UTMB Announcements for 3/5/2026

The Women’s Resource Group (WRG) at UTMB is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 WRG Trailblazer Award. This annual recognition honors an exceptional leader who champions and advocates for women’s empowerment, advancement, and professional development across our institution.

We invite you to nominate an individual who exemplifies outstanding achievement, promotes opportunity for others, and uplifts the voices of women at UTMB.

Please see the flyer located [HERE] for full details and nomination requirements. 

Nomination Form: https://utmb.us/f50
Deadline: Monday, March 6, 2026

SAVE THE DATE- Winner be recognized at this event.
WRG Women’s History Month
Event: Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Levin Hall Dining Room

If you have any questions, please email wrg@utmb.edu.

Thank you for helping us recognize and celebrate the leaders who make a meaningful impact on women’s advancement at UTMB.

Are you interested in being part of WRG? Join Here: https://utmb.us/f4w

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY IN LEAGUE CITY

FOR K’S CREATIONS!!!

Come and take advantage of the last day for K’s Creations.  Folks are buzzing

 about the fun items and good service.  Check out a great collection of gifts

 including women’s clothing and accessories, scarves, fashion jewelry, lots of

new merchandise, and clearance items. 

It’s such an easy way to shop!

  THURSDAY, MARCH 5^TH

 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

LEAGUE CITY CAMPUS (CLINIC SIDE) – 1^ST FLOOR

Cash, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express are all accepted.

Proceeds benefit patient and volunteer programs.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

Multicenter Prospective Diagnostic Study Assessing PAS Biomarker Panel BioPASS: Standard Operating Procedures

What is the purpose of the study?

Aim 1: The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of a novel maternal biomarker for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) compared to standard (history and imaging based) methodology.

Aim 2: Measure the resiliency of patients with PAS compared to patients without PAS during the pregnancy and postpartum period.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years of age or older
• Viable singleton gestation
• Between16.0 to < 31.6 weeks’ gestation
• Ultrasound diagnosis of
  •  Anterior placenta previa (anterior placenta covering or abutting the internal cervical os)

OR

• Low-lying placenta (anterior placenta within 2cm of the internal cervical os)
• Able and willing to provide written, informed consent
• Plans to deliver at UTMB Galveston
• English/Spanish Speaker

Exclusion criteria

• Multiple gestation
• Unable to consent or deliver at UTMB Galveston

Join UTMB’s Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS) and the Greater Gulf Coast Translational Science Alliance (GGCTSA), in collaboration with the Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health (GC-CPEH), for a compelling conversation on The Toxic Truth: Southeast Texas Poison Control Center.

Location: The Health Museum, 1515 Hermann Dr., Houston, TX 77004

Date/Time:Saturday, March 14, 2026; 11 am – 12 pm  

This conversation features Chiemela Ubani, Pharm.D., DABAT, a clinical toxicologist with extensive experience in pharmacy, emergency medicine, and poison information. He previously served as a Specialist in Poison Information at the Southeast Texas Poison Center, completed a Clinical Toxicology & Emergency Medicine Fellowship with UF Health Jacksonville, and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Applied Toxicology. Dr. Ubani currently teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at UTMB and has contributed research through the Toxicology Investigators Consortium and the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology. We are also joined by Jessyka Reynoso, a public health professional and certified Community Health Worker whose work centers on clear, accessible health and safety education. Jessyka has presented nationally, including research on first responders’ experiences with fentanyl exposure, and is dedicated to supporting individuals, families, and frontline workers through trustworthy health communication.

Please join us for a conversation with the Poison Center as we explore and discuss current insights on toxic exposures and their impact on community health.

Please RSVP to Claire Hallmark at cchallma@utmb.edu. RSVP is required to receive free museum admission and parking.

Light refreshments will be provided!

SCI Café (where Science and Communities Interact) is a community dialogue about science, health and possibilities among community members, researchers and scientists. The purpose is to engage and connect community members with science and science with the local community. Topics for SCI Cafés are driven by community learning interests and discovery from GC-CPEH & GGCTSA faculty.

UTMB Health is currently seeking volunteers ages 18 and above with a diagnosis of cancer to participate in a research study investigating the effects of cancer and cancer treatments on fatigue, cognition and the gut microbiome. This study is one year long and will require one in person visit and one virtual visit.

Volunteers will be reimbursed for their time.

On Thursday March 5, 2026 at the Health Education Center, the UTMB Police Department will be conducting "free basic" Bicycle Maintenance. The maintenance provided includes air in the tire and oil on the chain. The UTMB PD will also register bicycles. Registering bicycles helps to deter bicycle theft and it also aids law enforcement in the recovery of lost/stolen bicycles. Those registering their bicycles will receive a free U-lock and lights for their bicycles (while supplies last). The service will be held at 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. and is provided to all UTMB Students, Faculty, and Staff. All are required to have valid identification and their UTMB ID badge. If you have any questions, please contact Corporal Dorsey at 409-772-2691.  

