and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center (7440 Cambridge St.). The Hot Topics in Aging Conference... - EBV-specific T-cells play key role in development of multiple sclerosis
The body’s immune response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may play a role in causing damage in people with multiple sclerosis, according to a new study led by UTHealth Houston. EBV infection has long been associated with multiple sclerosis, but how... - Lieberman presents Bovay Lecture March 1
Daniel E. Lieberman, PhD, will present the 2024 Harry E. Bovay, Jr. Lecture at 11 a.m. March 1 in SRB 104 (Beth Robertson Auditorium at IMM). Lieberman will present his lecture on “Why Exercise is Medicine? An evolutionary explanation for... - Soares named founding dean of UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences
Jair C. Soares, MD, PhD, a renowned academic leader and physician-scientist in the field of psychiatry, has been named the founding dean of UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences, Feb. 1. As the inaugural dean of UTHealth Houston’s seventh... - Hastings Center welcomes Ray as fellow
The Hastings Center has welcomed Keisha Ray, PhD, associate professor, and John P. McGovern, MD, Professor in Oslerian Medicine, as a member of its 2023 Class of Fellows. Founded in 1969 by philosopher Daniel Callahan and psychoanalyst Willard Gaylin, the Hastings... - Registration open for Research Retreat
Registration is open for the McGovern Medical School Research Retreat. The annual event will be held March 5 in the Sarofim Research Building at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine (1825 Pressler St.). The event begins with registration at... - Research shows clinical benefits for children with severe TBI
After children experienced severe traumatic brain injury, the infusion of bone marrow mononuclear cells derived from the patient’s own bones led to less time spent in intensive care, less intense therapy, and, significantly, the structural preservation of white matter, which... - Research on brain regulation of appetite published in Neuron
Recent research from the lab of Qingchun Tong, PhD, professor and Cullen Chair in Molecular Medicine, studying how the brain regulates reduced appetite in response to environmental stress has been published in Neuron. The article titled, “An excitatory projection from... - Watch videos, grow scholarship funds
Nearly $1,500 has been earned to fund McGovern Medical School student scholarships from views on the McGovern Medical School YouTube Channel. The Medical School YouTube Channel was officially accepted for partnership on Jan. 20, 2022, meaning the account is eligible... - Artificial intelligence in health care workshop draws crowd
More than 400 people attended the virtual workshop on AI in biomedicine and health care hosted by McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The event was chaired by Jiajie Zhang, PhD, dean and The... - LRC features student art
The artistic talents of 16 McGovern Medical School students are on display at the Learning Resource Center. “The LRC art gallery allows students to share their talents with the McGovern community and for all students to appreciate their classmates’ artistic... - Hebl headlines Women and Girls in Science Symposium Feb. 8
The McGovern Medical School Women Faculty Forum will host the sixth annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science Symposium from 4-5:30 p.m., Feb. 8 in the Memorial Hermann Conference Center. The International Day of Women and Girls in... - Preventive Cardiology Forum scheduled for Feb. 3
Physicians, nurses, dietitians, caregivers, and other health care professionals with an interest in cardiovascular disease prevention are invited to attend the 34th annual Preventive Cardiology Forum Feb. 3. The event will be held virtually from 8 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.... - McGovern Medicine: Comprehensive care for complex patients
This story was originally published in McGovern Medicine, an annual publication by McGovern Medical School. View the entire issue of McGovern Medicine. Improving access to care via telemedicine was one of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic. Years before... - Wang wins SMSNA Distinguished Service Award
The Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) presented Run Wang, MD, FACS, professor and Cecil M. Crigler, MD, Chair in Urology, with the Distinguished Service Award at the 24th Annual Meeting of the society in November. “I am truly... - Reading program integrates books into child care
Young patients and their families at a UTHealth Houston subspecialty clinic for children with developmental differences will soon experience the benefits of Reach Out and Read Texas, which is part of a national program that incorporates books into pediatric care... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Mary Aitken, MD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Mary Aitken, MD, professor and chair,... - Furr-Stimming named HSG Outstanding Investigator
The Huntington Study Group has named Erin Furr-Stimming, MD, professor, and Memorial Hermann Chair in the Department of Neurology, as its 2023 Outstanding Investigator of the Year at the 30th Annual meeting, HSG 2023, in November. Furr-Stimming won the award... - Panamanian award named in Rios’ honor
In a special ceremony in San José, Costa Rica, Adan Rios, MD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, witnessed the awarding of the Adan Rios Abrego Merit Medal Award, named in his honor for over 50 years of professional... - OBGYN to host fetal and placenta accreta symposium
The McGovern Medical School Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences hosts the 2024 Fetal Center & Maternal-Fetal Medicine Symposium, Jan. 27-28. The two-day symposium will run be held in a virtual format and is free, although registration is required.... - McGovern Medicine: Bridging the mental health workforce gap
This story was originally featured in McGovern Medical School’s annual McGovern Medicine Magazine. View the full issue of the magazine here. When the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center at UTHealth Houston opened its doors to patients in March 2022,... - Class of 2027 to receive white coats Jan. 16
McGovern Medical School students from the Class of 2027 take the next step in their medical education journeys when they participate in the annual White Coat Ceremony, Jan. 16. The White Coat Ceremony begins at 1 p.m. at the Hobby... - Scientific review focuses on hypoxia-inducible factors
The biochemical mechanisms that control the stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and the molecular strategies that can be exploited pharmacologically to promote or inhibit HIFs are the focus of a new scientific review published by faculty in the Department of... - In Memoriam: Anna Steinberger
Anna Steinberger, PhD, professor emerita of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, died Dec. 28, 2023, in Houston. She was 95. A native of Poland, she and her husband Emil emigrated to the United States after World War II, by way... - Looking Ahead
John Hancock, MA, MB, BChir, PhD, ScD, took the helm as executive dean of McGovern Medical School and H. Wayne Hightower Distinguished Professor in the Medical Sciences Sept. 1, 2022. Following his first year on the job, he reflects on... - Cheng honored as ASPET Fellow
The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) has named Xiaodong Cheng, PhD, professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, and Mary Mischer Distinguished Professor in Molecular Medicine, as a member of its 2023 Class of Fellows.... - Willerson Lecture to feature Serruys
The Department of Internal Medicine presents the James T. Willerson Annual Endowed Lecture at 4 p.m., Jan. 8, in MSB 2.006. The 2024 edition of the lecture features Patrick Serruys, MD, PhD, professor of interventional medicine and innovation at the... - Horton named ASF’s top academic mentor
The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship named Mary Kollmer Horton, MPH, MA, PhD, assistant professor in the Office of Educational Programs and director of the Medical Student Research Office, as its 2023 Academic Mentor of the Year. “This award meant the world... - AME welcomes newest induction class
The McGovern Medical School Academy of Master Educators (AME) has selected 13 faculty as its 2022 induction class. The 2022 AME inductees are as follows: Ben Barnett, MD, FACP, FIDSA, professor and J. Ralph Meadows Professor in the Department of... - Admissions: A virtually new process
One of the most stressful parts in the journey of medical education is the admission process for acceptance into medical school. At McGovern Medical School alone, over 5,000 applicants compete for just 240 spots each cycle. Therefore, the interview process... - Grants 101 scheduled for Jan. 8-9
The New Investigator Development Program (NIDP), led by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, offers an introductory grant preparation program, Grants 101, for junior faculty members and administrative support staff Jan. 8-9. Grants 101 is... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Mya Schiess, MD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Mya Schiess, MD, professor and Adrian Blood Distinguished Chair... - Digital signage streamlines shared-space booking
The McGovern Medical School Office of Conference Operations recently completed the installation of more than 60 digital monitors outside shared-space rooms inside the Medical School Building. The new digital signs feature live updates of room reservations, including event titles, department... - ASHG honors Milewicz with Advocacy Award
The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) has named Dianna Milewicz, MD, PhD, professor and President George Bush Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine, as the 2023 recipient of its Advocacy Award. The Advocacy Award is bestowed upon individuals or a group... - MAPPing out the academic journey
This story originally ran in the McGovern Medicine annual magazine. To view the full issue of McGovern Medicine, click here. One of the main goals for academic faculty is career advancement. From understanding the necessary steps to ensuring your CV... - Cox appointed director of Center for Translational Injury Research
