UTMB Announcements for 1/2/2026

Roberto Logroño, MD Award
for Professionalism in Healthcare

CALL FOR FACULTY NOMINATIONS

Award
We seek nominations for the annual Roberto Logroño, MD Award for Professionalism in Healthcare for meritorious faculty of UTMB’s five schools: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Professions, School of Medicine, School of Nursing and School of Public and Population Health. This lectureship and award are given annually in memory of Roberto Logroño, M.D., a Tenured Professor and Director of Cytopathology in the Department of Pathology from 1997 until his unexpected death in 2006. Dr. Logroño exemplified many of the attributes of professionalism, including altruism, accountability, excellence, duty, honor and integrity, and respect for others.

This year’s award ceremony will celebrate UTMB exemplars of professionalism from the past (Dr. Logrono), the present (a faculty member), and the future (a trainee). The Logrono award recipients will be honored at a ceremony to be held in Spring 2026. Awardees will be asked to present their insight about professionalism.

Award Criteria
The nominee should be a UTMB faculty member noted for a high level of professionalism in teaching, research, patient care, or service. Nominees must clearly manifest their commitment to professionalism and nominations should be based on these qualities rather than length of UTMB service or professional achievements. Desired features include but are not limited to:

• Evidence of altruistic activities that benefit others (e.g., putting the needs of patients, trainees, or others above their own, volunteer or pro bono service, advocacy)
• Demonstration of going above and beyond in service of patients, peers, and/or students of UTMB (e.g., mentorship)
• Commitment to accountability, duty, and integrity (e.g., transparent communication, self-identifying mistakes or challenges and correcting them, actively seeking feedback to improve personally and professionally)
• Commitment to excellence (e.g., exemplary clinical/teaching/research practice, recognizing and promoting ethical innovation, ethical attitude and response in interactions, particularly in challenging situations).

Nominations
Students, faculty and staff may nominate a candidate. Nominations should include a nomination letter (maximum 500 words) describing in detail, with specific examples, how the candidate exemplifies the principles of professionalism in daily interactions with colleagues, students, patients, and community partners. The nomination should also include the candidate’s curriculum vitae (CV) and up to two (2) additional letters of support (maximum 500 words each) from colleagues (including mentees and learners) who are well acquainted with the candidate. Nomination packets that exceed the word or letter counts will not be reviewed.

The deadline for nominations is January 2, 2026.Supporting documents should be sent together to Ms. Angela Culler at anculler@utmb.edu, with subject heading “Roberto Logroño Lectureship”. Documents should be sent as one single PDF file for each nomination. All nominees will need to be available to attend the ceremony on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 4:00pm.

Roberto Logroño, MD Award and Lectureship
for Professionalism in Healthcare

CALL FOR STUDENT/FELLOW/TRAINEE NOMINATIONS

Award
We seek nominations for the annual Roberto Logroño, MD Award and Lectureship for Professionalism in Healthcare for meritorious trainees (students, fellows, residents) of any of UTMB’s five schools: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Professions, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and School of Public and Population Health. This lectureship and award is given annually in memory of Roberto Logroño, M.D., a Tenured Professor and Director of Cytopathology in the Department of Pathology from 1997 until his unexpected death in 2006. Dr. Logroño exemplified many of the attributes of professionalism, including altruism, accountability, excellence, duty, honor and integrity, and respect for others.

This year’s award ceremony will celebrate UTMB exemplars of professionalism from the past (Dr. Logrono), the present (a faculty member), and the future (a trainee). The recipients of the Logrono award will be honored at a ceremony to be held in Spring 2025. Awardees will be asked to present their insight about professionalism.

Award Criteria
The nominee should be a UTMB student, resident, post-doctoral fellow or other trainee who is recognized for a high level of professionalism in their daily interactions and daily work. Desired features include but are not limited to

• Evidence of altruistic activities that benefit others (e.g., volunteer or pro bono service, advocacy)
• Demonstration of going above and beyond in service of patients, peers, and/or UTMB students (e.g., mentorship)
• Commitment to accountability, duty, and integrity (e.g., transparent communication, self-identifying mistakes or challenges and correcting them, actively seeking feedback to improve personally and professionally)
• Commitment to excellence (e.g., exemplary clinical/teaching/research practice, recognizing and promoting ethical innovation, ethical attitude and response in interactions, particularly in challenging situations).

Nominations
Students, faculty and staff may nominate a student/fellow/trainee candidate. Nominations should include a nomination letter (maximum 500 words) describing in detail, with specific examples, how the candidate exemplifies the principles of professionalism in daily interactions with members of the UTMB and/or surrounding community. The nomination packet should also include the candidate’s curriculum vitae (CV) and up to two (2) additional letters of support (maximum 500 words each) from peers, mentors, faculty members, or staff members who are well acquainted with the candidate. Nomination packets that exceed the word or letter counts will not be reviewed.

