Verne named director
Dr. G. Nicholas Verne, noted clinician, investigator and teacher, has been named division director for gastroenterology and hepatology at UTMB. Verne will also serve as associate chairman for academic affairs and will hold the title of Blanton Distinguished Professor of Internal Medicine. He is an internationally recognized expert in gastrointestinal motility disorders and visceral pain.
Melby joins UTMB
Dr. Peter C. Melby, world-renowned expert and scholar in the field of tropical and infectious diseases, has joined UTMB as director of the UTMB Center for Tropical Diseases and professor in the departments of internal medicine (division of infectious diseases), microbiology and immunology, and pathology.
Melby’s interest in tropical diseases and the neglected diseases of resource-poor developing countries began 30 years ago when he first worked overseas in rural Egypt. Since then, his research has included projects in India, North Africa, Honduras and Colombia.
Fujise selected for American Heart Association committee
Dr. Ken Fujise, director of cardiology at UTMB, has been selected for membership on the Southwest Affiliate Research Advisory committee of the American Heart Association.
Among other duties, Fujise volunteers on the committee and serves in an advisory capacity to the association’s staff regarding research priority initiatives in the six-state region: Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. Members also share information within their state to promote research funding opportunities.
Valentine named editor
Dr. Vincent Valentine, a UTMB Health professor of medicine and the medical director of the Texas Transplant Center, has been chosen to serve as the editor of ISHLT Links, the newsletter of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. You can download a current copy of the newsletter online.
Singh receives accolades
Dr. Pomila Singh, a longtime research scientist at UTMB, was the recipient of the 2011 Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Distinguished Faculty Service Award and the 2011 GSO Teaching Award, which is voted on by UTMB students.
In her 2011 GSBS Distinquished Faculty Service Award recommendation letter, Carla Kantara, one of Sing's students says, "Dr. Singh has always opened her doors to students as she believes that promoting students’ success forges better scientists and doctors in the future...Dr. Singh is the main reason for all of my achievements and success. Her constant encouragement and support have been a great motivation and I enjoy and love my work more than I ever had before."
Good Samaritan Foundation winners
The Good Samaritan Foundation recently announced the 2011 winners of its Nursing in Excellence Awards, which recognize nursing's "best and brightest." UTMB staff won four of the 12 awards which include:
• Gold Winner Nursing Education, Clinician - Catherine Ivash, Nursing Program Development
• Gold Winner Nursing Education, Faculty - Alice Hill, School of Nursing
• Silver Winner Hospice/Home Health/Clinic - Angela Attaway, Pediatrics
• Silver Winner Nursing Admininstration & Leadership - Dolly Sanares-Carreon, Nursing Education
Congratulations to all of the winners!