Charles S. Cox Jr., MD, has been appointed director of the Center for Translational Injury Research at McGovern Medical School. Cox, the George and Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair in Neurosciences and the Glassell Family Distinguished Chair, will focus on expanding... - In memoriam: Kathrine G. McGovern
Kathrine G. McGovern, who was committed to supporting scientific discovery and innovation at UTHealth Houston, passed away on Dec. 1. She was 90 years old. Known for her kindness and commitment to community service, Kathy and her late husband, John... - Researchers receive $2.3M grant to study environmental influences on children’s health
Thomas Northrup, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and Kristina Whitworth, PhD, and Elaine Symanski, PhD, at Baylor College of Medicine, received funding from the National Institutes of Health as part of the Environmental influences... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Hannah Thompson
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? My love and interest for medicine was cultivated by many experiences. However, it was the terminal cancer diagnosis that my grandfather received when I was eight years old that... - Bhandari honored for outstanding presentations
The American College of Emergency Physicians awarded Salil Bhandari, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, as the Rookie Speaker of the Year at the ACEP 2023 Scientific Assembly in Philadelphia. The award is given to one emergency... - In Memoriam: George Weinstock, PhD
George Weinstock, PhD, former professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, died Nov. 26, 2023. He was 74. A world leader and pioneer in genomics, he recently retired as associate... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Shea Silhan-Maxey
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? While working toward my goal of being a world-ranked athlete in gymnastics/trampoline, I stumbled upon a new dream. He couldn’t have known, but this second dream was nurtured by... - Research explores novel therapies for IRI
A four-year, $2.6 million grant to study circadian rhythm and novel therapies to protect the heart during a heart attack or cardiac surgery has been awarded to UTHealth Houston by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the... - Morales selected for National Academies review
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has announced Rodrigo Morales, PhD, professor in the Department of Neurology, as a committee member for its Review of Transmission and Geographic Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in U.S. Cervid Populations. “I... - Gould to present Dean’s Lecture
K. Lance Gould, MD, professor of cardiology and Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished University Chair in the Department of Internal Medicine, will present the next installment of the 2023 Dean’s Lecture Series, at 4 p.m., Dec. 5 in MSB 3.001. Gould will... - Vásquez honored for contributions
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, Valeria Vásquez, PhD, associate professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, received the inaugural Dr. Pete Cala Research Excellence in Physiology Award during the recent Hispanic Heritage Symposium at UC Davis. Vásquez... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Frank Ramirez
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? My choice to pursue medicine was a gradual decision and came to me as a product of wanting to go beyond what I ever believed I could achieve and... - Research aims to reduce alcohol-exposed pregnancies
Angela Stotts, PhD, professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, received a 5-year subaward from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism via New York University to lead a groundbreaking study on... - Pulmonary and Critical Care fellows win CHEST Challenge
McGovern Medical School Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine fellows won the CHEST Challenge Championship at CHEST 2023, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, in Honolulu. The McGovern team consisted of Khalid Ahmed, MBBS; Maria Azhar, MD,... - Researchers awarded $6.2 million grant to address firearm violence
A five-year, $6.2 million grant to implement a hospital-based intervention program to address firearm violence has been awarded to researchers at UTHealth Houston by the National Institute of Nursing Research, part of the National Institutes of Health. Researchers leading the... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Brylee Lavoie
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? In elementary school, I used to play guitar in nursing homes and hospitals, and I remember feeling so excited that I could help someone feel a small bit of... - Parks named Texas Legend
The Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons named Donald Parks, MD, clinical professor in the Department of Surgery, as its Texas Legend at its 2023 annual meeting in San Antonio. The Texas Legend award is a lifetime achievement honor given to... - Tuchaai named assistant dean, academic student success initiatives
Tara Tuchaai, PhD, was named McGovern Medical School’s inaugural assistant dean for academic student success initiatives. The new position in the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs was effective February 2023 and reports to Margaret McNeese, MD, vice dean for... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Andy Kim
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? My interest in medicine was first spurred on during my childhood by none other than my older sister, who was diagnosed with autism. Early on, our communication skills were... - An named UTHealth Houston’s first vice president of drug discovery
Zhiqiang An, PhD, has been named UTHealth Houston’s first vice president of drug discovery. In this new role, An will work in close collaboration with researchers across campus, as well as the Office of Technology Management, Academic and Faculty Affairs,... - Neurology Update Symposium set for Nov. 18
Registration is open for the upcoming Sixth Annual UTHealth Houston Neurology Update Symposium, presented by the Department of Neurology, set for Nov. 18. The event takes place between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at the Norris Conference Center – Houston/CityCentre... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Sophia Khan, MD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Sophia Khan, MD, assistant professor in... - Kao to lead ACS Board of Governors
Lillian S. Kao, MD, professor and Jack H. Mayfield, MD, Chair in the Department of Surgery, recently was elected chair of the Board of Governors Executive Committee of the American College of Surgeons. She has served the ACS Executive Committee as the... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Travis Johnston
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? My parents suffered from various chronic health conditions that unfortunately led to both of them dying at relatively young ages while I was an undergraduate student. Because of their... - Students pen haikus for Doctoring 3
Faculty for the McGovern Medical School Doctoring Courses hosted a Doctoring 3 Haiku Contest to increase student engagement among second-year medical students participating in the neuroscience courses and curriculum. Interested students submitted an original haiku in the standard 5-7-5 format... - Koerich receives grant from Alzheimer’s Association
Suélyn Koerich, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Neurology, has been awarded a 3-year, $200,000 grant from the Alzheimer’s Association to study the therapeutic effect of plasma exchange in amyloid beta pathology. “I am honored to receive this... - Saver to present Fields Lecture Nov. 17
The Department of Neurology welcomes Jeffrey Saver, MD, professor of vascular neurology at UCLA Health in Los Angeles, to present the 2023 William S. Fields Lecture. Saver’s lecture titled “The Shape of Things to Come: Advances in Ischemic Stroke Management... - Percutaneous assist device in heart failure and cachexia
A case series from the Center for Advanced Cardiopulmonary Therapies & Transplantation sheds light on a groundbreaking approach to addressing cardiac cachexia in patients with advanced heart failure. The case series titled, “Use of Percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Device Before... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Kayla Evans
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? When I was growing up, I watched as a close family friend struggled with miscarriages and high-risk pregnancies. While I was too young to fully understand, I distinctly remember... - Former US Surgeon General presents 2023 Dean’s Lecture
McGovern Medical School and the Office of Research Affairs welcomed Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, 20th U.S. Surgeon General, Presidential Fellow, and Distinguished Professor of Practice at Purdue University for the 2023 Dean’s Lecture, Oct. 11 in MSB 3.001. Adams joined... - McGovern adds new fellowships, residency
McGovern Medical School continues to add to its training programs for medical school graduates, with a number of new graduate medical education programs approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the Texas Medical Board. The Medical School... - Study looks to control trauma triggers
Just as a song can remind us of the junior high dance or prom, sounds also have the ability to return traumatic memories. Pinpointing the location of these traumatic memories is the work behind a clinical trial, “Neuromodulation of the... - Traveling art exhibit displays the beauty of gratitude, philanthropy
The splendor and beauty that gratitude brings to the world is on display for the UTHealth Houston community to see. A traveling art exhibit, “The Art of Gratitude,” features nine original pieces by Houston artists. Each artist sought to illustrate... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Ruth Heidelberger, MD, PhD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Ruth Heidelberger, MD, PhD, professor and... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Maame Effirim
