The University of Texas System board of regents approved a measure Oct. 5 naming Dr. Ben Raimer president of UTMB. Also, UTMB commemorated the 130th anniversary of the school’s founding. “Over the years, UTMB has weathered many storms and celebrated many triumphs,” Raimer said. “We have trained generations of health care providers and biomedical scientists and have made countless research discoveries. We see the benefits of that training and research during the COVID-19 pandemic and future generations will reap the benefits of the hard work, education and research happening on our campuses today.”

UTMB Health Urgent Care was a finalist for Best Emergency or Urgent-Care Center in OutSmart’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards Winners. “OutSmart’s 24th annual Gayest & Greatest Readers’ Choice Awards are a celebration of Houston’s best and brightest,” the magazine said.

The Galveston/Bay Area Walk to End Alzheimer’s is Oct. 9 at Stewart Beach Pavilion in Galveston. Jim Byrom, chair of the campaign, mentioned UTMB in his column. “Through our walk and Alzheimer’s Association contributions, we’ve been able to partner with the University of Texas Medical Branch and award the hospital over $300,000 for research grants to support the projects of Drs. Balaji Krishnan, Yogesh Wairkar and Giulio Taglialatela all at the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases,” he wrote.

Health reporter Haley Hernandez asked Houston-area hospitals about policies on unvaccinated patients waiting for transplants. Hernandez read a statement from UTMB: “We encourage our patients undergoing transplant to protect themselves by getting vaccinated pre-transplant as post-transplant immunosuppression will reduce their likelihood to mount good antibody response. We are not denying anyone to get evaluated for transplant based on vaccination status.”

Dr. Angelica Robinson, physician and associate professor with the UTMB Department of Radiology, and Dr. Kimberlyn Robinson, a UTMB OB/GYN in Clear Lake, joined host TJ Aulds to discuss women’s health and breast cancer.