School of Medicine Alumni Association eNewsletter ● April 2015 ● https://alumni.utmb.edu Sealy & Smith gift of $75 million will help renovate John Sealy Hospital UTMB Marketing & Communications John Kelso, president of The Sealy & Smith Founda- he University of Texas Medical Branch tion, said the renovated John Sealy Hospital and the announced that The Sealy & Smith Foundation new Jennie Sealy Hospital will provide unparalleled T is providing $75 million to renovate both the health care. interior and exterior of John Sealy Hospital. The hospi- “We are proud to continue our relationship with tal was constructed in the late 1970s. UTMB knowing that these funds will help thousands “This generous gift from the Foundation will greatly upon thousands of people,” Kelso said. enhance and broaden our spectrum of health care ser- The renovation of John Sealy Hospital is expected to vices,” said Dr. David L. Callender, president of cost approximately $133 million. The remaining $58 UTMB. “We’re honored that the Foundation entrusts million will be funded through debt and local sources. us to continue providing the best The $438 million possible health Jennie Sealy Hos- care, education for pital will be com- health workers and pleted later this cutting-edge re- year and is sched- search.” uled to be open for patients in March The improvements 2016. The Founda- and upgrades to the tion provided $170 hospital will in- million toward the clude the reconfig- building of Jennie uration of floors Sealy Hospital. three through seven to provide women’s and children’s services. Mike Doherty, executive director of the Foundation, added that the Foundation is proud to continue the Donna Sollenberger, CEO of the UTMB Health Sealy family legacy of helping UTMB provide health System, praised the Foundation’s gift, saying that, care in Galveston, which began in 1890 with the open- when complete, the renovated John Sealy Hospital, ing of the first John Sealy Hospital. coupled with the new Jennie Sealy Hospital will repre- sent some of the most advanced health care facilities in The Foundation has funded more than $900 million to Texas. “We’re extremely grateful to the Foundation UTMB for a variety of projects in addition to provid- for its foresight and generosity.” ing Foundation-owned clinical facilities and other properties for use in UTMB’s health care mission. There’s no place like Homecoming... More than 400 alumni and guests returned to Galveston the last weekend in March to celebrate Homecoming at UTMB. Guests participated in campus tours, awards presentations, lectures and receptions on Friday, March 27. Saturday, March 28 began with an update from UTMB President, Dr. David L. Callender followed by a con- tinuing education course with UTMB professor Dr. Joan Nichols titled, “How to Prepare for Emerging Infec- tious Diseases.” Later that day, the classes of 1965 and all distinguished alumni were honored at a special luncheon hosted by Dr. and Mrs. David Callender. The weekend was capped off with an alumni reception and School of Medicine reunion dinners. Click here to see class photos and event photos. Joan Richardson recipient of 22nd annual Steel Oleander award Dr. Joan Richardson (SOM ‘70) will be honored this month as the Galveston Historical Foundation’s 22nd annual Steel Oleander. Richardson, professor and chairwoman of UTMB’s department of pediatrics and director of the division of neonatology, will receive a cast oleander blossom sculpture. She has been a member of the UTMB faculty since 1974. This award is given each year to salute an outstanding Galveston woman whose community service reflects the ideals and independent spirit of Ashton Villa’s Bettie Brown. Gerald Beathard, MD, PhD (SOM ‘64 / GSBS ‘64 and ‘69) recently had a publication listed as one of the 50 most influential papers in vascular surgery by the Journal of Vascular Surgery. Lisa L. Ehrlich, MD (SOM ‘93) was recently installed as the president of the Houston Academy of Medicine for 2015. William J. Van Wyk, MD (SOM ‘72) was named one of the top physician leaders in the ambulatory surgery center industry by Becker’s ASC Review. Rhan K. Bailey, MD (SOM ‘90) joined Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. Joe A. Volpe, MD (SOM ‘94) successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro as part of the LiveStrong Foun- dation’s Survivor Summit and helped raise over $180,000 for cancer programs and services. Submit your High Five! news to [email protected] William B. Weeks, MD (SOM ‘88) has been appointed chair of Clinical and Health Services Research at the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research in Davenport, IA. Lisa B. Messinger, MD (SOM ‘99) has joined the pediatric practice at Centegra Physician