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? A few years ago, I went on my regularly scheduled biennial visit to Ghana to see my extended family and spend the holidays with them. While abroad, I was... - Swails wins UT System Outstanding Teacher Award
The University of Texas System announced Jennifer Swails, MD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, as one of 14 recipients of the 2023 Regents Outstanding Teacher Awards. The honorees – faculty from multiple UT academic and health institutions... - Soares, Machado-Vieira awarded $2.5 million grant
A $2.5 million grant for the transformation of knowledge and treatment of bipolar disorder has been awarded to researchers at UTHealth Houston by Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD²). Researchers leading the project are Jair Soares, MD, PhD,... - Research sheds light on neonatal brain hemorrhage
Neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage causes inflammation and white matter injury after preterm birth. IVH causes progressive brain injury after time, and faculty in the Department of Pediatric Surgery and the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging conducted a study to determine... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Jaden Custard
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? My mom’s encounter with cancer motivated me to pursue a career in medicine, and I began by obtaining my Emergency Medical Technician license. I constantly think about the various... - MSRO launches research search engine for students
The Medical Student Research Office (MSRO) has launched the Research Opportunity Search Engine, a new database to help students at McGovern Medical School identify research opportunities year-round. A major need for students applying to specialty and subspecialty residencies is research... - 14th Annual Yatsu Day set for Nov. 10
The UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases will host the 14th Annual Yatsu Day Symposium, “Nurturing Brain Health and Preventing Stroke,” from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Nov. 10, in the Alkek Auditorium (Room 120) at the Cizik... - Regua earns women’s cancers development award
Angelina Regua, PhD, assistant professor in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, was awarded a 2-year, $206,000 grant from the Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award, in partnership with Pelotonia and the American Association for... - Hamilton receives funding for HOMES project
Jane Hamilton, PhD, MPH, associate professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, received a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration... - Center for Humanities and Ethics hosts “Primary Care”
The John P. McGovern, MD, Center for Humanities and Ethics, in collaboration with Thomas R. Cole, PhD, and Bill Monroe, will host a staged reading of “Primary Care,” at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 9 at the Midtown Arts & Theater Center... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Connor Crowe
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? I feel like I grew up interested in science and biology, and as I got older I realized that I would enjoy a career in which I could study... - Parchem earns pair of prestigious physician-scientist career grants
Jacqueline Parchem, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, has received a pair of prestigious grants to pursue innovative research that aims to improve maternal and child health by advancing our... - In Memoriam: Dr. John Ribble
John C. Ribble, MD, dean emeritus of McGovern Medical School, died Sept. 21, 2023, in New Jersey. He was 92. A pediatric infectious disease specialist, Ribble has the distinction as the longest-serving dean of the Medical School. He joined the... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Caroline Crain
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? In many ways, I always knew that I wanted to be a doctor. As a kid, I had a keen interest in the human body and was known to... - Arts & Resilience returns virtually Sept. 27
The John P. McGovern, MD, Center for Humanities and Ethics’ Arts & Resilience program returns for the 2023-24 school year with four virtual presentations beginning Sept. 27. Since its beginnings, the Arts & Resilience Program has welcomes highly accomplished fiction... - Rojas wins award from Congress of Neurological Surgeons
The Congress of Neurological Surgeons presented Pavel Pichardo Rojas, MD, MSc, research assistant in the Department of Neurosurgery, with the AANS/CNS Joint Section, Tumor Neuro-Oncology Trainee Award at the CNS annual meeting, Sept. 9-13 in Washington D.C. “This award not... - Post-stroke Care Conference set for Oct 6-7
UTHealth Houston Neurosciences will host the Stroke Transitions of Care and Post-Stroke Care Conference, Oct. 6-7 at the Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston (6901 Bertner Ave.). The conference aims to be a dynamic, engaging, and inclusive meeting designed... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Vilma Caballero
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? My interest in medicine began when I experienced how different diagnoses would affect my family. From watching my 2-week-old brother being prepped for surgery to visiting my aunt after... - Research focuses on liver protection, regeneration
With liver transplantation on the rise in the United States, McGovern Medical School scientists are focused on improving liver protection and regeneration. Recent back-to-back papers published in Science Translational Medicine, Journal of Hepatology and Hepatology by lead author Cynthia Ju,... - Women in Medicine Spotlight: Bonnie Gregory, MD
A 2021 study revealed that just three National Basketball Association team orthopedic surgeons were women. By the spring of 2022, UTHealth Houston’s Bonnie Gregory, MD, had joined them. As a sports medicine surgeon at UT Physicians Orthopedics and an assistant... - Dean’s Lecture to feature former US Surgeon General
Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, the 20th U.S. Surgeon General and a prior member Coronavirus Task Force, will present the 2023 Dean’s Lecture at McGovern Medical School, Oct. 11. Adams will present on “Lessons Learned from the Pandemic: Perspectives from the... - Applications open for BIG-TCR fellowships
Applications are now open for a pair of CPRIT fellowships for a research training grant, titled “Biomedical Informatics, Genomics, and Translational Research Training Program (BIG-TCR).” The grant awards both a predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowship and is open to all six... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Dakhil Alim
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? I’d always been interested in the profession. My interest primarily stemmed from my view of physicians as superheroes. I’ve honestly always viewed the ability to diagnose, problem-solve, and heal... - Learning Health Care Symposium set for Oct. 3
The Institute for Clinical Research and Learning Health Care, formerly known as the Center for Clinical Research and Evidence-Based Medicine, will celebrate its 25th anniversary by hosing the Learning Health Care Symposium from 8 a.m. until 12:15 p.m., Oct. 3... - QI project studies unintentional weight loss in assisted living facilities
Data from a quality improvement project, led by Maureen Stabile Beck, DNP, APRN, GNP-BC, assistant professor in the Joan and Stanford Alexander Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, has been published in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing. Throughout the COVID-19... - Rianon named associate dean for faculty affairs
Following an internal search, Executive Dean John Hancock has announced Nahid Rianon, MBBS, DrPH, as the associate dean for Faculty Affairs for McGovern Medical School, effective Sept. 1. Rianon is professor and vice chair for quality in the Department of... - University Ombuds Office expanded to assist staff
The University Ombuds Office is now available to all UTHealth Houston classified and A&P staff. Since its initiation in 2019, the University Ombuds Office (previously known as the Office of Academic Ombuds) has been a confidential resource available to the... - Newest Faces of McGovern: Neel Aligave
What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine? Growing up with parents who worked long hours, I often spent afternoons after school with my neighbors, the Andersons. I remember learning about the brain during middle school biology... - Journal opens discussion on medical education
A new journal aiming to serve as a discussion floor for people from different backgrounds of medical education has been created by Salih Selek, MD, professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Selek created... - Morcos named chair of neurosurgery
Executive Dean John Hancock, MA, MB, BChir, PhD, ScD, announced that following an international search, Jacques Morcos, MD, a highly renowned neurosurgeon, will join McGovern Medical School as the new chair of the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, effective... - UTHealth Houston joins SATURN trial
A clinical trial evaluating the role of statins in the risk of recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in patients presenting with ICH, has opened for enrollment at UTHealth Houston. The study, led locally by C.J. Jared Chen, MD, assistant professor in... - Bhandari wins John P. McGovern Award
Karthik Bhandari, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, is the 2023 recipient of the John P. McGovern Award as the exceptional clinical teacher. The John P. McGovern Award is given annually to the outstanding clinical faculty member... - McGovern student published in JAMA Network Open
A review of evidence supporting the 2022 US Food and Drug Administration’s drug approvals conducted by Amanda Koong, MS, a second-year student at McGovern Medical School has been published in JAMA Network Open. This study was completed in collaboration with... - Meet McGovern’s newest faces
