Welcome to the February issue of Impact. We closed out last month with a Jan. 24 Town Hall that covered a variety of topics, including financial and construction updates and FY18 Institutional Priorities.
Right now, health care organizations across the country are being challenged financially. At UTMB, we are facing those same challenges. During Town Hall, I had the opportunity to talk about steps we are taking to get back on track with our FY18 budget, including: continuing to improve clinical coding and documentation; increasing patient volume, access and satisfaction, while decreasing wait times; managing labor and supply costs; accelerating our energy savings program; and reducing travel expenses. I truly believe that if anyplace can successfully overcome these challenges, it’s UTMB. We know how to do this. We are strong, and we are resilient. I appreciate the hard work that each and every one of you does every day to accomplish our mission more effectively and efficiently.
You can view the Town Hall video at www.utmb.edu/townhall. And please plan to attend or view one or more of the Mondays in March sessions, beginning March 5, where we’ll continue the discussion on our plans for the future. For more information about this year’s series, please visit www.utmb.edu/mondays-in-march.
This issue of Impact includes a tribute to UTMB Police Chief Tom Engells, who passed away suddenly in January. He was an extraordinary man who made tremendous contributions at UTMB, across UT System and the law enforcement world, and he will be greatly missed.
Other stories you’ll find in this edition:
- A day in the life of patient transporters Jeimmy Banegas and Darion Alexander
- A profile of Dr. Vicki Freeman, professor and interim dean of the School of Health Professions
- A Best Care in Action segment highlighting UTMB’s Blood Management Program
- A story on how a UTMB liver transplant recipient was able to celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary after a journey from near-death to new life
- How the creation of the Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences will expand vaccine research and development at UTMB
- An article about how Dr. Jose Rojas discovered the value of interprofessional education
- Construction updates from around our growing Galveston and League City campuses
- Nutrition tips for a healthy heart by Blair Brown, registered dietitian nutritionist with UTMB’s Texas Transplant Center
- A Heart Month edition of the “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 hope you enjoy reading this issue. If you have any story suggestions for future editions, please let the Impact team know.
Thank you!
Dr. David L. Callender
UTMB President