UTMB GSBS student Justin Drake has been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as the student regent for The University of Texas System for a term expiring May 31, 2016. Drake is pursuing a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology with a concentration in computational biophysics. He received a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. This is the second time in the past five years that a UTMB student has held this prestigious position. Drake will participate with the board of regents, but hold a non-voting position during his one-year term. He was one of five finalists selected by UT System Chancellor William McRaven.

Gracie Vargas, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Deptartment of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, has received a grant for more than $862,000 over three years from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to develop a novel optical imaging approach for identifying early cancer and treatable precancers having a high chance for malignancy in the oral cavity and oropharynx. Oral and oropharnygeal cancer is a significant global health problem, accounting for about 400,000 reported new cases per year.

Dr. Matthew Hay won “Best Pediatrician” in the Galveston County Daily News Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015. Hay is co-director of UTMB’s new Primary and Specialty Care Clinic in Texas City. UTMB’s Dr. Brian Wong won for “Best Cosmetic Surgery.” Wong specializes in oculoplastics, a wide variety of surgical procedures that deal with the eye socket, eyelids, tear ducts and the face. The Daily News has been collecting readers’ input on the best of the best in Galveston County since 1990.

Majorie M. Kovacevich joined the Hospital Galveston team as director, effective July 1. Her UTMB tenure began in 1998 as a management analyst within the Faculty Group Practice. She rose to become the senior practice manager and physician service manager, and in 2014, Kovacevich was promoted to director of business operations for UTMB’s Ambulatory Operations.

The Angleton Danbury Campus has had an epic month. After months of training and teamwork, the campus is now running EPIC, which combines all information about a patient’s care in one electronic record, accessible throughout UTMB Health. It allows all providers and staff to efficiently retrieve complete, up-to-date information and to easily document the care they provide. ADC also implemented Bar Code Scanning and Lab Systems and sailed through a mini disaster drill as their community prepared for the potential impact of Tropical Storm Bill. The ADC Leadership Team extended their appreciation for their staff as well as the Galveston Campus: “The ADC team is officially EPIC! Everyone at ADC rose to the occasion, and we appreciate and thank everyone who has supported us 24/7 over the last several months.”

Check out the new marquee at the Angleton Danbury Campus!