Academic Enterprise Announcements

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.

I am pleased to announce that Abbey Berenson, MD, PhD, has accepted the new role of Vice Dean for Research at the John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM), effective December 1, 2025.

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.

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.

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.

Michael B. Whitehead, DHSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, has been named Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies in the John Sealy School of Medicine. Dr. Whitehead has served as the Interim Chair since January 2025. A member of our PA faculty since March 2021, Dr. Whitehead served as Associate Program Director in the department prior to this appointment.

Matthew Hutter, MD, MPH, MBA, will join UTMB as Chair of the Department of Surgery in the John Sealy School of Medicine this September. Dr. Hutter is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the quality movement in surgery and in the field of metabolic and bariatric surgery.

Rebekah Viner, MS, MBA, has been appointed Associate Vice President of Academic and Research Affairs in the Office of the Dean, John Sealy School of Medicine, effective May 1, 2025. Ms. Viner has been an integral member of the UTMB community for the past 15 years, consistently demonstrating outstanding leadership, professionalism, and commitment.

We thank Scott C. Weaver, PhD, for his strong leadership of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M&I) since 2015. A renowned researcher whose contributions are reflected by an impressive record of grant support, publications, and patents, Dr. Weaver has helped elevate the department to a world-class entity in the fight against infectious diseases.

Janice Jones Endsley, PhD, has been named the next Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, effective March 1, 2025. An accomplished microbiologist, educator, and academic leader, Dr. Endsley has been an asset to the department for nearly two decades. She has the vision and experience necessary to lead its next chapter.

The Liaison Committee for Medical Education has announced that the John Sealy School of Medicine has been granted full accreditation of the medical education program for eight years.

UTMB was well represented at the TEACH-S Educational Symposium, with three UTMB posters receiving the top awards. This event provides a forum for showcasing scholarly innovations of the regional community of educators.

Nausheen Jamal, MD, will serve as Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at the John Sealy School of Medicine, effective this summer. Dr. Jamal joins UTMB from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine.

Congratulations to two individuals who received the 2023 Roberto Logroño, MD, Award for Professionalism in Health Care: Christen Sadler, MSN, RN, CNM, CNE; and Pooja Agrawal. Both awardees were recognized May 15, 2023.

Juan D. Ventura, MS, John Sealy School of Medicine class of 2024, has been selected for a Fulbright Award. Mr. Ventura is UTMB’s first student Fulbright recipient in many years. He will study Dance Science at in London, England.