Faculty Group Practice Newsletter

From Alignment to Experience, Creating Trust Across UTMB Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, 8 a.m. to noon UTMB Galveston Campus

After 40 years of service to UTMB and the communities of Galveston County, Michelle Mercatante, MD, is retiring from a career defined by clinical excellence, deep compassion, and an unwavering commitment to her patients.

Welcome to UTMB Health!

Liver disease remains a leading cause of serious illness and can significantly affect quality of life if left untreated. To meet the growing need for specialized liver care across the region, UTMB is expanding access to expert hepatology services.

Major procedures with a 90-day global: the global period is 92 days. It includes: - 1 day before the procedure - Day of the procedure - 90 days after the procedure

The UTMB Geriatric House Calls team has been nominated for the Galveston County Daily News 2026 Readers' Choice Awards in the Best in Home Health category, an honor that recognizes the program's commitment to providing exceptional, patient-centered care to older adults throughout our community.

Congratulations to Kevin McDonald, FNP at the Urgent Care at League City Campus Medical Plaza One. He was the lucky winner randomly chosen from all those who correctly identified the UTMB Women's Healthcare Clinic in Friendswood.

UTMB Ambulatory Operations proudly hosted its inaugural INSPIRE Improvement Project Poster Session, showcasing the incredible creativity, dedication, and innovation coming from our Ambulatory managers across all our areas.

After 20 years as chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at UTMB, Ronald W. Lindsey, MD, FACS, is retiring – proudly passing down a department transformed by growth, specialization, and a commitment to meeting patients where they are.

The WISeR (Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction) model is a CMS initiative focused on high-risk services and reinforces the need for complete, accurate documentation prior to services being performed.

We have recently introduced two new Epic updates for Ambulatory Operations.

Congratulations to Nathan Frederick, MS4 in the John Sealy School of Medicine. He was the lucky winner randomly chosen from all those who correctly identified the Primary Care Pavilion in Galveston featuring our new signage.

At UTMB Health, the Division of Colorectal Surgery provides comprehensive care for conditions affecting the intestinal tract, including inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, anorectal disorders, pelvic floor conditions and complex quality-of-life concerns.

Emily Sendukas, MD, is bringing specialized expertise to a condition that remains one of the most underrecognized areas of women’s health: endometriosis, a chronic, painful condition that can affect patients from adolescence through menopause.

Welcome to UTMB Health!

Congratulations to Amber High, DNP, APRN, CRNA, CNE, NC-BC, on receiving the Faculty Excellence in Education Award. This prestigious honor highlights her dedication to advancing nursing education, mentoring future healthcare professionals, and promoting a culture of excellence within UTMB.

To ensure seamless billing compliance, clinical documentation for hospice patients must explicitly state whether the encounter is related or unrelated to the terminal condition.

With a global perspective and highly specialized expertise, Alsadiq Al-Hillan, M.B.Ch.B, is making his mark on gastroenterology and digestive health care at UTMB. He works with patients facing complex pancreatic, biliary, and gastrointestinal conditions, combining proven techniques with the latest innovations in endoscopic care.

The Patient Experience team has awarded the Q2 Compassion in Practice Award to an ambulatory team and an impatient team, honoring compassionate, patient-centered care.

Christopher Leung, MD, brings a distinctly patient-centered approach to his practice: one that extends beyond treating heart disease to helping patients prevent it altogether. His practice blends traditional cardiology with a strong emphasis on lifestyle, education, and early intervention.