Congratulations to the UTMB Health Trauma Center for earning their verification as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons. This verification is valid through Jan. 10, 2017. Read the notification.
Our Fa
mily Campaign continues to be a tremendous success! More than 3,900 UTMB employees have contributed more than $8.1 million to the Working Together the Future is Ours Family Campaign since its launch in February 2012. To celebrate our remarkable progress UTMB celebrated with a second Family Campaign Celebration and Beam Signing at the Specialty Care Center at Victory Lakes. This beam, which is exclusively for family campaign contributors, will be placed in the new Jennie Sealy Hospital in February.
Jim LeDuc, director of the Galveston National Laboratory at UTMB, has been elected to the Steering Committee of the
Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN. GOARN is a technical collaboration of existing institutions and networks that pool human and technical resources for the rapid identification, confirmation and response to (disease) outbreaks of international importance. The network provides an operational framework to link this expertise and skill to keep the international community informed to the threat of outbreaks. The group contributes to global health security by combating the international spread of outbreaks, ensuring that appropriate technical assistance reaches affected areas rapidly and contributing to long-term epidemic preparedness and capacity building.
Newly elected officers for the
Employee Advisory Council are chairwoman Julie Cantini; vice chairwoman Susanne Johnson; vice chairman for operations Frank Valiulis; and vice chairwoman for communications Janet Gonzalez. The council, which is sponsored and endorsed by the UTMB Office of the President, promotes a positive and collaborative work environment committed to assessing, prioritizing and communicating employees’ needs. It serves as a sounding board or advisory group to provide a feedback loop on broad issues and potential new programs that impact all employees.
Peggy Castanie, program manager, of the UTMB Stark Diabetes Center in League City recently attended BP Texas City Chemical’s 2014 Health Fair along with Janis Layer, from the PCP to share information on the importance of early detection of diabetes and various treatment options. Castanie is pictured with "Betty Pig," a volunteer who attends BP's events, not necessarily a health ambassador per se! It was fun to see all the adults smiling and having fun with this comical visitor.
UTMB’s Center for Addiction Research was honored by the Galveston City Council for its support of National Drug Facts Week. This initiative, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, through the National Institute on Drug Abuse, encourages teens to ask questions about drugs and their abuse in a safe and scientific environment. The Center has partnered with the Galveston County Community Coalition to support activities surrounding the initiative in Galveston schools for the past three years.
Pictured here are (left to right) Jonathan Hommel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and member, Center for Addiction Research, Norman Pappous, Galveston City Council – District 4 and Mary Beth Trevino, Outreach Coordinator, Bay Area Council on Drugs & Alcohol.
Kathlynn Joel-Reich, administrative coordinator in the School of Medicine, is the winner of the 2014 Community Service Award. The award was presented at the annual ceremony commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The Community Service Award program honors and recognizes the contributions of UTMB faculty, students and staff who promote diversity, inclusion, community partnership, philanthropy and civic engagement. Others honored with nominations include Lillian Ford, Kaci Woods-Chin, Laura Lawrence, Arlene Anderwald, Rachel Pearson and Ryoko Stallins.
Tanger Outlets in Texas City celebrated their second anniversary kicking off their annual “PinkSTYLE” campaign recently. Over $6,000 was donated to UTMB for breast cancer health.
Money was raised through $5 Tanger savings cards. For $5, individuals received savings packs of five discount coupons. All local proceeds from card sales benefited UTMB Health, Tanger's local charity partner, and breast health initiatives. Cards were sold onsite by UTMB employees as well as at UTMB locations.