impact september 2015

UTMB NewsleTTer • sepTeMBer 2015

RMCHP: Healthy from the Start

CTSA Accelerating Research

Record Graduation for Health professions

Spotlight on ADC Ambulatory Operations Director

Taking Control with Community Health program

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 impact

James Kasper, ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in UTMB’s Center for Addiction Research, was invited to chair the Behavioral Sensitization section at the fourth annual Asia-Pacific Society for Alcohol and Addiction Research (APSAAR) and fifth annual International Drug Abuse Research Society (IDARS), Frontiers in Addiction Conference in Sydney, Australia, in August. He also

presented his research, “A novel neuropeptide regulator of behavioral sensitization to cocaine.”

Jia Zhou, ph.D., associate professor in UTMB’s Center for Addiction Research, and Kathryn Cunningham, ph.D., CAR director, have received a grant from the National Institutes of Health for more than $2.4 million. The goal of this five-year project is

to develop small molecules that can regulate the balance of serotonin receptors in the brain in such a way that decreases relapse in cocaine addicts.

James leDuc, ph.D., director of the Galveston National Laboratory, has been appointed by the American Society for Microbiology as chair of the Committee on Public Health of the Public and Scientific Affairs Board for a term ending June 30, 2018.

slobodan paessler, DVM, ph.D., a professor of Pathology, has been appointed by the National Institutes of Health as a member of the Virology B Study Section, Center for Scientific Review for a term beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2021. In this role, he will review grant applications submitted to the NIH, make recommendations on the applications to the NIH national advisory council and survey the status of

research in their fields of science. Paessler was chosen because of his demonstrated competence and achievement in his scientific discipline.

Laurie Clendenen, a nurse clinician in the Children’s Hospital at John Sealy Hospital, took quick action to help save the life of a patient’s father, who was choking on a piece of food. As she was assessing and caring for patients, she noticed a man quickly jump up and run to the bathroom. She noted that he had been sitting on the couch eating dinner just moments before and

knew he was choking. She immediately yelled for help and put the man into position for the Heimlich maneuver. After two swift thrusts, the food was dislodged and the man was able to breathe. Afterward, she ensured that he was stable before resuming care for her younger patients. Way to go, Laurie!

A women’s conference was held Aug. 15 at The Village at Tuscan Lakes in League City. UTMB’s Dr. Catherine Hansen, clinical assistant professor in the Department of

Obstetrics and Gynecoloy, was the keynote speaker. More than 100 residents were offered health screening tests for blood pressure, glucose and stroke.

Kristen peek, ph.D., professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, has been appointed program director of the Population Health graduate program for a term beginning Sept. 1.

Dr. David Callender recently accepted a $100,000 check on behalf of UTMB, proceeds from the 19th annual San Luis Salute. The Salute, hosted by Tilman and Paige Fertitta, celebrates Mardi Gras!

Galveston by providing a charitable aspect to the city’s annual celebration. Each year, the Salute recognizes the extraordinary work of doctors and scientists, and also funds specific programs at UTMB. This year, the San Luis Salute benefitted UTMB’s National Biocontainment Training Center. Honorees included Drs. Alan Barrett, Thomas Geisbert, Thomas Ksiazek, James LeDuc and scott weaver. Pictured: Paul Schultz, vice president of Hospitality for Landry’s, Inc., and Michelle Beckwith, area director of Catering for the San Luis Resort, present a check to Dr. David Callender.

The Third Quarter 2015 issue of District Energy magazine—a publication of the International District Energy Association—features a familiar photo on the cover: Old Red. Inside is a story about our utility operations during and after Hurricane Ike and the comprehensive four-step solution to ensure the Galveston Campus will remain resilient during any similar event in the future. Marcel Blanchard, CEM, Cep, assistant vice president of UTMB’s utility operations, co-wrote the article.

Taking Control

Page 4

SEPTEMBER 2015

Healthy from the Start

Page 8

Record Graduation for Heath Professions

Page 10

Leader Spotlight

Page 12

Impact is for and about the people who fulfill UTMB’s mission to improve health in Texas and around the world. We hope you enjoy reading this issue. Let us know what you think!

ON THE COVER:Kirsten Emanuel, a nurse practitioner at the Regional Maternal and Child Health Clinic in Conroe, monitors a patient during a prenatal visit.

Vice President Marketing & Communications Steve Campbell

Associate Vice President Marketing & Communications Mary Havard

Editors Kristen Hensley KirstiAnn Clifford Stephen Hadley

Art Director Mark Navarro

CONTACT usEmail: [email protected] Phone: (409) 772-2618

Campus mail route: 0144 U.S. Postal address: UTMB Marketing & Communications 301 University Boulevard Galveston, TX 77555-0144

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From the President

Happy New (fiscal) year!

We have so much to look forward to as we head into Fy16: Opening new hospitals in League City and Galveston. Welcoming new care providers and clinical practices. Kicking off a yearlong celebration of our 125th anniversary. And, of course, providing our outstanding students with the very best education, discovering new ways to diagnose and treat disease, and providing a growing number of patients and their families with compassionate, expert care.