The 2022-23 school year is in full swing at McGovern Medical School, as the Class of 2027 wrapped up their orientation and students returned to campus Aug. 7. The incoming class features 240 medical school students from 71 different undergraduate... - Research published on novel therapy for choroid plexus carcinoma
A recent case report highlighting a potential novel therapy for adult patients with choroid plexus carcinoma, led by Jay-Jiguang Zhu, MD, PhD, director of neuro-oncology and professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, has been published in JCO Precision Oncology. Choroid... - Lacuey awarded $3.1M NIH grant for SUDEP study
A five-year, $3.1 million grant to study preventive strategies for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) has been awarded to UTHealth Houston by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Nuria Lacuey Lecumberri, MD,... - Hsieh named assistant dean for educator development
McGovern Medical School’s Office of Educational Programs has appointed Peggy Hsieh, MEd, PhD, the school’s first assistant dean for educator development. Effective July 17, 2023, the aim of the new position is to cultivate a culture of teaching excellence by... - New number connects entire UTHealth Houston community to mental health resources
The UTHealth Houston community now has a single number to quickly access confidential mental health services. The UTHealth Houston Mental Health and Well-being Line is live, and can be reached by dialing 713-500-9888. “UTHealth Houston is composed of many faces... - Women Faculty Forum – Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Michelle McNutt, MD, FACS
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Michelle McNutt, MD, FACS, professor and... - Bhamidipati named Smythe Professorship in Medicine recipient
Divya Bhamidipati, MD, MSc, assistant professor of infectious disease in the Department of Internal Medicine, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Cheves and Isabella Smythe Professorship in Medicine. Bhamidipati will use the endowment to build upon studies in... - UTHealth Houston set to enroll patients for long COVID clinical trials
Two clinical trials that will evaluate drugs, biologics, medical devices, and other therapies for long COVID that are sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will launch at UTHealth Houston. The trials are part of the NIH Researching COVID... - Turning Pro at McGovern Medical School: Michelle Barratt, MD, MPH
“Education toward professionalism is more than being skilled and knowledgeable. It requires a lifelong transformational change in how we think, act, and feel as doctors. Our professional formation (Turning Pro) is shaped by the community in which we are surrounded.”... - Rios elected to Sigma Xi Honor Society
Adan Rios, MD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, has been elected as a member of the Sigma Xi Honor Society, and as a board member for the society’s Texas Medical Center Chapter. “I have been arduously working for... - Shah to present Withers Lectureship
Nipa R. Shah, MD, FAAFP, professor and chair of the Department of Community Health and Family Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville, will present the Department of Family and Community Medicine‘s 2023 Henry W. Withers... - Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium set for Sept. 9
Registration is open for the 10th annual Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium, hosted by UTHealth Houston Neurosciences, Sept. 9 in the Hermann Pavilion Conference Center at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital (6411 Fannin St.). The 2023 conference is titled “Children With Neurological and... - Genetic mutation can lead to coronary artery disease at young age
A novel molecular pathway to explain how a mutation in the gene ACTA2 can cause individuals in their 30s – with normal cholesterol levels and no other risk factors — to develop coronary artery disease has been identified, according to... - Neurohospitalist Fellowship Program earns society accreditation
The Neurohospitalist Society has announced the McGovern Medical School Neurohospitalist Fellowship Program has been approved for fellowship accreditation, becoming just the seventh program in the country to receive such distinction. McGovern joins the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern... - Rheumatology recruits co-director for Scleroderma Program
The Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine has recruited a new co-director of the Scleroderma Program, one of the largest scleroderma clinical and research programs in the world. An internationally known researcher and clinician in scleroderma (systemic sclerosis), Zsuzsanna... - QEP Forum welcomes Dr. Patricia Flatley Brennan
Discover how health care policy impacts the world’s largest biomedical library and the center of biomedical informatics and computational biology in the next UTHealth Houston Health Policy Forum, part of the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). Save the date for... - SSRF efficacy studied in new research paper
Recent research from David Meyer, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, has been published in the Annals of Surgery, studying the effectiveness of surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF). Patients suffering from rib fractures, which tend to be... - Prepping for back to school
While summer is still in full swing, your children’s return to the classroom will arrive before you know it. In preparation, parents can use these expert tips for ensuring the school year gets off to a healthy start. Being planned... - 28 faculty named Champions of Clinical Learning Environment
As a continual acknowledgment of the work it takes to create a positive and professional learning environment, the Directors of Learning Environment announced 28 faculty members who have earned the title of 2023 Champions of the Clinical Learning Environment. The... - Cannabis use associated with increased risk of surgical complications
People who are regular cannabis users are at an increased risk of experiencing complications before, during, and after surgery, according to a study by researchers with UTHealth Houston published in JAMA Surgery. Nearly 16.3 million people had a cannabis use... - McGovern, Memorial Hermann host Quality Symposium
McGovern Medical School and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center held the annual UTHealth Houston & Memorial Hermann-TMC Quality Symposium, May 12. The daylong event featured presentations from 2023 Clinical Safety & Effectiveness (CS&E) program graduates. The event featured a keynote address... - TX-CARES working to improve emergency care
Since 2019, the McGovern Medical School Department of Emergency Medicine has been working to optimize patient outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) through the Texas-Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (TX-CARES). Prior to 2019, Texas was the largest state in... - Disser wins 2023 Kuckein Student Research Fellowship
The Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society has named Nathaniel Disser, MS4, as a 2023 recipient of the Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship. “This award has been a culmination of the support from the Molecular and Translational Medicine Scholarly... - Different areas of the brain activated depending on structural complexity of music, language
Distinct, though neighboring, areas of the brain are activated when processing music and language, with specific sub-regions engaged for simple melodies versus complex melodies, and for simple versus complex sentences, according to research from UTHealth Houston. The study, led by... - 47th Henry Strobel Retreat set for Aug. 2
McGovern Medical School will officially welcome the Class of 2027 to campus with the 47th Henry Strobel Retreat, Aug. 2 at Camp Cho-Yeh, in Livingston, Texas. The Henry Strobel Retreat is a chance for incoming McGovern Medical School students to... - Psychiatry to host Houston Addictions Conference
The Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences will host the 2023 UTHealth Houston Psychiatry Academy Addiction Disorders Conference, Aug. 25 in the Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center (7440 Cambridge... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Jordan Lake, MD, MSc
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Jordan Lake, MD, MSc, associate professor... - MindGames team wins back-to-back championships
For the fifth time in 11 years, the UTHealth Houston Psychiatry MindGames team brought home the trophy from the national competition of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), thanks to team members Caroline McCool, MD; Hunter Hinman, MD; and Daniel Liaou,... - Keeping kids safe from Houston mosquitoes
If it’s summer in Houston, you can expect to see mosquitoes. Our climate provides the perfect storm of heat, humidity, frequent rain, and mild winter temperatures that rarely kill them. Experts are seeing more mosquito activity in 2023 than last... - A hitchhiker’s guide to the hospital
“I am not sure what roads lay ahead when starting this journey. From student to resident to educator, the trip was shorter than I thought it would be. Looking in the rearview mirror, a lot of growth, happiness, and change.... - First Person: Calderón lives dream of improving medicine in Ecuador
First person is an occasional series, providing firsthand accounts of outreach programs involving our McGovern Medical School community. This issue features Camila Calderón Molestina, MD, staff physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine. Four years ago as my residency application... - Novel research on neural stem/progenitor cells in adult spinal cord published in Cell Reports
Research from the lab of Jiaqian Wu, PhD, professor in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery and the Institute of Molecular Medicine, identifying new subpopulations of cells that could be leveraged to promote regeneration following spinal cord injury has... - Rios earns Panama’s Medal of Honor
Adan Rios, MD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, received the General Victoriano Lorenzo Medal of Honor, on June 7 in Panama. The General Victoriano Lorenzo Medal honors Panamanian heroes of the Independence of Panama from Colombia who distinguish... - Annual Employee Benefits Fair set for July 12
