UTMB Newsroom

GALVESTON, Texas - Not long after Hurricane Ike passed over Galveston Island administrators at the UTMB School of Nursing realized their disaster recovery plan needed updating.

“The playbook that we had was totally inadequate,” said Patricia “Trish” Richard, associate dean for undergraduate programs and education technology. “It did not have the level of detail that we needed it to have.”

“We were faced with a virtual diaspora after the evacuation,” said Kathryn “Kate” Fiandt, associate dean for graduate programs and clinical affairs. “It wasn’t as if we were all here and then we went to San Antonio, which was sort of how we visualized it. We were everywhere.”

Overcoming sporadic communications and relying for a time on BlackBerries and Wi-Fi cards, the administrators’ attention turned to recovery once faculty, staff and students were accounted for. (more) (more…)

 The Galveston National Laboratory was officially dedicated Tuesday, and several news outlets covered the event. From the Galveston County Daily News: “Almost 1,000 medical branch employees, elected officials and even one Hollywood celebrity - actress Morgan Fairchild - attended the dedication of the Galveston National Lab, where researchers will study both naturally occurring diseases and microbes that might be altered and used by terrorists. … The $174 million laboratory where researchers will develop drugs and vaccines to battle infectious diseases will forever change the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston and possibly the lives of millions of people around the world.” The article quotes Drs. David Callender and Stan Lemon, as well as U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and interim UT chancellor Dr. Ken Shine.

View the video report that appeared on KPRC-TV (Ch. 2, Houston).

Another version of the story was published in The Daily Texan.

 Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 11, 2008

Dr. Stan Lemon, director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, is quoted in this article anticipating the opening of the GNL. “It will serve to reinforce the strength of the biomedical research in the Galveston and Houston community - and we are really one community.”

 Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 11, 2008

Dr. Stan Lemon writes about the Galveston National Laboratory in this guest column. “Just as it will brighten the future of infectious disease research, the laboratory will contribute to a brighter future for Galveston. … It’s a tribute to the community and university that such a wonderful facility as the Galveston National Lab can hold its grand opening in the shadow of one of the greatest disasters to befall this beautiful island.”

 Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 12, 2008

Dr. James LeDuc, deputy director of the Galveston National Laboratory, writes in this guest column how he is eager to start using the lab to meet the “challenges posed to our nation by emerging infectious diseases and the threat of bioterrorism.  . . . This effort will create the foundation for the development of new vaccines, drugs and diagnostic tests that we hope will significantly contribute to the formation of a dynamic and vibrant biotech industry in Galveston and in the greater Houston area.”

 Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 12, 2008

The UT System Board of Regents is meeting today to discuss the future of UTMB. “According to the agenda, regents will talk about ‘individual personnel matters relating to the appointment, employment, evaluation, compensation, assignment and duties’ of medical branch employees in closed session. They are not scheduled to take any action, according to the agenda, but they could make an announcement anyway.”

 Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 11, 2008

Learning about Medicare’s “Diagnostic Related Groups” can save money for patients while helping to contain costs, according to UTMB Dr. Michael Warren in his “It’s Your Health” column. However, it doesn’t cover all medical conditions. “If you undergo some types of surgery without first talking to a Medicare representative, physician or hospital finance officer, you could find a huge bill in your mailbox,” he wrote.

 Austin Chronicle, Nov. 19, 2008 (cover date)

A reader asked if there were any health benefits to drinking urine. Dr. Victor S. Sierpina, of UTMB’s department of family medicine, recommended against it. He said, “I would presume that the recycling of one’s own waste water would soon lead to accelerated fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, rising BUN/creatinine, abnormal osmolality and taste really bad!” The article also quotes Dr. Robert Beach, director of the nephrology and hypertension division at UTMB. He said, “Drinking one’s urine will not be beneficial …. In fact, it would hasten one’s demise.”

 Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 12, 2008

There are several letters that discuss the importance of UTMB, a hospital taxing district and the future of UTMB.

 Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 11, 2008

In a Letter to the Editor, Rosalind Johnson of Galveston appeals for aid to help UTMB. She wrote, “How did the Houston Medical Center, which has numerous hospitals, recover from the massive damage done when it flooded? Could that plan work for UTMB?”