Faculty Group Practice Newsletter

UTMB celebrates Health System and Nurses Week May 6 through 10 with events every day at each hospital campus. This week is an opportunity to celebrate and appreciate the dedication, compassion, and professionalism of all those who support our patient care mission.

Welcome to UTMB Health!

As temperatures rise, and tank tops and shorts become the daily uniform, the medical community shines a light on the damaging effects of sun exposure – namely, skin cancer. May is observed as Skin Cancer Awareness Month by numerous health care entities, including the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

For patients experiencing pain and a compromised quality of life, finding a procedure that offers immediate relief is a best-case scenario. Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that treats vertebral compression fractures, offering near-immediate relief and long-lasting results.

The UTMB Health Optical Retail Center hosts its spring trunk show this month.

UTMB’s Regional Women’s Services and Pediatrics (RWSP) Program was brought to life more than 30 years ago with the goal of providing women’s health and pediatric care to vulnerable populations across southeast Texas and McAllen. Uniquely, RWSP program and clinic sites have always been led by an Advanced Practice Nurse or Physician Assistant.

To give further support to our providers during our ACO REACH Performance year, we have developed an internal website that has compiled several resources for your ease of access and convenience

Congratulations to Andrea Franklin, Patient Registration Specialist I in Revenue Cycle Operations - Financial Clearance. She was first to recognize the UTMB Regional Women’s Services and Pediatrics Clinic in Texas City.

The American Heart Association designates April “Move More Month,” encouraging Americans to engage in regular physical activity to enjoy better health for longer. It is the same goal that drives the work of UTMB’s Preventive Medicine Initiative, the student group that organized last month’s PMI Heart and Sole 5k.

Walking has an abundance of health benefits – even more so when it comes with a physician-led conversation about wellness. That is the philosophy behind “Walk With a Doc,” a program that spans thousands of chapters across the United States, including one in Galveston helmed by UTMB faculty and students.

UTMB celebrated National Doctors' Day on Friday, March 29, with breakfast at all four hospital campuses and gifts for all physicians. Thanks to our doctors for their hard work to keep families and communities healthy! We appreciate all you do.

UTMB Health Galveston Campus is now home to a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Center of Excellence as approved by the American College of Surgeons.

The Center for Polar Medical Operations (CPMO) serves a unique role and function among UTMB departments, but like many clinical areas, it benefits from the support and expertise of an Advanced Practice Provider. Suzette Roberts, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, has served as the Medical Processing Manager for the Center for Polar Medical Operations (CPMO) at UTMB for four years.

Engaging in active hobbies, keeping up with grandchildren, and maintaining physical fitness are important goals for many individuals entering their senior years. Paul Dicpinigaitis, MD, makes it his mission to help patients overcome the pain and limitations of damaged hip and knee joints to enjoy the active lives they desire.

Congratulations to Robert Africa, MD, PGY-1 in the Department of Otolaryngology. He was the first to identify the UTMB Health Primary and Specialty Care Clinic in Texas City.

eConsults are an assessment and management service in which a treating faculty or APP requests advice or opinion from a specialist to provide advice and/or opinion in treating and/or management of the patient’s problem without fact-to-face contact with the consultant.

The UTMB Epilepsy Program has now received accreditation by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) as a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, which is the highest level of accreditation offered by the NAEC.

Welcome to UTMB Health!

Individuals who experience low back pain know the debilitating effects it can have – like missed workdays, reduced enjoyment of activities, and time spent in bed. Fortunately, medical advances have introduced options for relief, with UTMB striving to bring patients effective procedures to combat the pain. UTMB’s Pain Management service in the Department of Anesthesiology is committed to helping patients with these needs.

Salim Hayek, MD, has joined UTMB as Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer, effective March 1. In this critical capacity, Dr. Hayek reports directly to Dr. Vicente Resto within the Faculty Group Practice, where he will lead pivotal transformation initiatives aimed at elevating patient care, enhancing clinical outcomes, streamlining operational efficiency, and advancing clinical research throughout our esteemed institution.