The UTHealth Houston Office of Benefits team will host its Annual Employee Benefits Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 12, in the atrium area of the Fayez S. and Susan K. Sarofim Research Building, 1825 Pressler St.... - Research on feeding and anxiety regulation published in Cell Reports
Recent research from the lab of Qingchun Tong, PhD, professor in the Center for Metabolic Degenerative Diseases and Cullen Chair in Molecular Medicine, on the ability of emotion neurons in the brain to regulate feeding and anxiety has been published... - Jantea wins Geriatrics Academic Career Award
The Health Resources & Services Administration has awarded Rachel Jantea, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, with the Geriatrics Academic Career Award. The award comes with a four-year, $87,000 per year grant to fund Jantea’s project, titled... - Removal of a foreign body in the neck after ingestion of a wire bristle
Injuries from ingestion of wire bristles from grill-cleaning brushes are common and can lead to long-term swallowing problems and other potentially devastating injuries. Brandy Ogg’s significant other was grilling hamburgers at home last May, when Ogg swallowed what she thought... - UTHealth Houston establishes Institute on Aging
Nearly 4 million people in Texas are over the age of 65, making up nearly 15% of the state’s population, according to a 2019 report. By the year 2050, 1 in 4 adults in the United States will be older than... - Sriwastava wins A.B. Baker Award
The American Academy of Neurology announced Shitiz Sriwastava, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Neurology, as the winner of the A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award. The AB Baker Teacher Recognition Award is granted to excellent teachers in recognition of... - Thosani appointed ASGE Committee chair
Nirav Thosani, MD, professor in the Department of Surgery and chief of the Center for Interventional Gastroenterology (iGUT), has been elected as the new chair of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) Standards of Practice Committee. “ASGE guidelines are... - Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award: Erin Furr Stimming, MD
Erin Furr Stimming, MD, professor in the Department of Neurology and Memorial Hermann Chair, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. The Leonard Tow Humanism in... - Hurricane season: How to weather the storm
The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, and to help keep you safe, the safety experts at UTHealth Houston offer their advice on the ways to prepare should a severe weather event hit home. “The best way to stay safe... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Cindy Ivanhoe, MD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Cindy Ivanhoe, MD, professor in the... - Weaver receives award from ASAM
Michael Weaver, MD, professor in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, received the Annual Award from the American Society of Addiction Medicine at the ASAM annual conference in April, in Washington, DC. The award recognized Weaver’s outstanding contributions... - From McGovern to TV: Dr. Down Below will see you now
When Fenwa Milhouse, MD, ’08, first came to McGovern Medical School (then The University of Texas Medical School at Houston), she had no idea which path she wanted to take in her career. She was admittedly “just excited to be... - John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center receives impact award
The state-of-the-art John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center at UTHealth Houston has received accolades for being a piece of art itself. The Houston chapter of the Urban Land Institute awarded the UTHealth Houston Department of Facilities, Planning, and Engineering the Development... - Research sheds light on oxygen treatment for cardiovascular diseases
Collaborative research from two McGovern Medical School departments on the role of oxygen in cardiovascular disease treatment recently was published in Nature Reviews Cardiology (Impact Factor 49.4). Basic scientists and clinicians from the departments of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain... - 18 students named Schweitzer fellows
Eighteen McGovern Medical School students have been accepted to the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship class of 2023-24. Panayiotis D. Kontoyiannis, Madilyn Feik, Sanjay Neerukonda, William Lavercombe, Sana Khan, Breanna Alonzo, Courtney Huynh, Mary Li, Bryana Stigers, Amira Bajracharya, Niveya James, Preethi... - First Person: Scholar to Council Member: An Alumnus Success Story
First person is an occasional series, providing firsthand accounts of outreach programs involving our McGovern Medical School community. This story originally appeared in the 2022 JAMP Program Repot. A few months ago, I sat for the first time as a... - Surrain wins NIH Pathway to Independence Award
The National Institutes of Health has awarded Sarah Surrain, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow at the Children’s Learning Institute, with the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award. The Pathway to Independence Award is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral... - Mendez-Figueroa, Rysavy receive prestigious awards
Prestigious grants totaling more than $4 million from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network (MFMU) and the NICHD Neonatal Research Network (NRN) have been awarded to UTHealth Houston. McGovern Medical School is the only institution in... - Melanocortin pathway research published in Nature Communications
Recent research on asymmetry in the melanocortin pathway, from the lab of Qingchun Tong, PhD, professor at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cullen Chair in Molecular Medicine, has been published in Nature Communications. The melanocortin pathway is... - Faculty put pen to paper in writer’s workshop
McGovern Medical School faculty have put a new twist on the adage “publish or perish” with their participation in the first McGovern Center Writing Fellows program. The McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics just wrapped up the inaugural writing program... - Professor’s son aids wounded on Ukraine frontline
A son’s spirit of adventure meant an early Thanksgiving for Emily Robinson, MD, professor of surgery, and her family this past year. “Chris told me two days before he left Houston that he was off to volunteer as a critical... - Cryo-EM helps to map mitochondrial function
Research led by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology using cryo-electron microscopy has shed light on the importance of phospholipids in mitochondria function, paving further mechanistic understanding of these cell power plants. “Structural insights into cardiolipin replacement by phosphatidylglycerol... - HHS funding to study clinic process, prevent errors
Improving the diagnostic process and preventing errors are the focus of two studies funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and led by Eric Thomas, MD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and associate dean for... - Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Theresa Koehler, PhD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Theresa Koehler, PhD, chair emerita for... - John Freeman Faculty Teaching Award – Claire E. Hulsebosch, PhD
Claire E. Hulsebosch, PhD, professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, is the 2023 recipient of the John H. Freeman Award for Faculty Teaching. Chosen by the senior class, the John H. Freeman Award recognizes the McGovern Medical School’s... - Tsong wins 2023 Crow Scholarship
Heather Tsong, PhD candidate in the laboratory of Andrea Stavoe, PhD, in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, is the 2023 recipient of the Terry J. Crow, PhD Scholarship in Neuroscience. Tong received the scholarship for her outstanding scholastic achievements.... - In memoriam: Noranna Warner, MD
Noranna B. Warner, MD, retired faculty member in the Division of Rheumatology, died May 8, 2023 in Houston, following a brief illness. She was 76. Dr. Warner was born in Lynwood, Calif., on June 7, 1946. Her family moved from... - Psychiatry to host Trauma & Resilience Conference
The Louis A. Faillace, MD Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences will host the 2023 UTHealth Houston Trauma & Resilience Conference June 2 at The Intercontinental Hotel (6750 Main St.). The theme for the 2023 conference is Elder Abuse and... - First Person: Mission to Vietnam
First Person is an occasional series, providing firsthand accounts of outreach programs involving our McGovern Medical School community. I co-founded Nuoy Reconstructive International, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit in 2020 in order to provide a comprehensive international medical engagement with... - In Memoriam: Alton Steiner, MD
Alton L. Steiner, MD, founding director of the Division of Endocrinology at McGovern Medical School, died at his home in Houston, May 6, 2023. He was 86. Born in Albany, NY, he attended The Albany Academy, Harvard College, Columbia College... - Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Master Clinical Teaching Award: Hilary Fairbrother, MD, MPH
Hilary Fairbrother, MD, MPH, associate professor and vice chair of education in the Department of Emergency Medicine, is the winner of the 2023 Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Master Clinical Teaching Award. Established in 2001 and made possible by... - Neher named director of accreditation
Following a national search, Samuel E. Neher, MS, EdD, was named the inaugural director of Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement for McGovern Medical School, effective April 1, 2023. This new position reports to LaTanya Love, MD, dean of Education, and... - Benjy F. Brooks, MD Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award: Thaddeus Puzio, MD, FACS
Thaddeus Puzio, MD, FACS, assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, is the 2023 winner of the Benjy F. Brooks, MD, Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award. “I was truly surprised and felt honored to win this award,” Puzio said. “Life is... - In Memoriam: John DeMoss, PhD
