Academic Enterprise Announcements

The John Sealy School of Medicine is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. J. Patrik Hornak as Associate Dean for Global Initiatives.

Harsh Thaker, MD, PhD, has been named Chair of the Department of Pathology in the John Sealy School of Medicine and will also hold the prestigious John Sealy Distinguished Chair for the Advancement of Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Heather Stevenson-Lerner, MD, PhD, FCAP, has been named Director of the John Sealy Diagnostic Center.

I am delighted to announce that Emily J. Hurst, MSLS, will join UTMB as the Director of Library Services this June.

Please join me in sharing tremendous appreciation for Patricia (Pat) Ciejka, Associate Vice President for Library Services. She retires at the end of April 2026.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Joshua L. Gary, MD, as Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, effective Aug 3, 2026.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of a new leader within the Chief Research Office as part of our ongoing efforts to align with institutional priorities and support our research mission. Kenneth Plante, PhD, will serve as the Research Security Officer for the newly created Office of Research Security effective April 1, 2026.

Volker Neugebauer, MD, PhD, has accepted the position of Chair of the Department of Neurobiology and will join The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) this fall.

Alexander N. Freiberg, PhD, has accepted the role of Associate Director of the Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) at the University of Texas Medical Branch, effective March 1, 2026.

The John Sealy School of Medicine is pleased to announce the appointment of Max Wintermark, MD, MS, MBA, as the new Chair of the Department of Radiology, effective April 1, 2026.

UTMB has received Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education, placing us among a select group of organizations that meet the highest standards for team-based education. Dr. Erin McGoff has transitioned to serve full-time in her role as Director of IPCE.