Faculty Development & Faculty Affairs News Supporting and Celebrating Faculty Success at UTMB

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A wide shot overlooking homes and businesses in Galveston

UTMB Launches Transformative Blue Zones Partnership for a Healthier Galveston

UTMB is preparing to step into an exciting new partnership that has the potential to shape the health and longevity of our Galveston community for years to come. Led by UTMB President and UTMB Health System CEO Dr. Jochen Reiser, we will officially kick off our collaboration on the Blue Zones Project, a nationally recognized approach that helps communities transform their environment to support longer, healthier lives.

What Makes Blue Zones Special?

The Blue Zones approach is grounded in decades of research studying regions of the world where people live longer, healthier lives with lower rates of chronic disease. Dan Buettner and the team at National Geographic set out to find pockets of people around the world with the highest life expectancy, or with the highest proportions of people who reach age 100. They found five places, Blue Zones, that met this criteria:

  • Barbagia region of Sardinia – Mountainous highlands of inner Sardinia with the world’s highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Ikaria, Greece – Aegean Island with one of the world’s lowest rates of middle age mortality and the lowest rates of dementia.
  • Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica – World’s lowest rates of middle age mortality, second highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Seventh Day Adventists – Highest concentration is around Loma Linda, California. They live 10 years longer than their North American counterparts.
  • Okinawa, Japan – Females over 70 are the longest-lived population in the world.

 Across all five locations, several evidenced based lifestyle habits emerged, that they call the “Power 9 Principles”.  These include moving naturally throughout the day, having a sense of purpose, eating plant-based foods, prioritizing social connections, reducing stress, and creating environments that support health.

Blue Zones Project

Across the country, the Blue Zones team have partnered with hospitals, universities, local governments, schools, faith organizations, and employers to drive measurable improvements in well-being. These partnerships have led to changes like healthier food environments, stronger social networks, opportunities for movement built into daily routines, and policies that support long-term health and longevity.

With the Board of Regents’ approval, UTMB will now help lead the launch of Blue Zones Project, Galveston as a multi-year initiative. For UTMB, this partnership represents an opportunity to align our mission of education, research, and clinical care with a broader vision of community well-being.

Please join us at the kickoff meeting that will outline what this partnership will look like, how faculty and staff can engage, and where early opportunities for collaboration will emerge. We look forward to sharing more about these opportunities in future newsletter editions!

Blue Zones Project – Community Meeting (Flier)
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Location: William C. Levin Hall Auditorium – Galveston Campus, 1006 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550 

Source: Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Jul 7;10(5):318–321.doi: 10.1177/1559827616637066

 

Office Spotlight

Congratulations to our Faculty Excellence and Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
We are delighted to honor the 2025 Lifetime Achievement and Faculty Excellence Award recipients. These individuals will be recognized, along with the many impressive achievements of UTMB faculty in FY25, at the Faculty Recognition Reception on Sept. 4, 2025. Click to see the list of winners!

News

Office of the Provost

  • Institutional Accreditation Update: April 2026

    As we continue preparing for our upcoming SACSCOC reaffirmation, this month we’re shining a spotlight on the “Nines” – the accreditation standards that focus on Educational Program Structure and Content.

  • IPCE Opportunity Spotlight and Upcoming Events

    The Office of Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) would like to highlight a Texas Medical Board–approved educational opportunity: Senate Bill 31 (“Life of the Mother Act”) Required Education

  • A group of colleagues take a walk outside on UTMB campus on a sunny day. The Galveston National Laboratory and several trees are in the background.

    Wellness Wednesdays: Walk With Us

    April is recognized as Move More Month, an initiative inspired by our partners at the American Heart Association, reminding us that even small amounts of movement, like walking, can have a big impact on our health.

Appointments & Promotions

A wide shot overlooking homes and businesses in Galveston

UTMB Launches Transformative Blue Zones Partnership for a Healthier Galveston

UTMB is preparing to step into an exciting new partnership that has the potential to shape the health and longevity of our Galveston community for years to come. Led by UTMB President and UTMB Health System CEO Dr. Jochen Reiser, we will officially kick off our collaboration on the Blue Zones Project, a nationally recognized approach that helps communities transform their environment to support longer, healthier lives.