This issue of Impact is filled with stories that exemplify who we are and where we’re going. Among them:

• A day in the life of Kirsten Emanuel, nurse practitioner at our Regional Maternal and Child Health Clinic in Conroe

• A profile of Ann Varghese, director of Ambulatory Operations at UTMB’s Angleton Danbury Campus

• Our Community Health Program, an 1115 Medicaid Waiver project that is helping patients successfully manage chronic diseases

• Students heading back to school, making for a busy orientation week

• Healthy aging tips from geriatrician Mukaila Raji

• A Clinical Translational Science Award that will help us bring discoveries to patients more quickly

• A new Veterans Resource Group to serve UTMB employees

• Numerous accomplishments and kudos in the Working Wonders column and throughout the newsletter

Take some time to enjoy this issue, reflect on Fy15 accomplishments and look ahead to Fy16. Let the Impact team know your ideas for future articles, and thank you in advance for what I know will be another great year of progress for Texas’ first academic health center.

Dr. David L. Callender UTMB President

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 impact4

PATIENT CARE

“It was when I received a phone call from Miss Vicki—she’s my hero,” said Chambers, who lives in La Marque.

Chambers is referring to UTMB’s Vicki Cappa, RN, a care manager with the Community Health Program.

UTMB created CHP as a pilot program in 2007, in response to overcrowding in the emergency department. The program aimed to divert people from the ED and get them into a more appropriate care setting by providing care management and disease management services in Galveston to uninsured patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

Thanks to the Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver, the CHP expanded in 2012 to also reach patients in Brazoria County and provide services for Medicare/Medicaid patients, in addition to the uninsured.

Chambers’ name was passed along to CHP staff after she landed in the ED at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston with dangerously high blood sugar levels and a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

Chambers had known she was sick for years, but didn’t know what was wrong. She had been suffering from debilitating leg swelling and pain, and although she had Medicare, she had trouble navigating the system and felt like she was dismissed

without getting any answers.

Barely able to walk, she was confined to her apartment, jobless and hopeless.

“My apartment was like a coffin,” said Chambers. “I stayed in bed for weeks at a time, because I hurt so bad. I had just gone through a divorce and my mother died. I felt totally lost and was at my wits’ end.”

Cappa was just who Chambers needed. Shortly after the initial phone call seven months ago, Cappa made a visit to Chambers’ apartment to help her start managing her diabetes, and the trust was built.

“Miss Vicki was the first person to actually listen to

me. Just talking to her, I felt so much better—I wanted to live and knew I had hope,” said Chambers. “She gave me endless encouragement, saying ‘If you do this, this is what will happen. If you do the work, you’ll see the reward.’ I needed someone to tell me what I needed to do, how I would do it and what the results were going to be. And she did that.”

In addition to Cappa’s home visits, she accompanied Chambers to doctor appointments and stayed in touch by phone whenever Chambers had a question or needed support.

Sixty-four-year-old Mary Chambers can pinpoint the exact moment in February that changed her life.

B y K I R S T I A N N C L I F F O R D

Mary Chambers checks her blood pressure and talks to Vicki Cappa about disease management.

impact S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 5

“We work really closely with our patients and get to know them very well,” said Cappa. “When you walk into someone’s home, that’s a whole different relationship. It’s a close working relationship, but it’s what it takes to manage these chronic diseases. They are not managed in a 15-minute doctor visit. We do education all the time by phone or in person, answer any questions patients have, give them blood pressure machines, weight scales and other tools and teach them how to use them, find funding for procedures if a patient is uninsured, help them apply for free medications, and more. You name it, we try to do it.”

To help manage her eating habits, Joshalyn Toliver, a community health worker with CHP, met Chambers at her local grocery store to shop aisle by aisle, comparing food labels and showing her how to select appropriate foods to help control diabetes. She also attended a diabetes management class and chronic disease support group offered by CHP.

With the support of Toliver and Cappa, Chambers stayed committed to changing her lifestyle—eating right, taking insulin and seeing a primary care provider on a regular basis.

The hard work paid off. She’s down from three shots of insulin a day to one, has lost weight and can walk without a hitch.

“Mary has listened, she has soaked in everything that we have given her and she has run with it,” said Cappa. “I’m so very proud of her.”

Chambers isn’t the only person who has benefitted from the program, which helps about 500 people a year—there are other similar stories, says Alison Glendenning-Napoli, UTMB’s director of Outpatient Care Management.

She points to a specific patient who went back to work after spending years in and out of the hospital with diabetes and high blood pressure, and another with multiple chronic conditions whose health care costs decreased from $477,574 prior to CHP to $97,133 during CHP because of reduced hospital admissions.

Data her team has collected since the start of the program has shown a 29 percent decrease in inpatient admissions and a 35 percent reduction in costs associated with inpatient utilization. At the same time, CHP has achieved success in improving appropriate health system utilization by increasing outpatient clinic visits during enrollment in the program. More than 50 percent of patients have experienced improved clinical outcomes.

These results are significant considering chronic

1115 MeDiCAiD wAiVer

The Community Health Program is just one of many programs funded under the Texas

Healthcare Transformation and Improvement Program, referred to as the 1115 Medicaid Waiver, which was granted to Texas in 2011. The waiver encourages health care

providers to collaborate on innovative solutions to achieve the

“triple aim” of health care: improving the patient experience, improving the health of populations and reducing

the per capita cost of care, with a special emphasis on Medicaid and uninsured patients. Providers submit their proposed projects to Texas Health and Human Services and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for approval before implementation and earn incentives for successful outcomes.

