Community Hero

Jon D. Thompson, Director of the Southeast Texas Poison Center at UTMB, was awarded the Community Champion Award by the Bay Area Alliance for Youth and Families. His dedication to the BAAYF Prescription Drug Advisory Committee has been vital in addressing the issues of prescription drug abuse in the Bay Area Community.  He was instrumental in creation of two medication take-back events hosted at the UTMB Specialty Clinic at Victory Lakes which disposed of over 750 lbs of unwanted, unused or expired medications. His continued commitment to this important social and public health issue makes him a true community champion

Teaching Masters

Newly elected to the Academy of Master Teachers are Dr. Patricia Beach, Dr. Robin Mallet, Dr. Tasnee Chonmaitree, Dr. Alan Rampy and School of Nursing faculty members Ernestine Cuellar and Carol Wiggs.

The academy was established as a service organization to recognize and honor UTMB’s best teachers, advance innovation and promote educational scholarship and to serve the diverse needs of the UTMB community of educators through faculty development, mentorship and advocacy.

Celebrating Osler

The John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine celebrated Sir William Osler’s birthday and honored Drs. William Deiss, Frank Gardner and Jack Wallace as 2011 recipients of the John P. McGovern Lifetime Achievement Award in Oslerian Medicine. Excellence in Clinical Teaching awards were presented to Drs. Susan Gerik, Richard Goodgame, Anita Mercado, Luis Pacheco and Victor Sierpina. Newly inducted Osler Student Scholars were Rosalyn Adigun, Sean Paschall, Roxanne Radi and Robert Reyes. Student awards were presented to Karen Welch, Paul Goodwin and Israel Calzada.

Dr. Richard Goodgame Dr. Victor Sierpina Dr. Anita Mercado

Photo Exhibit Opens In New Mexico

“Urban dreams/sueños urbanos: The search for a better life in Bolivia,” a photo exhibit by Jerome Crowder, professor in the Institute for the Medical Humanities, opened at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, N.M., where it will remain on display through early October. The exhibit spans 20 years of migration by the Aymara indigenous groups of Bolivia and premiered at the Museum of Natural Science in Houston.

Editors at Large

Nurses Jamie Heffernan and Odette Comeau have been asked to write a chapter on burns for the 13th edition of Brunner and Suddarth’s “Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing,” published by Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Six Degrees Winner

Congratulations to Karen C. Bledsoe, UTMB School of Nursing ’02 graduate, for winning the Office of Alumni Relations Six Degrees Campaign contest. 

The Six Degrees Campaign is part of the UTMB Office of Alumni Relations ongoing efforts to reach lost alumni. The person with the most e-mail forwards helping to reach alums is named the winner. Bledsoe had 12 forwards, which allowed the office to reconnect with graduates who were either not in the alumni database or required update information.

The 2011 Christian B. Anfinsen Award

The Christian B. Anfinsen Award, sponsored by The Aviv Family Foundation, recognizes significant technical achievements in the field of protein science. The 2011 award will be presented at the 25th Symposium to Dr. D. Wayne Bolen for resolving the long-standing question of how urea denatures proteins and how compatible osmolytes force folding. Bolen’s studies have significantly contributed to protein biochemists’ understanding that the osmolyte effect is universal throughout all three kingdoms of life.

Excellence in Professionalism

Amanda Wallace, of UTMB School of Health Professions, is the recipient of the Excellence in Professionalism Award for June. A fellow classmate nominated her saying, " Amanda is a physical therapy ambassador for St. Vincent's. No matter what it takes she is there for these patients. Even during test week when none of the other students sign up for the job, she takes initiative and meets the needs of the patients. She knows that just because there are exams that week the patients still need us. They don't stop needing therapy just because we have exams. She is kind, caring, and compassionate with all her patients. She also is very original in each of her treatment plans. Amanda does so many things for St. Vincent's without others noticing. I feel it is time that she be recognized for it. Thank you Amanda for your wonderful dedication and love for St. Vincent's.”

The award is given each month to recognize a student who has shown exemplary professionalism within the UTMB community.