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.