Medical students at UTMB seeking to gain an edge with additional management and finance skills will be able to obtain a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Houston–Clear Lake while working on their medical degree. The MD–MBA program is geared toward medical students who wish to go on to private or group practice, health system administration or into the fields of biotechnology, health system management or entrepreneurship aspects of health care.

UTMB recently hosted the International Organization for Standardization/Technical Committee 260 (ISO/TC 260) meeting for Human Resource Management. The meeting brought together more than 40 delegates and experts from 13 countries to develop standards involving human governance, recruitment, workforce planning and HR terminology. These standards will provide guidance to HR practitioners across the globe.

UTMB employees and students—as well as the local community—will have their first chance to see the new Jennie Sealy Hospital up close and personal in late February. Several events will mark the completion of construction and opening of the new 765,000-square-foot hospital, which will accept its first patient on April 9.

A multitude of parking changes aimed at improving the patient experience and enhancing parking for faculty, staff and students will take effect over the next few months to coincide with the opening of the new Jennie Sealy Hospital.

A recent employee survey about Weekly Relays indicated the program is meeting the goal of strengthening internal communications so that employees are better informed, understand how they fit in the UTMB mission, and have a reliable way to voice concerns and get answers to their questions. Results also pointed to some ways the program can be improved. With the one-year anniversary of Weekly Relays, the ICC and Office of Marketing and Communications will be making additional modifications in response to the survey data to make the initiative even better.

Rakez Kayed, PhD, associate professor of Neurology, and Bridget Hawkins, PhD assistant professor of Anesthesiology, have filled an important gap in understanding the link between traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Previously, UTMB researchers found a toxic form of tau protein that increases after a traumatic brain injury and may contribute to development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition experienced by many professional athletes and military personnel.

President’s “Way to Go” Awards: Dr. David Callender recognized several UTMB employees for their great work during the Jan. 27 Town Hall Meeting.

Strive for a heart-healthy weight. Use a Body Mass Index calculator to find out if you’re at a healthy weight. BMI is an indicator of the amount of body fat most people have. If you can reach and maintain a healthy weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2), not only will you have more energy, you’ll also have a reduced risk of heart disease and other cancers.

More than 150 CMC managers got a first look at the new Jennie Sealy Hospital during the CMC Winter Conference in Galveston on Jan. 27-28. A “skylight” complete with cloud images adorns the ceiling above an intraoperative MRI in the new hospital. An iMRI is used to get real-time images of the brain during surgery and helps neurosurgeons achieve a more complete removal of some brain tumors. Managers also got a tour of Old Red and Hospital Galveston.

Six UTMB employees were honored as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award recipients at the annual luncheon in January. The award is presented annually to individuals who carry out Dr. King’s dream and have made a profound difference through dedication and service to UTMB and the greater community.

UTMB Officer Wesley Braunsdorf is UT System Police Featured Officer of the Month for February, Katrina Lambrecht is the new vice president and administrator for Angleton Danbury Campus, Steve Schuenke is named Photographer of the Year by the Bay Area Photo Club, and much more...

Happy New Year, and welcome to the latest issue of Impact! The beginning of a new year gives us a chance to reflect on the accomplishments of the previous months and look forward to the many opportunities ahead.

Rebecca Carson and Katrina Lightbourn are the brightest parts of the day for many patients at UTMB’s John Sealy Hospital. They don’t provide direct patient care, but what they do as UTMB and Morrison Healthcare Food and Nutrition Services employees plays a major role in helping patients—from children to seniors—stay healthy and recover from medical procedures and illnesses.

Each day, nurses Cheryl Vining and Darlene Carroll take their mission of improving health to community centers and into patient’s homes throughout Brazoria County. As part of the Patient Navigation Team at UTMB’s Angleton Danbury Campus, the energetic duo might be attending a health fair, community event or working one-on-one with a patient who needs help in managing a chronic illness.

UTMB partnered with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to share 1115 Waiver progress at a national forum sponsored by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Orlando, Florida, Dec. 6–9.

Sheila Lidstone serves as chief of staff to UTMB President David L. Callender. A fifth-generation BOI, she graduated from Ball High School and completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Houston—the first in her family to complete college.

“The best laid plans often go astray.” Erin Lindsey would know. As a midwife at UTMB, she’s seen carefully thought-out birth plans turn into emergency cesarean sections and “Plan Bs,” but she never expected that to happen during her own pregnancy.

Consider these 10 strategies to help you get 2016 off to a healthy start including tips for mental and physical health for the new year.

This 12-hour basic self-defense class is designed for women and provides personal safety education through a blend of threat-avoidance strategies and real-world assault-resistance tactics.

The National Diversity Council recently recognized UTMB’s Veterans Resource Group (VetsRG) as one of the top Employee Resource Groups in Texas.

UTMB’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion recently launched the Strategic Diversity and Compliance Toolkit, a Web-based library of resources designed to provide UTMB employees with support tools and strategies for addressing workforce diversity and inclusion.

The Sealy & Smith Foundation recently contributed $1 million to establish an endowed chair in honor of Dr. Courtney M. Townsend Jr.

UTMB’s institutional vision, The Road Ahead, has been updated for 2016–2018. It outlines UTMB’s goals and strategies among four essential, strategic priorities: People, Value, Strategic Management and Growth, Resources.

We all have our own unique emotional triggers. Maybe it’s lack of punctuality, sarcasm or inappropriate language that pushes your buttons. But how do you deal with those situations when they arise? Do you let anger take over and derail the rest of the day?

Just before the holidays, members of the Student Occupational Therapy Association in the School of Health Professions helped make the season a little brighter for one of their St. Vincent’s House Clinic clients.

Amy Lussier was recently promoted to associate vice president, Health Systems Operations. Lussier’s responsibilities will include the League City Hospital and Perioperative and Endoscopy Services.

Carlos Escobar, associate vice president of Business Operations and Facilities, was recently elected to be an officer for the Southeast Texas Chapter of the American College of Health Care Executive’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Oscar “Skip” Brown, associate professor of Pediatrics and vice chair for Clinical Affairs, was recently elected to the District VII National Nominating Committee (comprising Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas) for the American Academy of Pediatrics.