What Makes Blue Zones Special?

The Blue Zones approach is grounded in decades of research studying regions of the world where people live longer, healthier lives with lower rates of chronic disease. Dan Buettner and the team at National Geographic set out to find pockets of people around the world with the highest life expectancy, or with the highest proportions of people who reach age 100. They found five places, Blue Zones, that met this criteria:

  • Barbagia region of Sardinia – Mountainous highlands of inner Sardinia with the world’s highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Ikaria, Greece – Aegean Island with one of the world’s lowest rates of middle age mortality and the lowest rates of dementia.
  • Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica – World’s lowest rates of middle age mortality, second highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Seventh Day Adventists – Highest concentration is around Loma Linda, California. They live 10 years longer than their North American counterparts.
  • Okinawa, Japan – Females over 70 are the longest-lived population in the world.

 Across all five locations, several evidenced based lifestyle habits emerged, that they call the “Power 9 Principles”.  These include moving naturally throughout the day, having a sense of purpose, eating plant-based foods, prioritizing social connections, reducing stress, and creating environments that support health.

Blue Zones Project

Across the country, the Blue Zones team have partnered with hospitals, universities, local governments, schools, faith organizations, and employers to drive measurable improvements in well-being. These partnerships have led to changes like healthier food environments, stronger social networks, opportunities for movement built into daily routines, and policies that support long-term health and longevity.

With the Board of Regents’ approval, UTMB will now help lead the launch of Blue Zones Project, Galveston as a multi-year initiative. For UTMB, this partnership represents an opportunity to align our mission of education, research, and clinical care with a broader vision of community well-being.

Please join us at the kickoff meeting that will outline what this partnership will look like, how faculty and staff can engage, and where early opportunities for collaboration will emerge. We look forward to sharing more about these opportunities in future newsletter editions!

Blue Zones Project – Community Meeting (Flier)
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Location: William C. Levin Hall Auditorium – Galveston Campus, 1006 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550 

Source: Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Jul 7;10(5):318–321.doi: 10.1177/1559827616637066

 

Health Education Center (HEC)

A wide shot overlooking homes and businesses in Galveston

UTMB Launches Transformative Blue Zones Partnership for a Healthier Galveston

UTMB is preparing to step into an exciting new partnership that has the potential to shape the health and longevity of our Galveston community for years to come. Led by UTMB President and UTMB Health System CEO Dr. Jochen Reiser, we will officially kick off our collaboration on the Blue Zones Project, a nationally recognized approach that helps communities transform their environment to support longer, healthier lives.

What Makes Blue Zones Special?

The Blue Zones approach is grounded in decades of research studying regions of the world where people live longer, healthier lives with lower rates of chronic disease. Dan Buettner and the team at National Geographic set out to find pockets of people around the world with the highest life expectancy, or with the highest proportions of people who reach age 100. They found five places, Blue Zones, that met this criteria:

  • Barbagia region of Sardinia – Mountainous highlands of inner Sardinia with the world’s highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Ikaria, Greece – Aegean Island with one of the world’s lowest rates of middle age mortality and the lowest rates of dementia.
  • Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica – World’s lowest rates of middle age mortality, second highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Seventh Day Adventists – Highest concentration is around Loma Linda, California. They live 10 years longer than their North American counterparts.
  • Okinawa, Japan – Females over 70 are the longest-lived population in the world.

 Across all five locations, several evidenced based lifestyle habits emerged, that they call the “Power 9 Principles”.  These include moving naturally throughout the day, having a sense of purpose, eating plant-based foods, prioritizing social connections, reducing stress, and creating environments that support health.

Blue Zones Project

Across the country, the Blue Zones team have partnered with hospitals, universities, local governments, schools, faith organizations, and employers to drive measurable improvements in well-being. These partnerships have led to changes like healthier food environments, stronger social networks, opportunities for movement built into daily routines, and policies that support long-term health and longevity.

