Michelle Conley loves a good inspirational quote. As a student recruitment and event coordinator for UTMB’s School of Health Professions, her office walls are covered with motivational messages to remind students, colleagues—and herself—that success can be achieved with a positive attitude and hard work.

UTMB physicians have been practicing telemedicine for more than 20 years, delivering care via video conferencing to Texas prison inmates, cruise ship passengers, researchers in Antarctica and patients in rural parts of the state. So it only makes sense for UTMB to lead the coordination and implementation of a UT System initiative connecting all eight UT health care institutions under one statewide telemedicine network.

To help stop the spread of diseases carried by arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded UTMB $10 million to establish the Western Gulf Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases. The center’s work will protect public health in the region, the nation and beyond.

Craig Kovacevich serves as UTMB’s associate vice president of Waiver Operations and Community Health Plans. He is also the executive director for UTMB HealthCare Systems, a Texas 501(c)3 corporation. In his roles, Kovacevich directs the daily operations of UTMB HealthCare Systems’ corporate office and provides executive leadership within the department of Waiver Operations.

Four UTMB employees and students were honored at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in January. The annual event celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. King by honoring faculty, students and staff who promote diversity, inclusion, civic engagement and service to UTMB and the greater community.

UTMB’s institutional vision, The Road Ahead, has been updated for 2017–2019. It outlines four essential strategic priorities—People, Value, Strategic Management and Growth, and Resources—which are the foundation for the institution’s strategic vision and all our efforts to improve lives in an evolving health care landscape.

A respectful work environment boosts employee morale and creates a more positive, productive workplace. Make professionalism a habit and demonstrate respect with these simple, yet powerful actions.

UTMB Transportation staff gather in front of Jennie Sealy Hospital to help move mothers and infants arriving on emergency buses. More than 110 patients were evacuated from John Sealy Hospital after a fire broke out in a non-patient area of John Sealy Hospital on Jan. 4.

This space usually carries a simple Happy New Year message, but with the John Sealy Hospital fire, 2017 got off to a more eventful start than any of us had anticipated. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to once again acknowledge the many employees who have kept patients, visitors and colleagues safe, fulfilling our mission under extraordinary circumstances.

Neil Scofelia, a senior financial analyst with the budget and decision support team, received President David Callender’s Way to Go Award for his hard work and commitment to ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the data UTMB submits to Vizient.

The UTMB Correctional Managed Care dialysis team works like a well-oiled machine, seamlessly treating about 46 patients at a time between the Estelle Unit in Huntsville and Carole Young Medical Facility in Dickinson. Dialysis machines run nonstop six days a week between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. to ensure UTMB CMC’s 211 dialysis patients receive care with patient outcomes above state and national standards. The team has found success through interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative use of resources, commitment to excellence and a focus on providing Best Care.

UTMB launched a new brand awareness campaign this month to help spread the word about the university’s great work. It’s designed to reach those who can benefit most from the many advances UTMB makes every day.

UTMB’s new Health Education Center (HEC) will provide the space to accommodate UTMB’s increasing enrollments and employ the advanced technology necessary to train students in an interdisciplinary environment to help Texas meet the rising demand for health care providers in the coming years.

It’s well before daylight when Julian Ramirez arrives to work on Dec. 16—one of the busiest days of the year for UTMB’s Catering Services. “We’re really running this morning!” he says with a smile as he loads boxes of cutlery and plates into the back of a van.

Ann O’Connell joined UTMB in 2013 as vice president for Ambulatory Operations. Her responsibilities include operational oversight and management of 90 UTMB practice locations both on Galveston Island and the mainland.

UTMB researchers have developed a vaccine against salmonella poisoning designed to be taken by mouth. The findings are detailed in an article published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.

In a single year, thousands of women will walk through the doors of a nondescript building in downtown McAllen, Texas. That decision could end up saving their lives. The building is one of UTMB’s 13 Regional Maternal and Child Health Program clinics spread out across the state and it serves a unique role for women in the Rio Grande Valley.

As the new president of UTMB’s Administrative Professionals Association, Florence McMillian is on a mission to build membership and broaden the appeal of the organization. Founded in 1956 as the Secretaries Club, its name was changed to Support Staff Professionals in 2001 when the group grew to include more than secretaries. Today—more than 60 years since its founding—members are celebrating a new name: Administrative Professionals Association (APA).

As we begin the new year in a positive manner and navigate the challenges we encounter along the road to achieving Best Care, it is important to remember that in addition to being positive with others and maintaining a focused and optimistic outlook, we also need to take care of ourselves. No one can go on endlessly doing for others without also recharging their own batteries. Follow these simple tips every day to feel re-energized.

Several families rang in the New Year by celebrating the arrival of their newborns at the Galveston, League City and Angleton Danbury campuses.