On Friday, February 22, 2013 the UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine proudly announced its chief residents for the 2013-2014 year: Manju Mahajan, MD, Laura Porterfield, MD, and Estela Mota-Garcia, MD.

Anika Bell-Gray, MD, a 2002 graduate of the UTMB Health School of Medicine and 2005 graduate of the Family Medicine Residency Program, was recently notified that she has been named one of the "Rising Stars" among Texas' Super Doctors on www.superdoctors.com.

The UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine has published in 2011-2012 Annual Report. The report summarizes the activities of the faculty, staff, and residents of the department from September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012.

Saleh Elsaid, MD, Assistant Professor in the UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine, will be installed as the Vice-President of the Galveston County Medical Society on February 15, 2013. A reception and dinner to introduce and honor this year's officers will be held at the San Luis Hotel in Galveston, Texas.

The UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine is pleased to congratulate Saquib Ansari, MD, on winning the 2013 Gold Humanism Society's Resident Teaching Award. Dr. Ansari, currently a third-year resident and serving as Chief Resident, was selected by the UTMB Health School of Medicine Class of 2014 for his efforts in teaching medical students and for being an example of humanistic and professional values.

The Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) hosted a suturing workshop in the Primary Care Pavilion on Thursday, February 7, 2013. The hands-on workshop was sponsored by the UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine's Medical Student Education Program and Julie McKee, MD, a faculty member in the department. Family medicine faculty members and residents served as instructors and taught the students suturing techniques and supervised their practice of the techniques.

The UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine would like to wish everyone — patients, employees, students, and our neighbors — a happy 2012 holiday season.

The Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH), in conjunction with iVantage Health Analytics, has recognized two hospitals connected to the UTMB Health Family Medicine Integrated Rural Training Track as part of its iVantage Hospital Strength Index rating system. Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, Texas has been recognized

There's a new family medicine doctor in the house. Dr. Tuere Coulter joined the Department of Family Medicine on October 15. Dr. Coulter is a faculty member in the Family Medicine Residency Program and will care for patients at our Family Medicine Clinic - Dickinson. She will be supervising residents and assisting Dr. Julie McKee in obstetric care, including labor and delivery.

UTMB Family Medicine Rural Training Track Director and faculty member, Dr. Jorge Duchicela, has been named the Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP) Member of the Month.

The first Family Medicine Grand Rounds of the 2012-2013 academic year was a great success! Dr. Richard Goodgame, Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at UTMB, presented his lecture “Conversing in Flesh’’ to a receptive audience of residents, medical students and faculty at the Primary Care Pavilion.

UTMB Health's Department of Family Medicine host Grand Rounds with Dr. Richard Goodgame from the Department of Internal Medicine on Thursday, September 6th, 2012 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Family Medicine Clinic – Dickinson has moved to a new location at 2401 W. FM 646 in Dickinson, from its old location on Hughes Court.

Dr. Tricia Elliott, MD, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and Residency Program Director for the UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine, was sworn in as parliamentarian of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP) at their Annual Session and Scientific Assembly on July 13, 2012 in Austin, Texas.

Two posters presented by Department of Family Medicine residents won honors at the Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP) Annual Session and Scientific Assembly on July 13, 2012 in Austin, Texas.

The UTMB Health Family Medicine Interest Group has announced its 2012-2013 officers. Fourth-year medical students Rachel Marinch and Christine Horstmeyer will serve as co-presidents of the student-led group.

We are pleased to announce that Debby Chambers, MBA, has been appointed Vice Chair of Administration in the Departments of Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, the Institute for the Medical Humanities, and the Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine, effective July 9.

On Monday June 4, 2012 Family Medicine physicians were once again seeing patients at the Primary Care Pavilion (PCP). The PCP has been closed since September 2008 due to extensive damage from Hurricane Ike. The PCP has been beautifully restored to serve the patients of Galveston and offers a variety of patient care services and offers plenty of convenient parking.

The School of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston announced the six finalists who were selected by their peers in the graduating class to receive the prestigious 2012 Gold-Headed Cane Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a graduating medical student. The winner was announced Saturday, June 2 at the commencement ceremonies for the school. Family Medicine incoming intern, Karen Welch was one of the six finalists.

UTMB Health's Department of Family Medicine will be taking part in the African American Museum's Juneteenth Festival to be held at Courville Football Stadium Saturday, June 16th, as part of the 2012 Juneteenth celebrations taking part around Galveston Island from June 9 to the 19th,