With the Board of Regents’ approval, UTMB will now help lead the launch of Blue Zones Project, Galveston as a multi-year initiative. For UTMB, this partnership represents an opportunity to align our mission of education, research, and clinical care with a broader vision of community well-being.

Please join us at the kickoff meeting that will outline what this partnership will look like, how faculty and staff can engage, and where early opportunities for collaboration will emerge. We look forward to sharing more about these opportunities in future newsletter editions!

Blue Zones Project – Community Meeting (Flier)
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Location: William C. Levin Hall Auditorium – Galveston Campus, 1006 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550 

Source: Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Jul 7;10(5):318–321.doi: 10.1177/1559827616637066

 

Faculty Development Events

UTMB Old Red historic red brick Romanesque Revival building with flowers for a spring time setting

Call for Nominations - Educator of the Quarter | Spring FY26

- , 2026
Advanced Career in Academia_2

Advanced Careers in Academia, LLC - FY26

-, 2026 - - Open Gates, 3rd Floor Auditorium (room 301) - Galveston
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ARM Seminar Series on Navigating the Research Journey

, 2026 - - HEC 3.200
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2026 Afternoon Tea Series: Jia Zhou, PhD

, 2026 - - Moody Medical Library, Faculty Lounge (3rd Fl) - Galveston, TX 77555 USA
Karl Kellar: Caucasian man in his late 50s-early 60s with white short hair and eyebrows, large nos. He is wearing a dark blue button up and a vibrant blue jacket.

Unlock The Secrets to Successful Grant Writing! - FY26 (second round)

- , 2026 - -
Dr. Chubinskaya giving a presentation to a group of new faculty members

New Faculty Orientation: Spring 2026

, 2026 - - Administration Building - 301 8th Street, Galveston, TX 77555 United States
Caitlin Cotter: Caucasian female in her 30s-40s with an oval face, narrow nos, long brown wavy hair, in a black blouse. Mandeep Sandhu. Indian female with long black hair, wearing a stripped blouse and black sweater.

Mentee Research Meeting

, 2026 - - HEC 3.201
Presenter Rachel Walden; she is a Caucasian female in her 30s with straight black shoulder length hair, oval face, pointed chin, smile, in a dark blue blazer.

Ethical Use of AI in Academic Publishing: Opportunities and Responsibilities

, 2026 - -
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Faculty Leadership Collaborative (FLC): Mid-Career Bootcamp 2026

-, 2026 - -
Elizabeth Lyons is a white woman in her 30s with long brown hair dark glasses who is smiling and wearing a black blazer and black beaded necklace.

Meet the Research Expert: Dr. Elizabeth Lyons

, 2026 - -
Holly West. Caucasian female in her 40s with a found face smiling with long brown hair past her shoulders in a black blazar. Amanda Persons. Caucasian female in her 40s with a round face buzzed hair on sides and purple curls at top in pink blouse.

Office of Faculty Development: Tell Your Story: Writing Your Narrative for Promotion

, 2026 - - HEC 2.206
Faculty attending a tea networking session seated at a table. There are two blondish Caucasian women seated next to each other preparing tea cup with a tea set on the table and a Caucasian man and woman seated opposite them.

2026 Afternoon Tea Series: Amr Abouleish, MD, MBA

, 2026 - - Moody Medical Library, Faculty Lounge (3rd Fl) - Galveston, TX 77555 USA
Presenter Rachel Walden; she is a Caucasian female in her 30s with straight black shoulder length hair, oval face, pointed chin, smile, in a dark blue blazer.

Working with an Author's Editor: Getting the Most Value

, 2026 - -
Presenter Adam Wolfe from Baylor College of Medicine. Caucasian male in his 50s with glasses a mustache and cropped beard, brown hair and wearing a white lab coat.

