This section celebrates the many accomplishments, honors and successes awarded to members of the UTMB community who go above and beyond to spread the mission of the institution.

This section celebrates the many accomplishments, honors and successes awarded to members of the UTMB community who go above and beyond to spread the mission of the institution.

The Galveston County Daily News recently released a special magazine to spotlight the best and brightest professionals in Galveston County who are 40 years old or younger and are making a difference in their professions and in the community. Three members of the UTMB community made the list, including Summer Chapman, clinical research nurse coordinator, Joseph Ray, director of the Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, and John Prochaska, assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health.

Dr. Gulshan Sharma, chief medical and clinical innovation officer, was recently named one of “100 Hospital and Health System CMOs To Know,” according to Becker’s Healthcare. The list features physician leaders dedicated to strengthening their organizations through leadership development, patient safety initiatives, health information technology and quality improvement. Many have served as department heads and continue to practice medicine, while others focus on process improvement and patient advocacy.

In October 2018, a shuttle bus transporting industrial workers overturned and rolled several times down an embankment on the ramp of Highway 36 and 288, resulting in a range of injuries and one fatality. UTMB’s Angleton Danbury Campus Team did an amazing job handling this medical emergency while also demonstrating constant kindness and compassion to the many families affected by this tragedy. The team also managed the media who came to cover the accident in a highly professional manner, and for their efforts they received the President’s Way To Go Award from UTMB President David Callender on April 25.

Sonya Schiwart, a care coordinator in UTMB Health’s Care Management department, and Lisa Moore, a social worker on the Galveston Campus, were recently recognized by UTMB President Dr. David Callender with President’s Way To Go Awards for helping to reunite an oncology patient with his mother in Georgia whom he had not seen in more than two decades. The recognition marked the second time that Moore has received a WTGA from President Callender. She was previously honored in July 2017.

School of Medicine students present an illustration of “Old Red” to State Rep. Mayes Middleton, R-Wallisville. UTMB students visited the Texas Legislature in early March as part of the Texas Medical Association’s First Tuesdays at the Capitol event. According to the TMA, the March 5 event gave physicians in training a chance to meet with legislators to discuss issues related to medicine and the future of practicing in the state.

UTMB is now the only institution in the Greater Houston Area—and one of only five in Texas—to be fully recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). More than 84 million U.S. adults have prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as diabetes. People with prediabetes are at high risk for type 2 diabetes (the most common type of diabetes), heart disease and stroke, making this program particularly significant in improving health in our communities. Congratulations to the following UTMB team members for making the CDC full recognition a reality: Dr. Nicola Abate, professor and chief in the UTMB Division of Endocrinology; Dr. Hanaa Sallam, research scientist and coordinator of UTMB’s Diabetes Prevention Program; Michael Washburn, program manager of UTMB’s Angleton Danbury Campus Community Resources, Wellness and Volunteer Services; Dr. Raquel Pena, research scientist in the UTMB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science; Dr. Ben Raimer, senior vice president, Office of Health Policy and Legislative Affairs; Dr. Michelle Sierpina, founding director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI); Dr. Cynthia Judice, chief medical officer for UTMB’s Primary Care Services and Community-Based Clinics; Dr. Hani Serag, research fellow in the Office of Health Policy and Legislative Affairs; Gene Felter, business manager for UTMB divisions of Cardiology and Endocrinology; Ann Varghese, director of Ambulatory Operations; and Julie Kuper, business coordinator in the Division of Endocrinology.

UTMB School of Nursing Population Health students partnered with the Galveston Police Department to keep bicyclists safe by developing bicycle lanes near campus. As part of their clinical assignment, the students developed a study for the need of bicycle lanes and conducted numerous surveys that showed most respondents did not feel safe riding their bikes to campus without lanes and signage.

Three UTMB employees were chosen as inaugural recipients of the Regents’ Outstanding Employee Award. Chad Connally, nursing program manager, Emergency Services Administration; Mike Mastrangelo, program director, Institutional Preparedness—Facilities Risk Management; and Scott Woodby, nurse clinician V, MICU/CCU, received the prestigious award in recognition of their outstanding performance, innovation, enthusiasm and dedication in their jobs.

Joel Ortiz, animal resource supervisor, and Amanda Heatherly, protocol advisor and liaison with UTMB’s Animal Resource Center, traveled to Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico— also known as Monkey Island—during the December holidays to help with recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria.

Raymond (Sonny) Morales, construction manager; Leonard LaComb, principal facilities project manager; and Joel Long, maintenance customer service manager; received UTMB President David Callender’s Way to Go Awards for their dedication to helping the patients and families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Galveston.

Dr. Nisha Jain Garg, professor in the departments of Microbiology and Immunology and of Pathology, was awarded $2.3 million from the National Institutes of Health to examine the previously unknown role of a DNA repair protein called PARP1 in increasing the risk of heart damage that often accompanies Chagas disease.

UTMB Correctional Managed Care employees Gary Eubank, chief nursing officer, and Paul Brown, Region 3 director of nursing, co-wrote several chapters in the fourth edition of the book “Financial Management for Nurse Managers: Merging the Heart with the Dollar.” The book addresses the financial management issues faced by nurse leaders in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics and home care.

Several UTMB employees received President David Callender’s Way to Go Award during the Nov. 1 Town Hall. Lonnie Winston and Seth Grimes, materials handling techs, were recognized for their actions going above and beyond to ensure a young patient at Jennie Sealy Hospital received a special package.

Dr. Mayukh Sarkar, a medical laboratory scientist in UTMB’s Department of Pathology, was recognized as a 2017 “Choosing Wisely Champion” by the American Society for Clinical Pathology during its annual meeting Sept. 6-8 in Chicago.

This edition of Working Wonders honors all UTMB employees statewide who stepped up before, during and after Hurricane Harvey to serve the needs of our patients, families, colleagues and communities.

UTMB employees Sarah Burnett, Brenda Lundy and Betty Shipp received President’s Way to Go Awards at the July Town Hall meeting. Burnett, a medical lab specialist with Blood Bank Transfusion Operations, was recognized for a “long list” of accomplishments, including initiating several innovative projects to improve patient care and ensure blood products are used safely and efficiently, and for her volunteer work in the community.

Rebecca Clayton, a nurse in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU), was one of six finalists nationally to be recognized by American Nurse Today, the official journal of the American Nurses Association, during their “Spirit of Caring” contest.

UTMB Police Officer Harold Beasley was recognized by the 50 Club of Galves­ton County as one of its Officers of the Year during an awards luncheon at the Moody Gardens Hotel in Galveston on May 4.