Sarah Dang, a first-year medical student at UTMB, balances rigorous studies in anatomy with a passion for contortion, a discipline she discovered through childhood curiosity and later developed through international training, including time in France and Mongolia.

As food pantries face rising demand, UTMB is expanding a St. Vincent’s House vegetable garden through UTMB President’s Cabinet grants. The project grows fresh produce for pantry shelves while giving students hands-on training in community nutrition.

For first-generation medical students, earning a white coat represents not only years of hard work, but also breaking new ground for their families and expanding what feels possible for those who follow. At UTMB, students like Ronaldo Tijerina and mentors like Dr. Mahwish Khan are building a supportive community that helps first-in-family students navigate challenges, find mentorship, and turn personal experiences into purpose-driven careers.

A $4 million gift from the Sealy & Smith Foundation to UTMB is launching the ISLAND Promise, a program that covers tuition, housing, and living support for nursing students while creating a direct pathway into high-need roles at UTMB Health. In exchange for a two-year work commitment after graduation, the initiative aims to reduce financial barriers, expand access to nursing education and strengthen the long-term workforce pipeline.

Five nurses and one nursing student from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) have been recognized in the Houston Chronicle’s “Salute to Nurses,” an annual awards program that honors the contributions of nurses across the Greater Houston healthcare community.

Giovanny Reyes overcame being wait-listed twice for medical school to pursue primary care, using his Spanish skills to serve underserved patients. Now at UTMB, he credits his journey and gap years with shaping his path.

Four graduate students from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop.

The UTMB Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) has launched a new Master of Science in Biomedical and Clinical Sciences that offers advanced training across the core biomedical sciences, with options to complete either a research thesis or an applied experiential capstone.

The UTMB School of Health Professions Department of Respiratory Therapy has been selected to receive the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), placing the program among an elite group of respiratory therapy programs nationwide.

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is accepting applications through April 10 for the Innovation in Life Sciences Summer Camp, a four-day immersive program designed to inspire the next generation of scientific and entrepreneurial leaders through hands-on learning and real-world problem solving.