Happy New Year, and welcome to the latest issue of Impact! The beginning of a new year gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the accomplishments of the previous months and plan ahead for the many opportunities to come in 2018.
To kick the year off, we have several events planned to discuss where we’ve been and where we are going. In addition to Town Hall on January 24, we will continue the Mondays in March series, which provides an opportunity for you to hear from UTMB executive leaders about plans and progress in the Academic Enterprise, the Health System, and Business and Finance. We are currently planning this year’s series and would like to hear from you regarding what topics you’d like to learn more about from the Executive Vice Presidents and me in the future. Please submit your ideas at http://intranet.utmb.edu/weeklyrelay/mondays-in-march.
This edition of Impact also includes tips to help you stay healthy this flu season by Dr. Megan Berman, an associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine. Flu season hit early and hard this year; we are seeing a greater number of patients filling our hospitals and clinics with flu symptoms. However, it’s not too late to get your flu vaccination, which is still the most effective way to prevent flu. Please take a look at Dr. Berman’s tips to protect yourself and your family, and refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further information at www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.
Among the many other stories you’ll find in this issue:
- A day in the life of Brenda Yanez, stroke coordinator
- A profile of Christine Wade, director of patient care services and assistant chief nursing officer
- Two Best Care in Action segments: A spotlight on UTMB Hospital Galveston’s efforts to improve average length of stay and patient throughput; and a feature highlighting Dr. Jason Ross, a senior radiology resident who provided exceptional and compassionate care to a patient diagnosed with cancer
- A research study that has found a link between children who experience corporal punishment and those who later perpetrate acts of dating violence
- The reopening of our Texas City and Dickinson RMCHP clinics reopened to patients following several months of repairs due to Hurricane Harvey
- Nursing and medical students working together in UTMB’s Interprofessional Nursing Simulation Center in preparation for work in the real world
- A “UTMB Trivia” question to test your knowledge and enter your name for a chance to win a UTMB swag bag
- Numerous accomplishments and kudos in the Working Wonders column and throughout the newsletter
I look forward to working with you all in the coming year to improve health and improve lives in our local communities and beyond. Thank you!
Dr. David L. Callender
UTMB President