The state is divided into 20 regions, with UTMB serving as the anchor for Region 2. Region 2 comprises 16 counties with 14 performing providers, working collaboratively to implement 83 projects valued at more than $300 million. Part of UTMB’s role as the anchor institution is to serve as the liaison between regional providers and Texas Health and Human Services.

diseases are responsible for seven of 10 deaths each year, and treating people with chronic diseases accounts for 86 percent of our nation’s health care costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Patients who are successful with this program have a high level of involvement and take responsibility for his or her own condition,” said Glendenning-Napoli. “We take the care to the patient and provide the tools, but 90 percent of what patients have to do to manage their disease takes place at home. It’s what you eat, your activity level, it’s all those things. There’s probably as many unsuccessful attempts as successful ones, but when we get those big successes, it’s just huge.”

Chambers isn’t looking back. She has now gained confidence in managing her own health and hopes to soon be off insulin completely. “I feel better. I can see down the road. I couldn’t see a block ahead before. Isn’t that something?”

For more information, go to www.utmb.edu/1115.

Chambers calls Cappa her “hero.”


reseArCH BrieFs

Carla Kantara, ph.D., and Darrell Carney, ph.D., recently completed a study reporting a new breakthrough in countering the deadly effects of radiation exposure. A single injection of an investigative peptide drug called TP508 given 24 hours after a potentially lethal expo-sure to nuclear radiation appears to significantly increase survival and delay mortality in mice by counteracting damage to the gastro-

intestinal system. The findings were published in Laboratory Investigation.

Michael Malloy, M.D., found and described in a paper in the Journal of Perinatology that, while there were significant improvements in the infant mortality rate among extremely preterm infants before 2000, there has been little improvement since then. The

results may be related in part to the advances made in the 1990s, such as the use of synthetic surfactant to prevent breathing disorders. While improvements to techniques and technology have been made since 2000, there have been no great breakthroughs or new discoveries.

George saade, M.D., found that fetal electrocardiogram ST segment analysis, or STAN, which is largely used in Europe to measure fetal heart activity, does not improve outcomes during labor and delivery or decrease cesarean deliveries compared with conventional fetal heart rate monitoring. The findings, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, were the result of a study conducted at 26 U.S. hospitals, including UTMB Health. The research, conducted in conjunc-tion with the NIH research institute, looked at 11,108 randomized patients.

Gurinder Singh, MBBS, found that people with a psychological condition such as depression, anxiety, psychosis or alcohol/drug abuse are more likely to be readmitted early into a hospital for complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Up to 55 percent of patients with COPD suffer from anxiety or depression. Because of the complexity of this situation, hospitals and health care providers need more guidance to reduce readmission in patients with COPD. The study was recently published in the journal Chest.

Kimberly Brown, M.D., has joined forces with a musical conductor/artistic director and a member of the U.S. National Rowing Team, among others, to produce a step-by-step coaching model that uses techniques and strategies from

the musical and sports world to train surgeons. Deliberate practice, which entails setting a well-defined goal, being motivated to improve and having ample opportunities for practice and refinement of perfor-mance through structured feedback, is a hallmark of this model. The components of their Conducting Elite Performance Training in Medicine model appear in a special edition of the journal Surgical Clinics of North America that centers on simulation in surgical training and practice.

reseArCH BrieFs were written by Donna Ramirez, Christopher Smith Gonzalez and Johnston Farrow. Find out more at www.utmb.edu/newsroom.

UTMB sUCCesses AND BesT prACTiCes were oN DisplAy at the annual 1115 Texas Healthcare Transformation Waiver Statewide Learning Collaborative in Austin on Aug. 27-28.

Hosted by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the event was an opportunity for participants to share what they’ve learned from Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) projects, highlight effective systems of care and discuss next steps in the future of the waiver. More than 550 individuals attended, including DSRIP-performing providers, statewide leaders, 1115 Waiver stakeholders and representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Dr. Ben raimer, senior vice president of Health Policy and Legislative Affairs, and Craig Kovacevich, associate vice president of Waiver Operations and Community Health Plans, were selected to present and moderate the main platform panel discussion, “DSRIP Projects: Developing Systems of Care.”

Two UTMB DSRIP projects also were selected for a poster presentation at the event. The TEAM Clinic initiative, led by Dr. premal patel, an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, and Dr. steve Lieberman, senior dean for Administration in the School of Medicine; and

the REAL Data project, led by Raimer and Ken smith, ph.D., director of the Center to Eliminate Health Disparities, were chosen to showcase their respective projects and the innovative and transformative work that UTMB has accomplished as a result of the 1115 Waiver.

Texas Spotlight on UTMB’s DSRIP Projects

UTMB was well-represented at the event in Austin. (From left to right): Dr. Mark Kirschbaum, Dr. Hani Serag, Alison Glendenning-Napoli, Susan

Seidensticker, Katrina Lambrecht, Craig Kovacevich and Dr. Gulshan Sharma.


ReseaRch

Accelerating research to improve health

It can take up to 15 years—and upward of $1 billion—to bring a lifesaving drug to market so it can actually be used. But translating discoveries into therapies swiftly is crucial to the progress of medicine.

At UTMB, multidisciplinary teams have been working for years on new applications of molecular biology to diagnose and treat severe asthma, new therapies for burns and new methods to fight aging-related muscle loss. And thanks to a new grant from the National Institutes of Health and implemented by UTMB’s Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS), we will be able to further support teams of researchers from diverse scientific disciplines to work together to move research discoveries and innovations into clinical practices that improve health.

