Maureen Wilder, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, associate professor and Master’s Program director in the School of Nursing, was recently awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration entitled, “Adding Practice Partnerships for Learning to Advance Underserved Service Efficiency.” The grant will address the necessary culture, language-appropriate and advanced skills of adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner graduates from the SON. The program prepares graduates to competently work with underserved populations in the greater eastern Gulf coast area of Texas, providing much-needed primary care services.
Dana Jones, a senior medical records technician in Health Information Management, and
Melissa Clary, a nurse at the League City Campus Hospital’s Emergency Department, received President David Callender’s Way to Go Award during the July Town Hall meeting.
Jones was recognized for going the extra mile while helping a patient get the records he needed. She was nominated by a UTMB retiree, who said Jones was “kind, caring, took her time, answered questions and was extremely professional. She deserves to be recognized.”
Clary was recognized for providing exceptional care to a 12-year-old who arrived at the ED after a bike accident. The patient’s mother, a fellow UTMB employee, said, “It is always scary to be on the other side of patient care, especially as the mom of the patient, but I have never had a better experience than Melissa provided. She put my child at ease and I can never thank her enough. I left the ED around midnight and was so proud to work for an organization that has people like Melissa Clary.”
The Provost Pacers, consisting of a team of employees from the Provost’s office, recently completed a 100-mile virtual race for charity. Between May 15 and July 15, each team member logged more than 100 miles by running outside, jogging, bicycling and walking. The race helped raise money for Helen Keller International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. The Provost Pacers team included: Dr. Danny Jacobs, Dr. Michael Ainsworth, Dr. David Niesel, Toni D’Agostino, Michelle Moreno, Victor Moreno, Lori DeWillis, Chasity Burris, Claudia Young, Diane Chide, Dena Bannan, Karen Little, Alexis Loyd, Jami Goodsell, Sheryl Lashway and Mary Schlobohm.
Nisha Jain Garg, PhD, MBA, was recently appointed chair of UTMB’s Academy of Research Mentors. She will lead a multidisciplinary team of more than 30 NIH-funded, experienced mentors in enhancing the culture of mentoring at our institution. Garg is professor in the departments of Microbiology and Immunology and of Pathology, associate research officer in Basic Sciences and associate director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity.
Congratulations to the latest winners of the Always Award, given quarterly to recognize units and clinics that have moved their teams closer to always doing the right thing for our patients. The Ambulatory Always Award, presented by Ann O’Connell, vice president of ambulatory operations, was awarded to
Texas City Pediatrics and accepted by
Michelle Basci, senior practice manager. The Inpatient Always Award, presented by David Marshall, chief nursing and patient care services officer, was awarded to the
Transplant Unit (9D) and accepted by
Dr. Muhammad Mujtaba and
Jason Ziegler, assistant nurse manager.
The
UTMB Blood Bank Laboratory was recently reaccredited by the American Association of Blood Banks and the College of American Pathologists. As part of the accreditation process, the Blood Bank received a jointi nspection from the AABB and the CAP and passed with flying colors. The accreditation survey takes place every two years and is designed to ensure labs meet Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments requirements and promote the highest standards of care for patients and donors in all aspects of blood banking, transfusion medicine, testing and other cellular therapies. Special thanks to Dr. Barbara Bryant and Craig Maschmann for their leadership.
Julie Solis was recently promoted to director of UTMB’s Health Information Management Department, where she had been serving as interim director. Solis joined UTMB more than 20 years ago and has had progressive responsibility in coding and HIM positions. She has managed the release of information and birth certificate registration processes since 2002. She holds national certifications in Health Information Technology from the American Health Information Management Association.