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Hospitals prepare for a plus-size future

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:12:00 GMT

Stretchers that can transport 500-pound patients. Wheelchairs designed for people who weigh 700 pounds. Toilets made to support half a ton. Hospitals and clinics are preparing for a future in which almost half of the population will be obese. UTMB has opened several new clinics and outpatient facilities on the mainland and is building a new hospital in Galveston. Architects and employees are planning for the comfort and safety of larger patients.

Business owners discuss island’s potential

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:09:00 GMT

About a dozen developers listened to city officials discuss the island’s potential Friday at the 2012 Developer Conference presented by the Galveston Economic Development Partnership. City leaders have pointed to positive change on the island such as increasing enrollment at UTMB. During the next four years, the medical branch expects enrollment to jump to nearly 4,000 students. “We’ll also have 1,000 more people working for us in the next five to seven years,” said Dr. David L. Callender. “We want to partner with the city of Galveston to think about how we can make Galveston a more livable community.”

Island making strides in recovery efforts, growth

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:06:00 GMT

Heber Taylor, editor of the newspaper, wrote that the community’s leaders at Galveston Economic Development Partnership’s conference for developers painted a convincing picture that a lot of money is being invested in the island. “If you’re skeptical, consider that somewhere between $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion will be invested within the next 10 years in capital projects at UTMB. Callender painted a picture of a remarkable recovery in four years, but his picture of the future was even better. … There is real demand for the medical branch’s products: trained professionals and research. University officials project the number of students will grow from 3,000 to 4,000 in the next 10 years. The workforce might grow by 1,000 in the next five to seven years.”

UTMB gets nearly $3 million from FEMA

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:05:00 GMT

UTMB has been awarded nearly $3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The money will help pay for repairs to UTMB’s Primary Care Pavilion in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Storm surge flooded the first floor of the PCP, while high winds from the storm damaged the roof. The money from FEMA will help prevent and reduce future damage by installing a flood wall with flood gates. The news also appears on Guidry News.

Fewer girls completing all three HPV shots: Study

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:48:00 GMT

Continuing coverage: Among girls and women who get their first HPV vaccine, the percent who complete all three doses is dropping, according to a new study by UTMB researchers. “We thought that that would be increasing over time as more people became aware of the vaccine and how it was to be administered,” said Dr. Abbey Berenson. The news appears in media outlets throughout the country, including in the Chicago Tribune and on Fox News.

UTMB offers ‘Sunday Screenings’

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:57:00 GMT

UTMB and The Ruth Kempner Endowment for Breast Cancer Screening are partnering to provide free screening mammograms for uninsured women in Galveston County.

Pool safety: Tips for a safe summer

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:55:00 GMT

In this week’s Keeping Kids Healthy column, UTMB Drs. Sally Robinson and Keith Bly write that a swimming pool in the backyard can be bliss for your family during the summer if all the correct safety measures are in place.

Medical Discovery News: Have another cup

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:50:00 GMT

In this week’s column by UTMB’s David Niesel and Norbert Herzog: The human love affair with caffeine dates back 500,000 years when Paleolithic man drank tea. A new report joins a shortlist of studies showing a shot of Red Bull could enhance mental acuity. In experiments with rats, her team found caffeine jolts neurons in an area deep inside the brain responsible for forming, organizing and storing memory. The column also appears in the Daily News.

Galveston celebrates National Women's Health Week with a conference

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:45:00 GMT

Held yesterday, the fifth annual "Celebrating Women: Mind, Body and Spirit" conference featured UTMB health physicians. Dr. Catherine Hanson discussed sexual health and anxiety. She says a woman's contribution to a household can easily get bogged down with daily issues of raising a family, that simple intimacy must never be overlooked.

Lend a helping hand, support a great cause

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:42:00 GMT

With the help of UTMB Drs. Colleen and Michael Silva, a family has aligned its charity with the Hospital El Buen Samaritano, a nonprofit hospital in La Romana, Dominican Republic, founded by the Haiti Missionary Baptist Church. This hospital provides the only option of medical care for more than 40,000 patients annually, the majority of whom are impoverished Haitian immigrants who have crossed into the Dominican Republic looking desperately for work.