Creating digitally accessible content is required by law, but has other benefits:

• Technology works better (search engine optimization (SEO), site structure, performance).
• Accessible content expands our audience and patient base (25-30%).

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Join the Digital Accessibility User Group on Microsoft Teams -- a great place to ask questions and share resources!
• Request an account to take free, on-demand courses from Level Access (will take a day or two.)

• Google Chrome is recommended, but any browser should work provided Flash in enabled.
• If paying by PO, select “Pay with PO#”. Please do not include taxes when paying with a PO. Please get with your department’s administrative support for assistance with submitting your PO.
• If paying online, select “Pay Online”.
• Your email address is required to receive a confirmation.
• To avoid late fees, orders must be submitted by March 29, 2026.

OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE (OLLI) at UTMB
4th Annual Gardening Symposium

April 22, 2026 | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
OLLI Galveston, 1200 Market Street (on UTMB Campus), Galveston, TX 77555-0972

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
$35 All-Day Registration | Box Lunch and Parking Included 

REGISTER NOW AND SECURE YOUR SPOT!

Discover the latest insights and innovations in gardening.
Perfect for both passionate backyard gardeners and seasoned professionals, the symposium offers presentations packed with new gardening information, techniques, and practical tips. 
Sessions will highlight cutting-edge, eco-friendly gardening practices tailored to our environment. In addition to these presentations, a wide range of SYMPOSIUM EXHIBITORS will highlight how YOU can get involved in Coastal Garden Culture. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn the newest strategies and connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts!

Meet the Experts (Series 2 of 4):

Join us March 19, 2026, 12pm-1pm, to meet Dr. Suresh Bhavnani.

Dr. Bhavnani is a professor within The Department of Biostatistics & Data Science. Dr. Bhavnani’s expertise consists of Network visualization, machine learning, explainable AI, and health policy analytics. Please join us to see what we can help you with!

This is a Hybrid meeting, you can either join us at HEC room 3.222 or

Please register at the link below:

https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_g1xoiJJaRsmqrTa35IMqhQ

EMPOWERING RESEARCH THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN INNOVATION

UTMB Data Science Consulting and Collaboration

Developing innovative computational methods to translate complex health data into actionable insights.

The Department of Biostatistics & Data Science at UTMB offers expert consulting and collaborative research support in biostatistics, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and biomedical informatics.

OUR EXPERTISE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT:

· AI & ML MODEL DEVELOPMENT

· PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS

· BIG DATA INTEGRATION & COMPUTING

· BIOMEDICAL NLP RESEARCH SUPPORT

· VISUAL ANALTICS & NETWORK MODELIN

· CLINICAL INFORMATICS & ONTOLOGY DESIGN

· CLINICAL DATA MANAGEMENT

The Department of Neurobiology presents a James E. Beall II Memorial Lectureship Seminar

by Rajesh Khanna, Ph. D., MScRichard and Thelma O.C. Barney Term Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and

Director, Center for Advanced Pain Therapeutics and Research (CAPToR), College of Medicine, University of Florida

"A molecular QR code for Pain Signaling" 12:30pm, Thursday, March 5, 2026

Basic Science Auditorium Room 2.212, Basic Science Building

The Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program Presents

“Establishment of a forward genetics platform in Orientia tsutsugamushi to define determinants of scrub typhus pathogenesis”

By

Samuel Beaver

PhD Student

Mentors: Hema Prasad Narra, PhD and Lynn Soong, MD, PhD

Friday, March 6, 2026

12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

HEC 3.206

Black Health in 2026: Policy Updates and Challenges to Health Equity 

Speaker:

Keisha Ray, PhD

John P. McGovern MD Professor of Oslerian Medicine Associate Professor w/tenure

Longitudinal themes, Director

Longitudinal themes-Ethics, Director

Medical Humanities Scholarly Concentration, Director

March 5, 2026

Noon to 1:00p.m. presentation

Lunch on a first come first serve basis

Location: HEC 3.200

Abstract: We know that Black people’s poor health outcomes can be largely attributed to discriminatory practices that withhold economic, social, and environmental resources needed for proper health. We also know that governmental policies at all levels can affect people’s access to resources needed for health. In this presentation I update attendees on new social and legal policies affecting health care, education, housing, and our physical environments and how they will impact Black people’s future health outcomes. Black health is intimately tied with changes to social policy and in this presentation I explore what this means for our conception of health equity for Black people and other Americans. 

