By Clemmie J. White

 

Like clockwork, after the New Year when celebrations have come to a halt, UTMB's Office of Alumni Relations gears up for one of the universities largest annual events – Homecoming.

Each year, Homecoming, brings together alumni from all four schools to celebrate memories and pay tribute to the 50th Year Graduates of UTMB. This year, Homecoming 2012 celebrated the classes of 1962 during the March 8-10 weekend at The San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center — overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in Galveston.

UTMB President, David L. Callender, opened with the UTMB State of the University message on Friday, March 9. Later that afternoon, President and Mrs. David L. Callender hosted the President's Luncheon for the Classes of 1962 and all Distinguished Alumni. This prestigious event took place at The Galveston Island Convention Center at The San Luis Resort.

 

The Young Alumni Reception celebrated its second year in welcoming the classes from 2001-2011. Alumni from all four schools reunited during the reception inside the hotel's Conferee Lounge. Several door prizes were given away; the winner of the iPad, the evenings most sought after gift, was Dr. Heather Sample, (SOM ’08).

Reunion highlights included the School of Nursing Alumni Association’s Awards Presentation and Tea, held on Friday. Pamela G. Watson, Dean and Professor for UTMB School of Nursing and Vice President of Education, recognized the Anniversary Class and Alumni, followed by Alumni Association President, Deven Barriault, who facilitated the presentation of awards.

 

Congratulations to the following award recipients: Charles Machner and Scott Woodby, Betty Lee Evans Nursing Excellence Award; Dana Bjarnason and Catherine Ivash, Hall of Fame inductees; Ruth Constant, President’s Award; and Col. Karen Weis, Distinguished Alumnus Award. For a full profile on each of the awardees visit the UTMB alumni website.

 

Additional highlights included, the School of Health Professions Dean’s Reception where Elizabeth Protas, Vice President and Dean for School of Health Professions, highlighted accomplishments of faculty and staff from the past year. The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences hosted a campus tour, Dean’s Lecture featuring B. Montgomery Pettitt, Director of Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, and was followed by a reception hosted by Cary W. Cooper, Interim Executive Vice President, Provost and Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The Continuing Education featured "The Impact of Health Care Reform – Questions Everyone Is Thinking but Afraid to Ask" presented by Dan Wolterman, president and CEO, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System.

On Saturday an array of school updates were presented by the Deans; UTMB College featured David N. Herndon, director of Burn Services, professor of Surgery and Pediatrics on "Research in Inflammation and the Promise It Holds for Chronic Diseases" and James S. Goodwin, director, Sealy Center on Aging on "How to be 80…Secrets of Successful Aging".

We want to thank all of our class hosts who assisted in bringing in record attendance for this year’s Homecoming events. We are already scouting hosts for this event next year – 2013! If you are interested in being a class host, contact Mallory Stowe.

 
UTMB Alumni can stay connected at www.alumni.utmb.edu and follow fellow alumni on Facebook for up-to-date notices about future alumni and campus events!