John (Jack) Alan DeMoss, PhD, chair emeritus of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB), died from complications due to cancer Sunday, May 7, 2023. He was 93. Jack was founding chair of the department, joining the UT Medical... - Smythe Lecture set for May 18
McGovern Medical School welcomes Supriya Mohile, MD, professor of medicine, hematology/oncology, and vice chair for academic affairs at the University of Rochester Medical Center, as the keynote speaker for the 2023 Cheves Smythe Distinguished Lecture, May 18. The Cheves Smythe Distinguished... - McNeese wins Distinguished Service Award
McGovern Medical School presented Margaret McNeese, MD, Ransom Lummis Family Professor in Pediatrics, and vice dean of Admissions and Student Affairs, with the inaugural John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to a member... - IT begins UTH-Share Google storage spring cleanup campaign
Google recently announced the end of unlimited storage for its education customers, and in response, UTHealth Houston Information Technology has begun preparing for new storage limitations. University students, faculty, and staff are asked to assist with the effort by reviewing... - Students advocate at national summit
Representing McGovern Medical School at the national level, two students traveled to Washington, DC, last month for the Latino Medical Student Association National Policy Summit. Karla Madrigal, MS3, and Luis Valdez, MS4 (now graduated), hold leadership positions with LMSA Southwest... - Surgery faculty receives junior faculty fellowship
Krislynn Mueck, MD, MS, MPH, assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Acute Care Surgery, received the Surgical Infection Society Junior Faculty Clinical Research Fellowship Award in Westlake Village, Calif., during the society’s 42nd annual meeting. The annual fellowship... - 2023 Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards
Congratulations to the 2023 winners of the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards. May is designated as teaching excellence month for McGovern Medical School. Anesthesiology Daniel An, DO Stephanie Bradley, MD Lauren Brollier, MD Amber Campbell, MD Johanna de Haan, MD Michelle... - Higgins’ paper discusses how to be great physicians
A recent paper from John P. Higgins, MD, MBA, MPhil, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, on the “Ten Traits of Great Physicians,” has been published in the American Journal of Medicine. In the article, Higgins shares tips gathered... - Emergency Medicine leads in latest national traumatic brain injury guidelines
A national team of 22 medical experts, including senior author Ben Bobrow, MD, FACEP, professor and John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Chair in the Department of Emergency Medicine, has published in Taylor & Francis the third edition of... - LaPar honored for dedication to improving lives of children with congenital heart defects
Damien J. LaPar, MD, MSc, a leader in pediatric cardiac surgery at McGovern Medical School, UT Physicians, and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, is an inaugural honoree of the Children’s Heart Foundation for his commitment to excellence in academic pediatric and... - Applications open for 2023 Pruessner Scholarship
The Harris County Academy of Family Physicians is accepting applications for the Harold T. Pruessner, MD, Medical Student Scholarship. The deadline is May 19. Applicants must be a third-year medical student in good standing, have a strong interest in practicing... - In memoriam: Mohammed Mouaz Al Nass
Mohammed Mouaz Al Nass, lan manager for the Children’s Learning Institute, died April 23, 2023. He was 34 years old. He joined MSIT and the Children’s Learning Institute at McGovern Medical School more than 10 years ago. “Mouaz was very... - Women Faculty Forum honors four with Excellence Awards
The Women Faculty Forum at McGovern Medical School has awarded four faculty with the 2022-23 John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Excellence Awards. The WFF Excellence Awards recognize outstanding contributions made by women faculty at the Medical School. Awards are... - Facilities, Planning, and Engineering win energy conservation award
In Celebration of Earth Day, April 22, UTHealth Houston is highlight the various ways the university’s community is investing in our planet. The UTHealth Houston Office of Facilities, Planning, and Engineering was recognized as a leader in energy conservation by... - First 50th Reunion
The world, the Texas Medical Center, and McGovern Medical School looked completely different in 1973. Richard Nixon was president, a gallon of gasoline cost an average of 39 cents, The Godfather won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the... - NIH renews Dowhan, Bogdanov’s 50-year grant
The National Institutes of Health(NIH) has granted William Dowhan, PhD, and Mikhail Bogdanov, PhD, professors in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, a renewal for their grant titled “Dynamic Lipid and Protein Organization in Cell Membranes.” The renewal is... - Page wins President’s Award for Leadership
Julie Page, CPA, senior associate dean for Clinical Business Affairs at McGovern Medical School, is one of six members of the UTHealth Houston community to earn the prestigious President’s Award for Leadership for dedication to the university and the people... - Baker wins lifetime achievement award
Janet Baker, DMO III, Department of Emergency Medicine, is this year’s recipient of the Academy of Administrators in Academic Emergency Medicine James Scheulen Lifetime Achievement Award. She received the award at the organization’s March annual retreat in Dana Point, Calif.... - Physiatry students receive Outstanding Student Interest Group Award
McGovern Medical School students in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Student Association were presented the Outstanding Student Interest Group Award at the Association of Academic Physiatrists’ Physiatry ’23 National Conference Feb. 21-24 in Anaheim California. The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation... - Schmitz named SRNT fellow
The Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) has named Joy Schmitz, PhD, professor and Louis A. Faillace, MD, Chair in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, as a member of its 2023 Fellowship class. The status of... - Class of 2023 graduates April 28
Nearly 250 graduates will walk the stage as part of the Class of 2023 commencement ceremony Friday, April 28 at NRG Arena. Emma Holliday, MD, associate professor in the Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology Section at MD Anderson Cancer Center, was selected... - Run for the Rose on April 16
Brain cancer will once again meet its match at the 20th Anniversary Run for the Rose, April 16 at the University of Houston. Race day activities will include a survivor stroll at 8 a.m. followed by a 5K timed run... - Study: SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, can alter genome structure of our cells
People infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may experience genome structure changes that not only may explain our immunological symptoms after infection but also potentially link to long COVID, according to a new study by researchers at McGovern... - Post-COVID brain topic of public forum
Everyone is invited to the Neuroscience Research Center’s 27th annual free public forum on “Post-COVID Brain and Behavioral Health.” Featuring McGovern Medical School faculty, the event will be held 10:30 am – noon Saturday, April 15 at the Cooley University... - Houston Shock Symposium set for April 14-16
The Center for Advanced Cardiopulmonary Therapies and Transplantation and UTHealth Houston Heart and Vascular will host the Fifth Annual Houston Shock Symposium, April 14-16 at Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston Galleria (2222 West Loop South). The 2023 Houston Shock Symposium’s theme... - Women Faculty Forum – Women in Medicine & Sciences Feature: Rana Afifi, MD
Each month, the Women Faculty Forum presents its Women in Medicine and Sciences Feature, highlighting the women faculty at McGovern Medical School who are leaders in medicine, research, and education. This month’s feature is Rana Afifi, MD, associate professor in... - New UTHealth Houston school to train behavioral health workers receives approval from UT System, state
The new UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences has been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and unanimously by The University of Texas System Board of Regents, moving the university closer to establishing a seventh school. “This... - Researchers awarded $15M in NIH BRAIN grants
Three grants totaling $15 million, which aim to enhance knowledge of the brain processes that play a key role in speech, epilepsy, and reading, have been awarded to researchers at McGovern Medical School by the National Institutes of Health Brain... - Turning Pro at McGovern Medical School: SCoPE
Education toward professionalism is more than being skilled and knowledgeable. It requires a lifelong transformational change in how we think, act, and feel as doctors. This professional formation (Turning Pro) is shaped by the community in which we are surrounded.... - Melton, Arnold honored with Distinguished Alumnus
McGovern Medical School honored Shelby D. Melton, MD ’04; and Lemuel Maxwell Arnold, MD ’77; as its 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award winners during the Alumni Weekend celebration at the Distinguished Alumnus Award Reception and Ceremony, March 23 at the Westin... - Team-based care to bridge the divide in cognitive decline
Practitioners, researchers, and trainees in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and dentistry will navigate through the difficult terrain of ensuring safe, effective medication use in older adult patients experiencing cognitive decline at the National Institute on Aging-supported Geriatric Medication Safety Symposium April... - Flores named Geriatric Society Fellow
