Academic Enterprise Announcements

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.

The Center for Correctional Health (CCH), a new university-level initiative led by Olugbenga B. Ojo, MD, MBA, FACP, SFHM, CCHP, CCHP-CP, from the Department of Internal Medicine and the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Physician Executive for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital Galveston. The CCH will allow UTMB to build on our unique knowledge and experience and play a vital role in improving the delivery of care to this important and vulnerable population.

UTMB's School of Nursing received full 10-year accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The CCNE Board of Commissioners determined that, the baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at UTMB met criteria for accreditation by the CCNE.

Amy Gonzalez, MD, FAAP, will serve as Assistant Dean for Admissions and Recruitment in the John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM), effective June 1. Dr. Gonzalez’s passion for education and her steadfast commitment to student success will serve her — and our school — exceptionally well in this new leadership role.