The prestigious, five-year, $22 million Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences recognizes the accomplishments that the ITS has made since first receiving a CTSA in 2009. Since that time, the ITS has built upon its novel education programs, strengthened community partnerships and scientific advances.

The institute is a leader in the evolving field of translational science and one of 62 currently funded by a CTSA.

“Our CTSA is unique because of its focus on maximizing the effectiveness of translational teams, which provide support and catalyze innovation to move science forward,” said Dr. Allan Brasier, ITS director and principal investigator for the CTSA.

Clinical and translational research puts an emphasis on engaging collaborative teams of investigators from diverse disciplines to tackle complex health and research challenges. The goal is to expedite creation of new medical tests, treat-ments and cures—propelling them from the laboratory to the physicians and the patients who need them.

“Multidisciplinary translational teams grew naturally here and have already made significant changes to the landscape,” said Brasier.

Over the next five years, the ITS and its partners will expand the success of multidisciplinary research teams, enhance education in translation and team leadership, address cultural barriers to translation and improve health outcomes in communities.

Using an innovative model developed in collaboration with UTMB’s Center for Addiction Research, Office of Technology Transfer and Center for Biomedical Engineering, the ITS also will enhance the process of taking technology to market.

The CTSA initiatives will be implemented by a team of more than 30 co-investiga-tors from a dozen departments, led by Brasier; Elena Volpi, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Internal Medicine; Sharon Croisant, Ph.D., associate professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health; and Mark Hellmich, Ph.D., professor of Surgery.

UTMB’s ITS is composed of 15 multidisciplinary teams formed around diverse topics, including severe asthma, burns injury and hypermetabolic response, aging muscle, hepatitis C and cancer, obesity and its metabolic complications, pediatric respiratory infection, and women’s reproductive health, among others.

Accelerating research to improve healthHighly selective award to help translate scientific breakthroughs to patient care

B y K R i S T E n H E n S l E y

“UTMB is committed to supporting science that meaningfully advances patient care, and I’m very pleased that the innovative approaches to research and research systems that are foundational for our CTSA have been recognized by this continued funding from the NIH,” said Dr. Danny O. Jacobs, executive vice president, provost and dean of the School of Medicine.

He added that this grant will benefit our entire academic health center by raising the level of research, health care and training.

“Ultimately, major research breakthroughs that change the face of modern med-icine could take place here,” he said. “And our communities will be stronger and healthier because of that.”

Translation, please! The National Institutes of Health has made translational research a priority, forming centers of translational research at its institutes and launching the Clinical and Translational Science Award program in 2006.

So what exactly is “translational research”?

Translation is the process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public—from diagnostics and therapeutics to medical procedures and behavioral changes.

Pre-ClinicalResearch

ClinicalImplementation

BasicResearch

PublicHealth

Patient Involvement

ClinicalResearch



“How are you feeling? Is the baby moving? Any contractions?”

It’s not even 8:30 a.m. and Kirsten Emanuel, a nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health and OB-GYN at the Regional Maternal and Child Health Clinic in Conroe, is already on her fourth patient of the day.

“My average for last month was 23 patients a day, so that’s a lot,” said Emanuel. “On my schedule today, I still have three prenatal visits, then a new obstetrics visit, a family planning visit and a three-week postpartum visit—all before noon.”

At 26 years old, she is the youngest NP in the building and radiates energy and enthusiasm when she talks about her job, which she’s held for the past year and a half.

A day in the life of

a nurse practitioner

at a Regional Maternal

and Child Health

clinic


“I get ‘How old are you?’ at least twice a day,” Emanuel says. “But then, as soon as I start talking and explaining things, I get ‘Oh, she knows what she’s talking about’ (laughs). But seriously, I feel like I’m making a difference—and I have a big heart for the younger population. I try to make them really comfortable and explain everything to them. We do a lot of family planning and try to prevent unexpected pregnancies by educating young women about family planning options and birth control methods that are available.”

Her clinic in Conroe is one of 13 in UTMB’s Regional Maternal and Child Health Program, dedicated to providing high-quality, low-cost health care to eligible women and their families. Spread across East and Southeast Texas, the RMCHPs offer a wide variety of services, including family planning, prenatal care, and breast and cervical cancer screening.

The expansive regional network also consists of 22 WIC (Women, Infants and Children’s nutrition program) sites, some co-located with clinics. Together, they fill a crucial gap for the underserved population, with close to 300,000 clinic patient visits and WIC client visits a year.

On my drive up to Conroe, which is about 45 minutes north of Houston, I wasn’t sure what to expect, since I had never visited an RMCHP. I was prepared to see a busy waiting room, but didn’t fully grasp how many people are served each and every day until I walked into the lobby area—it was completely full of pregnant women, parents and young children, with no seats to spare. A Disney movie provided entertainment for little ones while parents filled out paperwork and waited for their name to be called.

Emanuel emerged from behind the clinic door to lead me back to her office. She had just finished a postpartum follow-up appointment and was busy charting and reviewing the medical history of her next patient, who had just arrived.

I follow her as she walks into a room where a 19-year-old who is 34 weeks pregnant is waiting along with her mom. The young woman is diabetic and has been coming to the clinic twice a week for evaluation.