The American Geriatric Society has named Renee Flores, MD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, as a member of its 2023 Class of AGS Fellows. AGS Fellow Status is awarded to AGS members who have demonstrated a professional... - Barratt wins Distinguished Faculty Award in Professionalism
The McGovern Medical School Office of Professionalism has named Michelle S. Barratt, MD, MPH, professor in the Department of Pediatrics, the 2023 winner of the John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Faculty Award in Professionalism Education. “It is a... - Heart & Vascular collaborative to set direction
For more than 50 years, UTHealth Houston has played a vital role in cardiac care, research and education. Building upon these strengths, President Giuseppe N. Colasurdo and Dean John Hancock recently announced the formation of UTHealth Houston Heart & Vascular—a... - Soni to present Kirkendall Lecture
The Department of Internal Medicine welcomes Nilam J. Soni, MD, as the keynote speaker for the Walter M. Kirkendall, MD, and Margaret K. Kirkendall Annual Endowed Lecture Series, March 30. Soni is the director of the VA Point-of-Care Ultrasound Patient... - Arts & Resilience returns with Lanecia Rouse Tinsley
The McGovern Medical school Arts & Resilience program returns for its third installment of 2023, welcoming multidisciplinary artist Lanecia Rouse Tinsley. The presentation will begin at noon, March 22 and will be held on Zoom. Rouse Tinsley, is an artist... - Satellite fitness center set to open at McGovern Medical School
For those who have always wanted a return of a fitness center to the Medical School Building, the wait is almost over. A 2,000-square-foot space on the upper floor of McGovern Medical School will be the future home to the... - Debes, Dragoi publish work on optogenetic control of brain circuits in Science
Recent research from the lab of Valentin Dragoi, PhD, Rochelle and Max Levitt Distinguished Professor in the Neurosciences, revealing for the first time that cortical feedback projections carry attentional signals to individual neurons and cell populations in visual cortex, has... - McGovern Medical School students looking forward to meeting their matches March 17
Immigrants and children of immigrants are among the 225 students in the McGovern Medical School Class of 2023, who will learn Friday, March 17, where they will take the next step in their careers as physicians. Classmates include a former... - Register now for the 2023 Psychiatry Update Conference
The 2023 UTHealth Houston Psychiatry Update Conference, “Optimizing Clinical Care Using Technology: Clinical Mental Health Care and Digital Psychiatry,” will be held Saturday, April 22, at the Cooley University Life Center (7440 Cambridge St.). Hosted by the Louis A. Faillace,... - Ting wins Mordecai Y.T. Globus New Investigator Award
The American Stroke Association honored Shun-Ming Ting, with the Mordecai Y.T. Globus New Investigator Award. Ting is a PhD candidate at McGovern Medical School and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.... - Orlando honored as ASA Fellow
Barbara Orlando, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Launched in May 2017, the Fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists designation... - UTHealth Houston honors ‘STARS’ for their longtime dedication
A chance meeting with Dr. Red Duke helped bring Nachum Dafny, PhD, to the brand-new The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in 1972. Dafny was brought on as an assistant professor in neurostructure and function, what is now... - Aortic Nursing Symposium set for March 15
The Fifth Annual Houston Aortic Nursing Symposium will kick off the Houston Aortic Symposium Frontiers in Cardiovascular Diseases March 15 at The Westin Oaks (5011 Westheimer Rd.). The event begins at 11:30 a.m. with registration and a buffet lunch and... - Arts & Resilience welcomes author Samuel Shem
The lone in-person edition of the 2022-23 Arts and Resilience lineup features internationally renowned novelist Samuel Shem, March 7 in the TMC Library, Large Classroom. The event will also be streamed live via Zoom. Shem, the pen name of Stephen... - Sharrief needs your help for Voter’s Choice Hero Contest
The American Stroke Association has announced Anjail Sharrief, MD, associate professor in the Department of Neurology, is a finalist for the 2023 Voter’s Choice Hero Award. The American Stroke Association’s Voter’s Choice Hero Award honors an individual or group making... - NINDS names Byrne Javits Award recipient
John Byrne, PhD, professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy, associate dean for Research, June and Virgil Waggoner Chair, director of the UTHealth Houston Neuroscience Center, is a recipient of the 2023 Javits Investigator Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders... - Lhatoo organizes AI in Epilepsy Conference
Samden Lhatoo, MD, executive vice chair, and John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished University Professor of Neurology has organized the inaugural International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Epilepsy and Neurological Disorders. The event will be held March 7-10 in... - John inducted into Kenneth I. Shine, MD, Academy
Vineeth John, MD, professor and vice chair for education in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is one of four UTHealth Houston faculty inducted into the 2023 class of The University of Texas Kenneth I.... - Clinical drug trial research brings hope for children who have rare tumor disease
Cheryl Navar was 24 weeks into her pregnancy when doctors found multiple tumors in her unborn baby’s heart. Before baby Nora entered the world, her soon-to-be parents sat in their hometown in Corpus Christi, Texas, to learn about a rare... - 15th Aortic Symposium to be held March 16-18
The 15th annual Houston Aortic Symposium Frontiers in Cardiovascular Diseases is scheduled for March 16-18 at The Westin Oaks (5011 Westheimer Rd.). The two-and-a-half-day symposium features topics on structural heart, aortic root/BAV, ascending aorta, transverse arch, aortic dissection, AAA/physiology/pathology, and... - UTHealth Houston honors 2022 STAR Awardees
McGovern Medical School and UTHealth Houston honored employees who reached milestones in their careers with the annual STAR Awards. UTHealth Houston relies on the dedication, knowledge, and expertise of its employees to continue to further advancements in the university’s key... - Dahr, Gavvala named to leadership positions
McGovern Medical School and UTHealth Houston Neurosciences have announced the addition of two faculty, Sam Dahr, MD, and Jay Gavvala, MD, to a pair of leadership positions. Sam Dahr, MD Dahr, a professor in the Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology &... - Orthopedic Surgery hosts trauma symposium Feb. 17
The Department of Orthopedic Surgery will host the Houston Orthopaedic Trauma Symposium, Feb. 17 at Hotel Zaza – Memorial City (9787 Katy Fwy.). The Orthopaedic Trauma Symposium is designed to provide orthopedic surgeons with a comprehensive update on the current... - Arts & Resilience announces 2023 lineup
The John P. McGovern, MD, Center for Humanities and Ethics announces the return of its Arts & Resilience Program as a five-part series, which will resume Feb. 23. The 2022-23 speaker lineup opened with the return of Laura Spector, a... - Paper wins Best Abstract in Fetal Therapy Award
Eric Bergh, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, is the inaugural winner of the Best Abstract in Fetal Therapy Award supported by North American Fetal Therapy Network in memory of Elizabeth Thom. The award... - Medical School Research Retreat scheduled for March 7
Registration is now open for the 2023 McGovern Medical School Research Retreat, an open event sponsored by the Research Committee, where faculty, graduate students, and fellows can learn more about research conducted on campus and interact with their peers. The... - Bovay Lecture set for Feb. 17
Marco Demaria, PhD, will present the 2023 Harry E. Bovay, Jr. Lecture on “Heterogeneity in Cellular Senescence: From mechanisms to interventions.” Demaria will present the lecture at 11 a.m. Feb. 17 in the Beth Robertson Auditorium at the Institute of... - Research from Dragoi lab on cortical adaptation published in Nature Communications
Recent research from the lab of Valentin Dragoi, PhD, Rochelle and Max Levit Distinguished Professor in the Neurosciences, on the adaptive capacity of visual cortical populations has been published in the January edition of Nature Communications. Research performed in the... - Summer student recognized in science talent search
A high school senior participating in the Department of Pediatric Surgery’s trauma visiting scholar program recently was named a finalist in the Regeneron Science Talent Search for her research project, Selective Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Attenuates Traumatic Brain Injury-Mediated Blood-Brain... - Hancock hosts inaugural town hall meeting
Executive Dean John Hancock hosted his first Town Hall meeting Jan. 30 in an online format. In addition to his update on the school, LaTanya Love, MD, dean of education, and Richard Andrassy, MD, senior vice president for clinical affairs... - MBID Research Retreat scheduled for March 2
Registration is open for the 2023 Molecular Basis of Infectious Disease (MBID) Research Retreat. The annual event will be held March 2 at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine (1825 Pressler Street). The retreat, which began in 2008, aims... - Med Students for Memories helps relieve pain of infant loss
On her first shift as a medical student at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, Elisa Williams was faced with tragedy when a patient and family suffered the birth of a stillborn child. “I was at LBJ and felt like I had... - Jagat Narula, MD, PhD, named UTHealth Houston’s new chief academic officer
Jagat Narula, MD, PhD, a world-renowned physician-scientist and leader in academic medicine, has been named executive vice president and chief academic officer at UTHealth Houston, effective January 2023. Narula has begun working with the six deans and members of the UTHealth... - Hardwicke receives state award for excellence
