Academic Enterprise Announcements

I am pleased to announce that Zbigniew Gugala, MD, PhD, has accepted the new role of Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Career Advising at the John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM), effective Nov. 1, 2025.

I am elated to congratulate our Health Education Center (HEC) team on achieving additional levels of accreditation in Human Simulation and Research from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). These new distinctions build upon the HEC’s 2024 SSH accreditations in Assessment and Teaching/Education, further highlighting the HEC’s commitment to excellence.

We are honored to announce the retirement of Alan Barrett, PhD, DSc (Hon), Professor and Director of the Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences in the John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB. Dr. Barrett has served UTMB with a distinguished career for 32 years, in the areas of research, education and administration.

We are honored to announce the retirement of Jin Mo Chung, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurobiology in the John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB. Dr. Chung has served UTMB with distinction for 44 years, leaving an indelible mark on our institution through his leadership, research, and mentorship.

Erez Lieberman Aiden, PhD, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, effective Aug. 12, 2025. He will also serve as Professor of BioSciences at Rice University, strengthening ties between our institutions.

Dr. Roberto Garofalo and Dr. Heather Stevenson-Lerner were appointed as the new co-directors of the MD-PhD Program at UTMB. Their combined leadership marks an exciting new phase in the development of a program that plays a vital role in the life of our academic medical center.

Melissa (Missy) Morrow, PhD, has been appointed Director of the Sealy Center on Aging at The University of Texas Medical Branch. A distinguished scientist, mentor, and leader in the field of rehabilitation research, Dr. Morrow brings a wealth of expertise to her new role.

Neil Mehta, PhD, MSc, MA, was named the Inaugural Chair of the Department of Epidemiology, SPPH, effective July 1. Dr. Mehta also serves as the Associate Dean for Research in the School of Public and Population Health as well as the Director for the newly established UTMB Center for Health and Clinical Outcomes Research.

Salim Hayek, MD, has been named Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in the John Sealy School of Medicine, effective July 1. As a board-certified cardiologist, NIH-funded physician-scientist, and nationally recognized leader in academic medicine, Dr. Hayek brings to this position a remarkable blend of clinical insight, research excellence, and operational leadership.

UTMB has announced the recipients of the 2025 Faculty Excellence and Lifetime Achievement Awards. Please join us in sharing congratulations with these outstanding UTMB faculty members! They will be honored at the Faculty Recognition Reception on Thursday, Sept. 4.