Emanuel asks the patient how her week is going as she hooks her up to a fetal monitor for an NST, or non-stress test, which monitors the baby’s heart rate. During the visit, Emanuel grows concerned about the patient’s high blood pressure. After consulting with her clinic manager, Emanuel advises the young woman to drive to UTMB’s John Sealy Hospital in Galveston for additional monitoring.

“A lot of the patients we serve are high risk and have comorbidities, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which can complicate the pregnancy,” said Emanuel. “I don’t accompany my patients to Galveston, but I call to let the

hospital know when a patient is on her way. Once they arrive at JSH, all their charting and medical information is already there for the physicians.”

Emanuel explains that most of her patients travel to Galveston to give birth, as well.

“If there is an emergency, we send our patients to the nearest hospital, but we explain that UTMB is the best place to deliver,” said Emanuel. “At 28 weeks, we start talking about delivery and make sure someone is available to bring them to Galveston for a scheduled C-section or induction. It’s fun for me to see patients all the way through their pregnancy and then follow up with them afterward. I usually call my patients when they get down there to see how they are feeling,

and I try hard to make them feel like I’m there for them.”

Whether it’s in English or Spanish, Emanuel has learned to explain plans of care to her patients. She welcomes her next two patients in Spanish, immediately setting them at ease.

“The majority of our patients speak Spanish, so I’ve had to pick it up,” said Emanuel. “All of our clinical and clerical staff is bilingual, too, so if there’s something I really need to get across or a patient is looking at me with a blank stare, I can go get one of our staff members to help translate.”

After talking to a pregnant patient from Venezuela about scheduling an induction date, Emanuel gets a translator to make sure the patient understands where and when to go to Galveston, and what to expect.

Emanuel smiles and says that she still needs to work on her Spanish.

“I made this woman a baby blanket because she didn’t have anything at home for a newborn,” said Emanuel. “When she came in for her postpartum follow-up, she was speaking in Spanish and I didn’t fully understand what she was saying, but answered ‘Si, gracias.’ After the patient left, one of my colleagues informed me that I had unknowingly agreed to be the baby’s godmother!”

I stick around as Emanuel visits with two more patients. While she doesn’t have any time to waste, she sits down with each woman and listens to her questions and concerns without seeming like she’s in a rush—and to do that more than 20 times a day shows how much she genuinely cares for each and every person.

“It’s hard work and it isn’t easy to do this day in and day out, but I also have the chance to make a difference and that’s the best part of my job,” said Emanuel.

“I feel like

I’m making a

difference—and

I have a big heart

for the younger

population.”


EDUCATION

school of Health professions celebrates largest graduating class

“Our graduates will fill a

vital role in the nation’s

changing health care landscape.”

UTMB’s school of Health professions celebrated its largest graduating class, with nearly 360 students, at its Aug. 14 commencement ceremony at Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston.

The ceremony featured commencement speaker and distinguished UTMB School of Health Professions alumus Mario Celis. Dr. Danny Jacobs, UTMB executive vice president, provost and dean of the School of Medicine, conferred the degrees, which include bachelor’s and master’s degrees in clinical laboratory sciences; bachelor’s degrees in respiratory care; master’s degrees in occupational therapy, health professions and physician assistant studies; and doctoral degrees in physical therapy.

“This is the culmination of years of hard work and determination of our students,” said Elizabeth Protas, vice president and dean of the School of Health Professions. “We are very proud of the achievements of these fine individuals and know that they will make a tremendous, positive impact in their health care careers. I congratulate everyone on this tremendous accomplishment.”

In addition to the degrees, several awards were given to students who performed above and beyond their studies.

The John G. Bruhn Award for Professionalism recognizes a senior student who consistently displays, in personal and professional conduct, traits that bring credit to himself or herself, the school and his or her health profession. This year’s award went to Allison Rankin.

The Student Honor Award recognizes the graduating student who has contributed the most to his or her peers, the school, the university, and the community. This year’s winner was Claire Conroy.

The Interprofessional Scholar Medal was new to this year’s ceremony and is awarded to students who embody UTMB’s interprofessional philosophy of working collaboratively with other health care professionals, community-based providers, patients and patients’ families to enhance health care. To obtain this distinction, students must participate in collaborative interprofessional activities and document their involvement through reflective writings that are included in a students’ professional website.

school of Health professions celebrates largest graduating class

The inaugural winners of the Interprofessional Scholar Medal were Madison Carbaugh, Clinical Laboratory Sciences; Ricardo David Gonzalez Morones, Clinical Laboratory Sciences; Huy Le, Clinical Laboratory Sciences; Kaitlyn A. Nelson, Physician Assistant Studies; and Arpita Gunvantbhai Patel, Physician Assistant Studies.

Health professionals include key groups, such as laboratory personnel, physician assistants, and physical, occupational and respiratory therapists, among others. They represent 60 percent of the Texas health care work force.

As the Texas population grows and ages, serious chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, chronic lung disease and arthritis, will increase dramatically. According to the American Medical Association, there will be an avalanche of need for health providers to care for these conditions.

“Our graduates will fill a vital role in the nation’s changing health care landscape,” said Protas.

Established in 1968, the UTMB School of Health Professions has educated more than 11,000 professionals who serve in the nation’s health care workforce.

“Our graduates will fill a

vital role in the nation’s

changing health care landscape.”