Office of Faculty Development: Disseminate Scholarship of Teaching: How to Publish a Teaching Tool or Curriculum

, 2026 - -

Highlights from Around Our Schools

New Awards

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New Grants

A wide shot overlooking homes and businesses in Galveston

UTMB Launches Transformative Blue Zones Partnership for a Healthier Galveston

UTMB is preparing to step into an exciting new partnership that has the potential to shape the health and longevity of our Galveston community for years to come. Led by UTMB President and UTMB Health System CEO Dr. Jochen Reiser, we will officially kick off our collaboration on the Blue Zones Project, a nationally recognized approach that helps communities transform their environment to support longer, healthier lives.

What Makes Blue Zones Special?

The Blue Zones approach is grounded in decades of research studying regions of the world where people live longer, healthier lives with lower rates of chronic disease. Dan Buettner and the team at National Geographic set out to find pockets of people around the world with the highest life expectancy, or with the highest proportions of people who reach age 100. They found five places, Blue Zones, that met this criteria:

  • Barbagia region of Sardinia – Mountainous highlands of inner Sardinia with the world’s highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Ikaria, Greece – Aegean Island with one of the world’s lowest rates of middle age mortality and the lowest rates of dementia.
  • Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica – World’s lowest rates of middle age mortality, second highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Seventh Day Adventists – Highest concentration is around Loma Linda, California. They live 10 years longer than their North American counterparts.
  • Okinawa, Japan – Females over 70 are the longest-lived population in the world.

 Across all five locations, several evidenced based lifestyle habits emerged, that they call the “Power 9 Principles”.  These include moving naturally throughout the day, having a sense of purpose, eating plant-based foods, prioritizing social connections, reducing stress, and creating environments that support health.

Blue Zones Project

Across the country, the Blue Zones team have partnered with hospitals, universities, local governments, schools, faith organizations, and employers to drive measurable improvements in well-being. These partnerships have led to changes like healthier food environments, stronger social networks, opportunities for movement built into daily routines, and policies that support long-term health and longevity.

With the Board of Regents’ approval, UTMB will now help lead the launch of Blue Zones Project, Galveston as a multi-year initiative. For UTMB, this partnership represents an opportunity to align our mission of education, research, and clinical care with a broader vision of community well-being.

Please join us at the kickoff meeting that will outline what this partnership will look like, how faculty and staff can engage, and where early opportunities for collaboration will emerge. We look forward to sharing more about these opportunities in future newsletter editions!

Blue Zones Project – Community Meeting (Flier)
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Location: William C. Levin Hall Auditorium – Galveston Campus, 1006 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550 

Source: Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Jul 7;10(5):318–321.doi: 10.1177/1559827616637066

 

New Publications

A wide shot overlooking homes and businesses in Galveston

UTMB Launches Transformative Blue Zones Partnership for a Healthier Galveston

UTMB is preparing to step into an exciting new partnership that has the potential to shape the health and longevity of our Galveston community for years to come. Led by UTMB President and UTMB Health System CEO Dr. Jochen Reiser, we will officially kick off our collaboration on the Blue Zones Project, a nationally recognized approach that helps communities transform their environment to support longer, healthier lives.

What Makes Blue Zones Special?

The Blue Zones approach is grounded in decades of research studying regions of the world where people live longer, healthier lives with lower rates of chronic disease. Dan Buettner and the team at National Geographic set out to find pockets of people around the world with the highest life expectancy, or with the highest proportions of people who reach age 100. They found five places, Blue Zones, that met this criteria:

  • Barbagia region of Sardinia – Mountainous highlands of inner Sardinia with the world’s highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Ikaria, Greece – Aegean Island with one of the world’s lowest rates of middle age mortality and the lowest rates of dementia.
  • Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica – World’s lowest rates of middle age mortality, second highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Seventh Day Adventists – Highest concentration is around Loma Linda, California. They live 10 years longer than their North American counterparts.
  • Okinawa, Japan – Females over 70 are the longest-lived population in the world.

 Across all five locations, several evidenced based lifestyle habits emerged, that they call the “Power 9 Principles”.  These include moving naturally throughout the day, having a sense of purpose, eating plant-based foods, prioritizing social connections, reducing stress, and creating environments that support health.

