Thank you to everyone who joined us at Hotel Lucine last Friday evening for our Department Fall Gathering. The setting could not have been better; perfect fall weather, a steady breeze off the Gulf, and the sun setting over Galveston Beach as we gathered on the rooftop deck. It was one of those evenings that reminds us why we're fortunate to be here.
More than the location, what made the evening meaningful was seeing over 100 faculty and staff from across all our divisions come together. Too often, our work keeps us in our own silos. Friday night, those boundaries dissolved. Colleagues who rarely cross paths were talking, sharing stories, and simply enjoying each other's company. That sense of connection, of being part of something larger than our individual divisions, is what makes us a strong department.
The evening also marked the launch of our inaugural Department Excellence Awards. Please join me in congratulating our recipients:
- Education Award - Sara Dann-Grice, PhD
- Mentorship Award - Maria Belalcazar, MD
- Clinical Care Award - Tammie Michael, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC
- Leadership Award - Miguel Cabada, MD, MSc, FASTMH
- Citizenship Award - David Reynoso, MD, PhD
- Research Award - Gregory Gray, MD, MPH, FIDSA
Thank you to everyone who made the evening possible, and to all of you for the work you do every day to advance patient care, education, and discovery at UTMB.
I look forward to gathering again at our Spring event on the Mainland, where we can continue building the connections that make our department thrive.
With appreciation,
Salim S. Hayek, MD, FAHA, FACC
Edward Randall and Edward Randall Jr. Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine
Professor and Chair, Department of Internal Medicine
Chief Transformation Officer