The deadline for nominations is January 2, 2026. Supporting documents should be sent together to Ms. Angela Culler at anculler@utmb.edu, with subject heading “Roberto Logroño Lectureship”. Documents should be sent as one single PDF file for each nomination. All nominees will need to be available to attend the ceremony on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 4:00pm.

The Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases proudly presents:

Lauren E. Brown, PhD
Research Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry
Associate Director, Boston University-Center for Molecular Discovery (CMD)
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts

Presenting:

“Selectively Targeting Hsp90 in Cryptococcal Fungal Pathogenesis”

as part of the
Infectious Diseases & Immunity Colloquium
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
12:00pm-1:00pm
2.212 Basic Science Auditorium

All interested persons are encouraged to attend!

Sponsored by: The Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases,
the Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Center for Tropical Diseases

Neonatal Platelet Transfusion Threshold Trial (NeoPlaTT)

What is the purpose of the study?

The purpose of this study is to figure out which platelet count may be best for platelet transfusion in the most premature babies. We will also compare outcomes in premature babies transfused with a higher or lower platelet count level. Our goal is that our platelet transfusion study will help doctors and nurses know when to provide a transfusion.

The NeoPlaTT clinical trial is enrolling participants with:

• A gestational age of 23 0/7 to 26 6/7 weeks AND <48h postnatal age

Patients who demonstrate a decrease in platelet levels will be randomized into one of two (high vs. low) threshold groups and transfused according to their randomized group. Additional eligibility criteria will be assessed by the study team.

Information gathered from this study may help other babies with low platelet counts in the future, however, there is no direct benefit to those who choose to participate in this study.

Please contact the study team at obgynrsu@utmb.edu or lead clinical research coordinator: tnbischo@utmb.edu

OLLI’s Spring Semester Begins January 5^th

Join us for lifelong learning, connection and healthy longevity. CLICK HERE to register and save your spot!

Not a member yet or know someone that can benefit from the gift OLLI? CLICK HERE to learn more.

The GOLD-AACN School of Nursing White Coat Ceremony will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026 at 9:00am in Levin Hall Auditorium. This ceremony will honor our incoming Traditional Baccalaureate students. All UTMB Employees, family, and friends are invited to attend.

Please join us in welcoming these new students.

Each week the Pastoral Care Department brings you a Moment of Hope and a Weekly Anchor to encourage you.

Weekly Anchor⚓

Today’s anchor celebrates the New Year, new beginnings, and all its possibilities. Your chaplains are praying for you! 

🛞A Blessing for Strength & Comfort Healing God, as the New Year begins, we thank You for caregivers who reflect Your compassion. Renew their strength, grant them peace and hope in challenges, and sustain them so their hands bring healing, and their hearts find rest in You.

🙏A Blessing for Their Hands Lord, bless the hands that clean, comfort, diagnose, and heal. Protect them from harm, guide them with wisdom, and fill them with love. As they give kindness, they may receive grace and strength to turn suffering into hope.

🌿A Message of Appreciation & Hope As the New Year begins, we honor your dedication and sacrifice. You are a light in the darkness, bringing hope and care in vulnerable moments. May this year bring renewed strength, joy, and the deep satisfaction of knowing your work brings immense good. Happy New Year!

🦻Listen to today's Moment of Hope entitled “Grateful Hearts - New Starts.” We hope it encourages you today.

Lord, even in life’s valleys we will not fear, for You are with us.

We cast our anxieties on You, trusting Your care.

God of mercy and comfort, strengthen us in affliction

So we may bring comfort to others. Amen.

Explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of research at UTMB. AI Horizon convenes the UTMB community to examine where AI in research is headed and how these tools are being applied across discovery, clinical research, and population health.

Event Details

What: A campus-wide symposium focused on the future of AI in research at UTMB
When: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: Levin Hall Dining Room, 2.217

Keynote Speakers:
Charley Taylor, PhD – National Academy of Engineering member, founder of HeartFlow, and Director of the Center for Computational Medicine, UT Austin

Elmer Bernstam, MD, MSE – Physician-informatician and national leader in clinical and translational informatics, UT Health Houston

Register here: AI Horizon: AI in Research at UTMB

Questions? Please contact Matt Mendoza at malmendo@utmb.edu or Gene Olinger at ggolinge@utmb.edu.

Please join the Administrative Professionals Association for our January 2026 Luncheon

Date: Wednesday, 01/07/2026

Location: Levin Hall, Dining Room 2.217

Presenter: Rev. Dr. Tammy Isaac, CAGS, BCCC Chaplain II, UTMB Pastoral Care Department

Topic: Intentional Beginnings: Setting Goals That Support the Whole You

This session focuses on beginning the year with clarity, purpose, and practices that support both personal well-being and professional growth. We will explore simple approaches to setting meaningful goals, establishing healthy habits, and navigating the demands of work and life with intention. Attendees will gain practical tools they can apply right away as they enter a new year.

Please register at the following link:

APA January 2026 Luncheon – Fill out form

Registration Deadline: Monday, 01/05/2026, by 11:00 a.m.