Robin L. Hardwicke, PhD, FNP-C, HIV medicine provider with UT Physicians and professor of internal medicine, is the 2023 recipient of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) State Award for Excellence in Texas. For her excellence in clinical practice... - Papanna named director of new division
Ramesha Papanna, MD, MPH, professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, has been named the inaugural director of the Division of Fetal Intervention, effective Jan. 1, 2023. “Ramesha has truly earned the recognition of an international clinical and research expert... - Xenopus kidney research published in Kidney International
Recent research from the lab of Rachel Miller, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, seeking to create a better understanding of the gene expression and physiology of the Xenopus kidney, has been published in the journal Kidney International.... - Preventive Cardiology Forum returns for 33rd year
Physicians, nurses, dietitians, caregivers, and other health care professionals with an interest in cardiovascular disease prevention are invited to attend the 33rd annual Preventive Cardiology Forum, Saturday, Feb. 4. The forum will be held virtually from 8 a.m. until noon.... - Women and Girls in Science Symposium set for Feb. 9
The McGovern Medical School Women Faculty Forum hosts its fifth annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science Symposium, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Memorial Hermann Hospital Conference Center and online via Zoom. The International Day of... - Call for applications for Texas D-CFAR pilot program grant
The NIH-funded Texas Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR) is seeking pilot project grant applications offered through its Developmental Core. Proposals in all areas of HIV/AIDS basic, clinical, behavioral, substance use, and implementation science research are welcome, however, clinical trials... - Koehler, Kaplan elected to ASM leadership positions
Theresa Koehler, PhD, and Heidi Kaplan, PhD, have been elected to leadership positions within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). Their terms begin July 1, 2023. Theresa Koehler, PhD, president-elect Koehler is the President-Elect for the society and will serve... - OpenSpecimen available for all UTHealth Houston investigators
OpenSpecimen Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is now available at no cost for all UTHealth Houston investigators. OpenSpecimen is an upgraded way to manage your biospecimen inventory. Using the LIMS, you can manage and store associated biospecimen data such as... - New leadership for Pulmonary Center of Excellence
Harry Karmouty-Quintana, PhD, associate professor and fellow of the William S. Kilroy, Sr. Distinguished University Chair in Pulmonary Disease, has been appointed director of the Pulmonary Center of Excellence. With faculty appointments in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology... - Office of Academic Affairs hosts student mobile app download contest
UTHealth Houston students who download the new student-centered mobile app between Monday, Jan. 9, and Monday, Feb. 6, can help their school win a $1,500 award that can be used for a social event or party on campus. The Office... - Pancreatic cancer research published in Cancer Immunology Research
Recent research on a novel approach to the treatment of pancreatic cancer, from the lab of Jennifer Bailey, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, has been published in Cancer Immunology Research. According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic... - Four faculty win UT STARs Awards
Four members of the McGovern Medical School Faculty, Anthony Flores, MD, PhD, Callie Kwartler, PhD, Hui-Wen Lo, PhD, and Xiaotian Zhang, PhD, have earned The University of Texas System’s STARs Awards. The UT System Board of Regents created the Faculty... - ‘Do You Know?’ The Office of Employee Assistance & Well-being
As we enter 2023, all employees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the resources available through UTHealth Houston. To help, the Office of Employee Assistance and Well-being (EAP) has created a “Do You Know?” initiative. There are six digital options... - UTHealth Houston launches program in honor of Carmel B. Dyer, MD
The legacy of Carmel Bitondo Dyer, MD, lives on in the same communities she sought to impact throughout her career. The late Dyer revolutionized geriatric health care across the country. She led the UTHealth Houston Consortium on Aging and was... - Turning Pro at McGovern Medical School: Nathan Carlin, PhD
Education toward professionalism is more than being skilled and knowledgeable. It requires a lifelong transformational change in how we think, act, and feel as doctors. This professional formation (Turning Pro) is shaped by the community in which we are surrounded.... - Class of 2026 to receive white coats Jan. 9
McGovern Medical School students from the Class of 2026 take the next step in their medical education journeys when they participate in the annual White Coat Ceremony, Jan. 9. The White Coat Ceremony begins at 3 p.m. at the Hobby... - Alumni Association leadership stays in the family
As a new school year begins at McGovern Medical School, many around campus and throughout the McGovern community may not have noticed that the Alumni Association has a new president. This could be because the incoming president looks almost identical... - Team-based learning: it takes a village
Team-based learning (TBL) is an active learning pedagogy used in medical schools across the world. In TBL, students complete an independent test and then are put in a pre-determined small group to complete a group test. Faculty are able to... - Lorenz named microbiology chair
Following an international search, Executive Dean John Hancock has announced that Michael Lorenz, PhD, is the new chair of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics for McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, effective Jan. 1, 2023. He also will... - Mackenzie wins inaugural Rebecca Lunstroth Faculty Service Award
The McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics has named Chris Mackenzie, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, as the inaugural winner of the Rebecca Lunstroth Faculty Service Award. The Rebecca Lunstroth Faculty Service Award recognizes... - Melton, Arnold named 2022 Distinguished Alumni
McGovern Medical School has named Shelby D. Melton, MD ’04; and Lemuel Maxwell Arnold, MD ’77, as its 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients. The Distinguished Alumnus Award honors alumni of McGovern Medical School who have made significant contributions in the... - Soares, Meyer complete phase II of study on psilocybin
Results of a Phase II trial studying a synthetic form of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, which included co-investigators Jair C. Soares, MD, PhD, Pat Rutherford Jr. Chair; and Thomas D. Meyer, PhD, LP, professor, from the Louis A. Faillace, MD,... - Grants 101 scheduled for Jan. 9-10
The New Investigator Development Program (NIDP), led by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, offers an introductory grant preparation program, Grants 101, for junior faculty member and administrative support staff Jan. 9-10. Grants 101 is... - AMA announces 2023 Inpatient E/M Changes
Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, the American Medical Association will simplify selecting a code level, making changes to the inpatient setting that make office and facility setting requirements uniform for all physicians and billing practitioners. To prepare for the changes, the... - Jayaraman awarded $3.5 million grant
A five-year, nearly $3.5 million grant to study the mechanisms of brain receptors involved in neurological disorders such as learning disabilities has been awarded to Vasanthi Jayaraman, PhD, professor and John S. Dunn Chair in the Department of Biochemistry and... - Targeting enzyme could alleviate muscle wasting for cancer patients
Targeting a specific enzyme in the muscle could help cancer patients preserve muscle mass and potentially prolong their survival, according to research from UTHealth Houston. A study led by Yi-Ping Li, PhD, professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, found... - Arts & Resilience welcomes back Laura Spector
The John P. McGovern, MD, Center for Humanities and Ethics welcomes back Laura Spector for its fall event of the Arts & Resilience program, Dec. 15. Spector, a fellow of the New York Foundation for the Arts, will present an... - Clinical Informatics Fellowship Program receives ACGME accreditation
UTHealth Houston has received ACGME accreditation for a new Clinical Informatic Fellowship Program, to be housed within McGovern Medical School’s Department of Internal Medicine. “We are excited to be approved by the ACGME,” said Elmer Bernstam, MD. “This fellowship brings... - UT Police’s annual toy drive returns
UT Police at Houston is gearing up for its Annual Children’s Gift Drive, benefiting UTHealth Houston Harris County Psychiatric Center. The department is accepting gift donations at 10 locations throughout the UTHealth Houston campus, detailed below. Through Monday, Dec. 19,... - Digital room signage live in MSB
Visitors to MSB G.100 and MSB 3.001 may notice a new type of signage greeting them upon entry to these rooms. Digital room calendar signs now display real-time scheduling information for these areas with visual feedback on room availability. This... - Four receive UTHealth Houston’s most distinguished award
Three faculty members who have demonstrated longstanding excellence in areas of teaching, research, and clinical care, and another recognized for overall exemplary dedication and service, received top honors from UTHealth Houston President Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, MD, Alkek-Williams Distinguished Chair, during... - Kolonin, Gutierrez publish research in Cell Reports Medicine
A translational research study from collaborating laboratories of Mikhail Kolonin, PhD, and Absalon Gutierrez, MD, on the new mechanism mediating the anti-diabetic effects of incretins has been published in Cell Reports Medicine. The global burden of Type 2 diabetes keeps rising in...