Care in Crystal Lake, Illinois. James Michael Glover, MD (SOM ‘86) was named the 2015 Nathan Avery Physician of the Year by the Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. Mea Culpa...In January, we published a list of alumni named as 2014 Texas Super Doctors. We failed to clarify that the list was a representation of alumni that are currently faculty/staff at UTMB. Several alumni contacted our office to inform us that as proud graduates of UTMB, they too were named a 2014 Texas Super Doctor by Texas Monthly magazine. It is with great pride that we recognize these outstanding School of Medicine alumni who were named 2014 Super Doctors! Let us know if you are a 2014 Super Doctor by sending your name and photo to [email protected]. Dr. Valerie P. Bauer (‘98) Dr. Bradley I. Beckman (‘78) Dr. Penelope J. Hooks (‘75) Dr. Don R. Read (‘68) Dr. James Rohack (‘80) Dr. Mellick T. Sykes (‘76) Submit your High Five! news to [email protected] Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match... n Friday March 20 in Levin learned where they will serve the Hall, more than 200 medi- next step in their medical educa- O cal students sat at the edge tion. of their seats anxiously waiting to As they received their envelopes, learn where they will spend the next students dropped $1 into a large few years in residency training. green basket. Keeping with Their anticipation grew as members UTMB tradition, the last student of the UTMB Student Affairs Of- called claims this basket as a con- fice danced their way into the audi- solation prize for the long, agoniz- torium while throwing t-shirts, Jazmin Gonzalez waits for her ing wait. bags, beach towels and other good- name to be called. ies to the nervous crowd gathered. This year, Lori Mitchell, who will be doing her residency in pediatrics at As the box of sealed envelopes made UTMB, gladly collected the cash prize their way to the front of the auditorium, for being the last person called and took the crowd began clapping, cheering and home approximately $200. tapping on their cell phones. Of the 220 students successfully Excitement, laughter, cheers and tears matched, 53% will stay in Texas and were infectious as names were called 17% will stay at UTMB. and students made their way to the stage to collect their envelopes. Stu- The Match Day event was capped off dents rushed back to their seats and with a celebration reception for students were surrounded by family and friends and families generously supported by as they ripped open their envelopes and the School of Medicine Alumni Dropping in a dollar. Association. While you’re in Austin… ...stop by and visit a few old friends. School of Medicine Alumni Association Annual Meeting and Reception Friday, May 1, 2015 6—8 PM The Hilton Austin Hotel 500 E. 4th Street 4th Floor, Room 400 Austin, TX 78701 RSVP 888-862-7111 or [email protected] Students approach Board of Trustees for study materials his fall, members of the School of students outlined the UTMB-provided Medicine Class of 2018 challenged STEP resources available to them and also T the School of Medicine (SOM) compared Pathoma to other commonly Alumni Association Board of Trustees to used resources. Additionally, the students purchase study materials for all MS2 presented the results of surveys conducted students that will help them in their second among their peers and summarized their year system-based curriculum and prepare interactions with faculty at Texas Tech them for the United States Medical Licens- University Health Science Center about ing Exam (USMLE) STEP 1 exam. their use of the guide. “Due to the fact that most students are on a “The students brought forward a thorough limited budget, we were hoping the Board of Trustees proposal and provided the necessary details for the would help cover the cost of a 12-month subscription Board to make an informed decision to fund these to Pathoma for each student,” said Sofia Buitrago, materials over the next two years,” said Dr. Deborah SOM class of 2018 president. Fuller, president of the SOM Alumni Association. Pathoma is a review course that consists of a 218- Trustees unanimously voted to purchase Pathoma for page text and more than 35 hours of a two-year period and asked the online videos. Associate Dean of Student Affairs and While there is a wide variety of Admissions, Dr. Jeffrey Rabek, to re- resources available to help students port on the STEP 1 scores after the prepare for the STEP 1 exam, UTMB first year of use. students did extensive research and The total cost approved by trustees for concluded that Pathoma was the best the Pathoma textbook and supple- fit for their needs. mental video access was approximate- “Pathoma covers pathology of every ly $23,000 per year for two years.