Welcome to the newest issue of Impact, a special edition dedicated to highlighting some of the significant contributions of our UTMB family during Hurricane Harvey.
As with Hurricane Ike in 2008 and with the John Sealy Hospital fire earlier this year, your response was nothing short of remarkable. Many of you worked tirelessly—some for days on end—to ensure that our patients, fellow employees, students and communities received care. I’m proud of the steady and thoughtful ways in which our family faced this crisis together, and I sincerely thank each of you for your selflessness and dedication during this difficult time.
More than a thousand members of our UTMB family suffered personal property losses from the storm, and we’ve heard from so many others who want to help them recover in any way possible. For that reason, we’ve established two Harvey Recovery Funds—one for students and another for employees—where you can make contributions or apply for assistance in the event you’ve been impacted. You can learn more at https://www.utmb.edu/harvey-recovery.
While this edition of Impact can’t recount every story of kindness, courage and self-sacrifice from you during this crisis, we’ve tried to capture as many as possible from
across our institution.
Among them:
- UTMB employees, first responders and the Indiana Blood Center ensured patients
received much-needed blood products during the storm
- Surgeons, nurses and clinical staff found a way to ensure care continued to be delivered at the League City Campus despite rising floodwaters
- Labor & Delivery teams across UTMB delivered more than 100 babies and provided care to mothers and newborns from across the region
- Despite significant personal challenges at home, Food and Nutrition Services employees worked around the clock to feed and comfort patients, families and staff
- CMC employees worked wonders across the state throughout Harvey’s devastation,
ensuring patients continued to receive care despite serious challenges
- And many additional stories of bravery, heroics and disaster relief response from all parts of our institution
Again, I want to offer my appreciation and admiration for your response throughout this challenge. UTMB is strong because of each and every one of you.
Dr. David L. Callender
UTMB President