.jpg?sfvrsn=c40b5053_1 "Rachel Compton, center, stands with her UTMB care team, Colleen Silva, MD, medical director of Breast Cancer Services, and Jeffrey Smith, MD, reconstructive plastic surgeon, who supported her throughout her breast cancer journey.")
Rachel Compton was diagnosed with breast cancer at 41 despite regular screenings and close monitoring after her sister’s diagnosis. She shares how early detection, self-advocacy, and a trusted care team at UTMB helped her navigate treatment, reconstruction, and life after cancer.
Jennifer M. Lirette, Clinical Educator II-SPECTRE at UTMB, is featured in a NETEC Emergency Nurses Week spotlight for her work preparing frontline healthcare teams to safely identify, isolate, and respond to patients with rare but high-consequence infectious diseases.
Two UTMB School of Nursing doctoral students have been selected as members of the 2026-2028 Jonas Scholars cohort.
A newly approved targeted drug and promising mRNA vaccine research are creating new possibilities for pancreatic cancer treatment.
“Human exploration is changing rapidly, and the health challenges associated with distance, isolation, and limited resources are changing along with it,” said Dr. Ronak V. Shah, who will serve as inaugural chair. “Creating the Department of Aerospace and Exploration Medicine gives us an opportunity to build on decades of expertise at UTMB as we prepare for the future.”
UTMB is helping Galveston residents discover the benefits of healthier eating through Blue Zones-inspired cooking classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
A leader in infectious disease research and artificial intelligence at UTMB is taking his expertise to the global stage.
Chronic stress can disrupt immune system regulation and may contribute to symptom flare-ups in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
“People have seen how teams that play well together succeed in the end, winning a game—versus having one or two superstars. And I think that’s what comprehensive cancer care is. It is about passing the care between all the players, so that each person is contributing to the care of the patient, and then, the cure, or the success of the treatment, is a goal you get."-- Raghu Kalluri, chief scientific officer, UTMB Cancer Center
Facing a breast cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but no one has to navigate it alone. UTMB Health's 14th Annual BRA Day connects patients, survivors, families, and care teams to explore reconstruction options, share inspiring stories, and celebrate strength, support, and healing.
For Dr. Sheba Luke, a recommendation from her sister led her to graduate nursing school at UTMB. What kept her there was a series of doors that opened and helped shape her career.
Could your genetics affect your breast cancer risk? Discover how family history and genetic testing can guide prevention and early detection.
Daily News Editor Michael A. Smith dedicates an editorial to celebrating the 135th anniversary of UTMB and congratulates the institution's faculty, staff, students, and alumnus.
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) “Where Purpose Meets Passion.” campaign has garnered 10 prestigious awards, highlighting the breadth and impact of the institution’s brand transformation.
For lifelong Galveston County resident Dr. Amber High, lecturing in the same classrooms where she took her first nursing courses decades ago brings a sense of nostalgia, but transformations at UTMB are what brought her back to her alma mater.
The University of Texas Medical Branch, which celebrated its 135th anniversary Monday, has kept alive a tradition of cutting-edge research and collaboration that students and staff say drew them in and kept generations connected to the island.
This year’s National Fire Prevention Week theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” recognizes the increased use of lithium-ion batteries and associated fire dangers.
A childhood dream of becoming a surgeon brought Courtney Townsend, MD, to UTMB. The mentors, opportunities and collaborative culture he found here turned that dream into a lifelong career in academic medicine.
As great as it would be if the fountain of youth were available online or at your local wellness studio, “there is no compound, in human beings, that’s been shown to prolong life,” says Thomas Blackwell, M.D., professor of general internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
For 135 years, generations of visionaries, physicians, scientists, educators, and philanthropists have helped transform UTMB from a small medical school in Galveston into a leading academic health system.