Blue Zones Project

Across the country, the Blue Zones team have partnered with hospitals, universities, local governments, schools, faith organizations, and employers to drive measurable improvements in well-being. These partnerships have led to changes like healthier food environments, stronger social networks, opportunities for movement built into daily routines, and policies that support long-term health and longevity.

With the Board of Regents’ approval, UTMB will now help lead the launch of Blue Zones Project, Galveston as a multi-year initiative. For UTMB, this partnership represents an opportunity to align our mission of education, research, and clinical care with a broader vision of community well-being.

Please join us at the kickoff meeting that will outline what this partnership will look like, how faculty and staff can engage, and where early opportunities for collaboration will emerge. We look forward to sharing more about these opportunities in future newsletter editions!

Blue Zones Project – Community Meeting (Flier)
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Location: William C. Levin Hall Auditorium – Galveston Campus, 1006 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550 

Source: Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Jul 7;10(5):318–321.doi: 10.1177/1559827616637066

 

Research and Innovations

News and Events

Additional Resources for Researchers

Research Administration
Research at UTMB
Research Seminar Calendar (provided by the Sealy Center for Structural Biology & Molecular Science)
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Institutional Grant Opportunities

More News and Events

A wide shot overlooking homes and businesses in Galveston

UTMB Launches Transformative Blue Zones Partnership for a Healthier Galveston

UTMB is preparing to step into an exciting new partnership that has the potential to shape the health and longevity of our Galveston community for years to come. Led by UTMB President and UTMB Health System CEO Dr. Jochen Reiser, we will officially kick off our collaboration on the Blue Zones Project, a nationally recognized approach that helps communities transform their environment to support longer, healthier lives.

What Makes Blue Zones Special?

The Blue Zones approach is grounded in decades of research studying regions of the world where people live longer, healthier lives with lower rates of chronic disease. Dan Buettner and the team at National Geographic set out to find pockets of people around the world with the highest life expectancy, or with the highest proportions of people who reach age 100. They found five places, Blue Zones, that met this criteria:

  • Barbagia region of Sardinia – Mountainous highlands of inner Sardinia with the world’s highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Ikaria, Greece – Aegean Island with one of the world’s lowest rates of middle age mortality and the lowest rates of dementia.
  • Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica – World’s lowest rates of middle age mortality, second highest concentration of male centenarians.
  • Seventh Day Adventists – Highest concentration is around Loma Linda, California. They live 10 years longer than their North American counterparts.
  • Okinawa, Japan – Females over 70 are the longest-lived population in the world.

 Across all five locations, several evidenced based lifestyle habits emerged, that they call the “Power 9 Principles”.  These include moving naturally throughout the day, having a sense of purpose, eating plant-based foods, prioritizing social connections, reducing stress, and creating environments that support health.

Blue Zones Project

Across the country, the Blue Zones team have partnered with hospitals, universities, local governments, schools, faith organizations, and employers to drive measurable improvements in well-being. These partnerships have led to changes like healthier food environments, stronger social networks, opportunities for movement built into daily routines, and policies that support long-term health and longevity.

With the Board of Regents’ approval, UTMB will now help lead the launch of Blue Zones Project, Galveston as a multi-year initiative. For UTMB, this partnership represents an opportunity to align our mission of education, research, and clinical care with a broader vision of community well-being.

Please join us at the kickoff meeting that will outline what this partnership will look like, how faculty and staff can engage, and where early opportunities for collaboration will emerge. We look forward to sharing more about these opportunities in future newsletter editions!

Blue Zones Project – Community Meeting (Flier)
Date: Thursday, March 5
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Location: William C. Levin Hall Auditorium – Galveston Campus, 1006 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550 

Source: Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Jul 7;10(5):318–321.doi: 10.1177/1559827616637066

 

IHII/McLaughlin Colloquium

, 2026 - -

The McLaughlin Endowment Committee and the Institute for Human Infections & Immunity host this annual event. The UTMB community is invited to attend, including a keynote lecture by Joan Kenney, PhD, Microbiologist, Centers for Disease Control.

Do you have an item for our Faculty Focus newsletter? Please provide your submissions by April 20 to be considered for publication in the next edition.

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