Faculty Group Practice Newsletter

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 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.

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.

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.

Choosing a provider for women’s health care services can be a very personal process. Marisol Carpio-Solis, MD, an ob-gyn serving UTMB’s southern Brazoria County locations, recognizes the wide variety of factors that influence women’s decisions about where they go for health care services. She says UTMB’s clinics check a lot of the boxes for what patients are seeking.

As the Division of Urology strives to make an impact in mainland areas across UTMB’s service region, a recent addition to the team is also helping strengthen its presence on Galveston Island. Steven Socher, MD, sees patients for a wide variety of urological conditions: “anything related to kidneys or kidney stones, prostates, incontinence, erectile dysfunction,” he says.

The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at UTMB is committed to combating cardiovascular disease, which remains the number-one killer in women ahead of all cancers combined – including breast and ovarian cancers. This February, American Heart Month, members of the division are increasing awareness by contributing to education that helps save lives. Read insights from Division Chief Dr. Jneid and three of our outstanding women clinicians.

Aligning with the institutional mission to increase access to care, UTMB’s Kidney Transplant Program makes great strides to help patients with end-stage kidney disease achieve better health. Through its outreach and service across Texas, the team is having a widespread impact for patients with the greatest need.

When a child undergoes surgery, the pediatric surgeon’s impact goes beyond the operating room – it can potentially influence the trajectory of the child’s entire future. This is a privilege and a responsibility that UTMB’s newest pediatric surgeon, Maria Carmen Mora, MD, does not take for granted.

Delivering comprehensive women’s health care means being able to treat and care for a wide range of needs, for patients of many different ages. With new additions to its OB/GYN team and new technologies available to support more procedures, UTMB is making advances to become the provider of choice for all aspects of women’s health.

Last year, a 5k training program and virtual run provided members of the UTMB community with an opportunity to focus on fitness, connect with one another, and support a student-led initiative to promote health and wellness in the community. This year, the student organization behind last year’s successful program is back with hopes to engage even more runners and make a greater impact.

For many patients who experience back pain and other concerns related to the spine, a variety of treatments may bring effective relief without surgical intervention. For others, surgery is a necessary step on the path to healing. In any case, a skilled spine specialist is an essential partner to determine the best course of action to improve one’s quality of life.

The desire to fulfill a need in healthcare sparked an education and career journey that led Raj Vaghjiani, MD, to pursue surgical oncology as a specialty. Now, as a new member of UTMB’s Surgical Oncology Division, he applies his expertise and skills to help patients with cancer on the path to survivorship.

Aging does not have to mean slowing down – even when joints like the hip and knee no longer work as ably as they once did. Advances in the realm of joint replacement make it possible for active individuals to keep up their busy lifestyles well into their senior years.

Retina expertise is a critical component of comprehensive eye care, as a wide variety of vitreoretinal conditions can significantly impact patients’ vision and thus their quality of life.

There is not a universally recognized ribbon or a highly publicized awareness campaign, yet lung cancer is responsible for more deaths every year than the three most common cancers – breast, prostate, and colon cancer – combined.

“Movember” has become an annual tradition when men forgo shaving their mustaches for an entire month. But its participants know it’s more than just a fun way to try out a new look; it’s an opportunity to draw attention to important men’s health issues.

The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine continues UTMB’s tradition of blazing new trails, implementing multiple new technologies in an endeavor to achieve better outcomes and improve quality of life for patients with heart rhythm disorders.