B y K R I S T E N H E N S L E y


EDUCATION

Mini Medical SchoolFor many of us, the world

of medicine is a mysterious place, but a series of lectures

by prominent UTMB physicians and scholars recently provided practical insight on a variety of health care topics.

“Mini Medical School” is a free, public education program designed to familiarize participants with medical terminology, provide insight into biomedical research and ultimately make members of the public better health care consumers.

The concept was developed by the National Institutes of Health in the 1970s and is used by

academic health science centers throughout the United States. UTMB’s program, first offered in 1999, has always been wildly popular, and this year was no different.

Participants packed the League City Civic Center for the first presentation on Aug. 12, with a focus on the respiratory system. UTMB presenters were randall Given, ph.D., associate professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology; luca Cicalese, M.D., professor of Surgery; and Joan Nichols, ph.D., associate professor of Microbiology and Immunology.

Nichols taught again the following week, Aug. 19, with a presentation on the immune system.

Few things help second-year School of Medicine student Armando Elizondo relax the way music does.

Elizondo plays six different instruments and takes every chance he gets between his studies to craft music as a form of therapy.

“Studying to be a doctor is mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting,” Elizondo said. “So, for me personally, music is a form of healing. I’ve found that when I’m healed, I can better focus on healing others.”

Elizondo was one of dozens of students and faculty members who presented creative works at the fourth annual Artistic Expressions: Mind, Body & Spirit show at Old Red on Aug. 27.

The show, sponsored by The Osler Student Society, the McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine and UTMB Arts in Health Professions Education Consortium, is focused on helping medical students and faculty keep their creative fires burning throughout their medical careers.

“We don’t want our students to lose the creative part of themselves when they come to medical school,” Oma Morey, Ph.D., assistant professor of Internal Medicine and senior medical educator and associate member of the Institute for the Medical Humanities at UTMB, said. “We believe keeping that creative spark alive makes a more holistic physician.”

Morey, who is an accomplished artist in her own right and presented a music video during the show, worked with fellow artist Lisa Cain, Ph.D., associate professor of Neurosciences and Cell Biology and also an associate member of the Institute for the Medical Humanities, to start the UTMB Arts in Health Professions Education Consortium and organize the Artistic

Students, faculty display works at fourth annual Artistic Expressions show

Expressions show four years ago. There were just a handful of exhibitors during its inaugural year, but this year’s iteration drew 55 students and faculty members and attracted more than 260 visitors who perused the creations.

One of the exhibitors was Dr. Ronald S. Levy, professor of Anesthesiology/Anatomy and Neurosciences and director of UTMB’s Patient Simulation Center.

Seated at a table surrounded by intricate origami, Levy said he’s been practicing since the 1960s, adding that he believes one of his folds helped his acceptance to the Sackler School of Medicine in New York City because the topic of origami piqued his interviewer’s interest. Levy, who has learned origami from books, included one of the folds in his thank you letter.

“These were all from single squares of paper without cutting,” Levy said as he described the pieces displayed on the table. “Sometimes, when you’ve been working on a complicated fold for a while it can be frustrating, but when you complete one, that’s a good feeling.”

Joining her were A. scott lea, M.D., associate professor of Internal Medicine, and Skip Brown, M.D., associate professor of Pediatrics.

The series concluded Aug. 26, with an overview of the nervous system by José Barral, M.D., ph.D., associate professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; and Giulio Taglialatela, ph.D., professor and vice chairman for Research and director of the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Participants who attended all three sessions received a UTMB Mini Medical School “diploma.”

B y S T E P H E N H A D L E y


LEADER SPOTLIGHT

What does the Road Ahead look like for you?

To me, the Road Ahead is truly a path for all the UTMB family to follow so that together we can aim to meet the vision and mission of our institution. The Road Ahead shows every aspect that we collectively as an institution want to touch—People, Value, Strategic Management and Growth, and Resources. It also allows me to evaluate the work that I do and determine if those decisions and actions I make and do every day make a positive impact in achieving the mission of UTMB.

August marked one year that Angleton Danbury Medical Center officially became UTMB Health Angleton Danbury Campus. How have things changed since becoming part of the UTMB family?

Angleton Danbury Medical Center was a great hospital. (Obviously—I stayed for over 10 years!) But for the sustainability of our hospital in the Angleton community, we needed a partner. It was a great decision to partner up with UTMB. We’ve had a very busy first year— from transitioning employees, to reviewing and aligning policies and procedures, learning new systems and our most recent project of going live on Epic. It’s been an amazing year—full

Spotlight on Ann Varghese, director of Ambulatory Operations, Angleton Danbury CampusAug. 16 marked the one-year anniversary of UTMB Health and Angleton Danbury Medical Center joining forces to provide the very best community-based health care, focused strongly on patients and families.

Ann Varghese, director of Ambulatory Operations at UTMB Health’s Angleton Danbury Campus, has been there for the entire journey. She joined the Angleton Danbury Medical Center in 2004 and held a variety of positions, including director of Managed Care and Rehab Services and assistant administrator. In August 2014, she made the transition to UTMB employment as the associate administrator for the ADC.

Varghese began her career as an occupational therapist in Houston after earning her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, and her master’s degree in business and healthcare administration from the University of Houston, Clear Lake.