The UTMB Alumni Field House is hosting its 4th annual Field Day on Saturday, 3/21/26 from 10am-1:00pm. We are located at 215 Holiday Drive. The first 125 people to check in will receive a t-shirt! We will have games, group class demonstrations, door prizes, food and a DJ at the pool, and a sign up for 10-minute chair massages. We will also have UTMB department/community vendors and Field House tours. The door prizes will be for free massages, items from the UTMB Campus Store, free memberships and guest passes to the Field House for UTMB employees/retires as well as Shriners and TDCJ employees. We hope to see you there. Please share with your friends! 

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of a non-invasive, low-intensity brain stimulation, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on locomotor skill learning and training. We wish to look at how tDCS impacts learning and overall motor function in people with chronic stroke.

We are looking for adults who had a stroke at least 6 months and can walk safely with or without an assistive device (ex. cane) for more than 100 feet.

All participants will be compensated for their time!

PI: Shih-Chiao Tseng, PT, PhD shtseng@utmb.edu 409-772-9555

Illustrating Histology: The Legacy of Marie Charlotte Schaefer, MD (1874–1927)

In celebration of Women’s History Month, this exhibition features reprinted drawings from the Laboratory of Histology, highlighting Dr. Marie Charlotte Schaefer’s contributions to early twentieth-century medical teaching and research.

Appointed the first woman instructor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in 1901, Dr. Schaefer published “Anchylostoma Duodenale in Texas” and taught biology, embryology, and histology for more than two decades. In 1925, she became UTMB’s first woman professor.

Thursday, March 5th, 2026

11:00am-2:00pm

Third floor, Old Red/Ashbel Smith Building 

🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟

Indulge in a Culinary Adventure at Our Cafe!

We're thrilled to serve our latest menu offerings that promise to tantalize your taste buds and ignite your culinary curiosity! Get ready to embark on a journey of flavor exploration with the freshest ingredients and innovative culinary techniques.

Click the link below to explore our tantalizing menu options for this week:

Food & Nutrition (utmb.edu)

Register Now for the Greater Gulf Coast Engage Me Series

(GTX-GEMS)

You’re invited to join us in learning about interprofessional teams in all healthcare settings from UTMB and regional health experts!

~Sparking Conversations, Igniting Action, Building a Healthier Future Together~

Bringing together leaders from government, healthcare, education, industry, advocacy, and the community to address key health issues through an interprofessional approach and using open dialogue, policy advocacy, research, and public health initiatives

Topic: Healthcare Workforce Burnout

Panelists:

Serena Bumpus, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

Chief Executive Officer at

Texas Nurses Association and Texas Nurses Foundation

Stacy A Ogbeide, PSYD, ABPP

Tenured Associate Professor Assistant Dean for Faculty Vitality, LSOM & Vice Chair of Prof Dev & Scholarship, FCM

UT Health San Antonio

Veronica Kwarteng-Amaning, PhD, MHA, RN, CCRN, NE-BC

Director of Patient Care Services & Assoc Chief Nursing Officer

TDCJ Hospital UTMB Galveston

Julie Griffith, MPH

Director of Wellness for the Academic Enterprise

University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston

Register Here To Attend

According to new Federal requirements, you may receive a copy of your Form 1095-C upon request. This means that UTMB is no longer required to automatically furnish you with a 1095-C. If you live in California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, or Washington, DC, these same Federal requirements do not apply to you, and UTMB will mail a paper form unless you have opted to receive electronically.

Active Employees

If you are an active employee and would like a copy of your Form 1095-C, log in to the UTMB Employee Benefits Portal here. From your Benefits page, select Quick Links in the upper-right corner and then click on Your Current 1095-C Form to download it electronically.

Former Employees/Retirees

If you are no longer employed by UTMB or have retired and would like to request a copy of your Form 1095-C, you may access our external portal here. You will be required to authenticate your identity by logging in with a username and password.

If you have any questions about obtaining your 1095-C, please contact Benefits Services at:

• (409) 772-2630
• (866) 966-8862
• benefits.services@utmb.edu

Interested in contributing to important blood platelet research?

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch want to learn more about how mechanical force regulates platelet function, and whether mechanobiology can be used to better treat arterial thrombosis.

This study may be a good fit for you if:

You are at least 18 years old and non-pregnant (if a woman).

No history of trypanophobia or anemia.

What’s involved?

Only 1 visit in total, for about 20 minutes, where you will have a small-amount blood donation.

The collected blood volume will be 3-30 ml (venous blood draw).

There is no cost to you and you will be compensated for your time and participation.

This study is not testing any drugs or treatments.

The research will take place at the 5th floor of Waverly Smith Pavilion, Jennie Sealy Hospital.