She took some time out to talk about the Road Ahead at ADC, as well as her life outside of work.

of learning and growth. I’m proud to be part of this change, but even more proud of all the amazing staff in Angleton who have worked so tremendously hard to make this partnership and transition a success. We could not have done it though without the dedicated UTMB staff who stood beside us this past year. In my opinion, those relationships and opportunities to share experiences and knowledge have been invaluable. During this past year, we’ve also seen tremendous growth in our ambulatory clinics. It has been great to welcome additional primary care providers and specialists to our community. The community always appreciates receiving care at home—and we’re excited that we can offer more to our community members locally in Angleton.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The people—the ones I work with, partner with, and those we serve. I enjoy the relationships we have built and our collective efforts making a positive impact and achieving goals.

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

I have three boys under the age of 10—need

I say more? We stay busy with Scouts, music lessons and sports. Beyond that, I’m an active board member of the United Way of Brazoria County. I enjoy giving back to my community and being a part of it. When I have time, I enjoy baking and trying new recipes … yummy!

What is the one thing most people don’t know about you?

Growing up, my first career choice was to become a teacher. Although I ultimately did not choose that career path, I still love it. I especially enjoy teaching things that I’m passionate about. Every Sunday morning I dedicate my time to teaching the high school students at my church. My students are wonderful and I must admit that, although I am there to teach them, they have blessed me far more.

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

I love seeing, learning and exploring different cultures of the world. I would love to spend time in various countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia—absorbing and experiencing the uniqueness of each.

“Every Sunday morning I dedicate my time to teaching

the high school students at my church. My students

are wonderful and I must admit that, although I am

there to teach them, they have blessed me far more.”

Spotlight on Ann Varghese, director of Ambulatory Operations, Angleton Danbury Campus


UTMB 125

In MID-AuGuST, uTMB HEALTH AnGLETon DAnBuRy CAMPuS CELEBRATED THE onE-yEAR AnnIvERSARy oF ITS LAunCH.

An event attended by more than 150 was held at the campus to mark the start of the relationship in August 2014 between UTMB and the Angleton Danbury Medical Center, which has served the Brazoria County area for four decades.

The impetus was a desire by both UTMB and ADMC to provide enhanced access to care closer to home for the region’s residents and to pave the way for success in an environment that is increasingly focused on accountable care.

In its first year, the campus has added nine new physicians to the surrounding community, and three more practitioners are set to join with UTMB this fall. In addition, Dr. Lucy Ryan, a Lake Jackson physician, joined UTMB in December and is fully integrated into the organization’s electronic medical record system.

The acute care hospital, which serves Angleton, Danbury, Rosharon and the surrounding communities, provides care for more than 60,000 of the area’s residents. The campus provides a variety of services including 24-hour emergency services, mammography program, cardiopulmonary clinical laboratory, diagnostic imaging services, outpatient surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy and wellness programs.

Celebration marks first year of UTMB Health Angleton Danbury Campus

1891 2016

oN oCT. 5, 1891, the founding members of the University of Texas Medical Department met for the first time—in Old Red—with 23 medical students and 13 faculty members.

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

Ours is a story of resilience, of the never-ending drive for excellence, and of lasting commitment to defining the future of health care. Beginning this October, we will mark this momentous 125th year with a series of special events to celebrate our rich history and bright future.

Celebrating 125 yearsComing soon: www.utmb.edu/125 for events, UTMB facts, key accomplishments and alumni, historical photos and more.

Save The Date!KiCK-oFF CeleBrATioN

Monday, oct. 5 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Old Red Plaza Galveston Campus


EDUCATION

The legacy continues as new students arrive

at UTMB

THe lAsT weeK oF AUGUsT MArKeD THe sTArT oF A New pHAse in the lives of incoming students from all four UTMB schools—the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the Schools of Health Professions, Nursing and Medicine.

UTMB has seen a diverse, ever-growing student population over the last nine years, with the total number of students enrolled increasing by about 42 percent overall since 2006, with more than 3,200 students.

Several events took place for new students and their parents, starting with Welcome Weekend, a fun and informative event hosted by the Office of Student Life at Moody Gardens in Galveston; the annual Proud Parents Welcome Event; and an all-school orientation.

UTMB President Dr. David Callender welcomed the new group of students at orientation on Aug. 24 in Levin Hall and eased any first-day jitters by talking about the sense of family that exists at UTMB.

“So if you feel a little alone today, that’s not going to last long,” said Callender. “People who visit our campus or sites where we deliver health care, teach students and residents and do research, often talk about the fact that shortly after they arrive here, they feel a sense of family—it’s a spirit of collaboration that really sets us apart from so many other places. We are proud of that and you will be a big part of helping us continue that.”

See more photos on UTMB Galveston’s Flickr account at www.flickr.com/photos/utmb.

The legacy continues as new students arrive

at UTMBB y K I R S T I A N N C L I F F O R D

GSBS Dean David Niesel, Ph.D., welcomes graduate students to the start of their new

scientific careers during the annual Community of Scholars ceremony.

To mark the beginning of their professional journey, the School of Nursing held its very first white coat ceremony for

first-year nursing students on Aug. 31.

Incoming members of the School of Medicine Class of 2019 recited the Declaration of Commitment during their white coat

ceremony Aug. 23.

New School of Health Professions students show their school spirit during Welcome Weekend at Moody Gardens.

Welcome to the

UTMB familyon sept. 1, two clinics officially became part of the UTMB family.The popular Children’s Clinic of Clear Lake in Webster is a 5,500-square-foot facility run by Dr. Robert Quillin, with four physicians on staff. The 4,200-square-foot Brazos Bone and Joint Clinic in Angleton is run by Dr. Craig McDonald and will be re-named UTMB Health Orthopaedics, Angleton. Both clinics are firmly established in their communities and bring thousands of patients under UTMB care. The integration of these clinics into the UTMB Health System is part of our overall mission to improve access to advanced care, in convenient locations for patients. For more information, visit www.utmbhealth.com.


VALUES

iNNoVATioN FoCUs

MoRe THan 40 UTMB eMPloyeeS anD STUDenTS attended the inaugural meeting of the Veterans Resource Group (VetsRG) on the Galveston Campus Aug 5.

The new group is open to everyone—regardless of veteran status—with the primary goals of assisting veterans with their transition to the workplace, educating non-veterans on the importance of inclusion and supporting the hiring and development of former and current service members.

At UTMB, we have 577 employees (5 percent) who are self-reported veterans, with the largest proportion of veterans working within Correctional Managed Care and the School of Medicine. More than 2 percent of our students are self-reported veterans, with more than half in the School of Nursing.

VetRG leaders were introduced during the meeting: Ron McKinley, Ph.D, executive sponsor and co-chair of the VetRG; Toni Griffin, co-chair of the VetRG and

This We “Like” Last summer, a team from across the institution

reviewed UTMB’s social media program, looking for best practices,

gaps and opportunities. One recommendation involved an updated, comprehensive strategy for UTMB’s social media program. you can access the draft strategy document, provide feedback and get the full audit findings on the social

media blog at http://blogs.utmb.edu/social. your input is welcome. And once the formal strategy is developed, the institutional social media policy will be aligned and revised accordingly. Additional work is planned through 2016, including social media training and site registration requirements.

Collaborate… AnywhereAs UTMB grows, so has the need to find improved means of collaborating with UTMB colleagues.

“Skype for Business” is now available for UTMB instant

messaging, voice or video calls, and even online meetings. Integration with our Microsoft Outlook address book makes it easy to contact UTMB colleagues. It may change the way you think about meetings. Quick Start Guides and other tutorials are available at www.utmb.edu/sfb.

Diversity Council; and Lori Blackwell, vice chair of the VetRG and co-chair of the Diversity Council. Rofus Coburn, director of Veterans Education with the Texas Veterans Commission, served as the guest speaker.

McKinley and Griffin led a discussion on the proposed vision and mission of the group, which aims to have UTMB recognized as a military-friendly university environment by the year 2017. Many attendees had the opportunity to suggest ideas for promoting inclusion, including peer-to-

peer mentoring and ensuring that the UT System and partnering organizations are able to translate military skills, training and certification into civilian job opportunities.

The VetRG will report to the Diversity Council, which is coordinated by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. For more information and future meeting times, visit https://hr.utmb.edu/diversity/VRG.aspx, or email [email protected].


UTMB Veterans Resource Group holds inaugural meeting

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): Ron McKinley, Ph.D., Toni Griffin, Rofus Coburn and Lori Blackwell.

Going GreenWeb Forms is a new way to create high-powered, responsive Web forms and contact pages, which can be submitted electronically, thereby eliminating paper and dramatically improving the user experience at the same time. Web Forms uses drag-and-drop technology to make it easy to create forms from scratch. Look for them this fall.

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 impact

pArTiNG sHoT

How does your garden grow?UTMB students and employee volunteers held a “garden work day” on Aug. 2 at Deborah Community Garden in Galveston. The non-profit organization Seeding Galveston has dedicated garden space to the UTMB team to grow vegetables for an ongoing community donation program with the local food bank, Our Daily Bread.

from left to right:

Bob Rodbumrung, Michelle Meyer, Nicole Hausser, John Sessions, Debbie Berger, Scott Moen, Michael Nicholls, Stephanie Tutak, Amanda Marie, Mauli Dalal.

1. Get your zzzzz’s. Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults—7 to 9 hours per night. Those who don’t sleep well are more likely to suffer from depression, attention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness and increased nighttime falls, to name a few. Talk to your doctor or a sleep specialist if you are having trouble sleeping.

2. Take a brisk walk. Moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk for 30 minutes, three to four times a week has been shown to reduce dementia risk by 30 to 40 percent. Activities such as biking, dancing, swimming and walking help grow new brain cells and increase blood flow to the brain.

3. stay social. Taking an art class, volunteering in the community, or getting involved in a book club are more than just fun and games. Participating in group discussions that stimulate your mind not only helps in terms of emotional vitality, but also improves memory and can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Top 5 tips for healthy aging

By uTMB’s Dr. Mukaila Raji, professor and director, Division of Geriatric Medicine

4. review your medications. About 30 percent of all hospital admissions in older adults are the result of adverse drug events. To avoid medication errors, fill all your medications at the same pharmacy and ask your pharmacist to check any new drug in a drug-interaction computer database. Ask your doctor to review your medications, vitamins and supplements twice a year.

5. Get your shots. As we get older, our immune systems tend to weaken over time, putting us at higher risk for illnesses such as the flu, shingles and pneumonia, which can be deadly for older adults. Take the time to protect yourself by keeping your vaccinations up-to-date.

Top 5 tips for healthy aging

impact september 2015

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