Lab professionals celebrated during National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week

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(Left to right) Xavier Escobedo, senior specimen processor, Shannon Smith, specimen processor, Julia Moran-Lopez, senior medical laboratory scientist and Simon Vera, intermediate medical laboratory scientist

 

The department of pathology and laboratory medicine celebrated National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week April 14–20 with games, prizes and goodies each day of the week — from bagels, cookies and donuts to pizza and friendship bracelets.

National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week is an annual celebration of medical laboratory professionals and pathologists whose support was pivotal through the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to play a vital role in health care and patient advocacy.

This year’s theme, “The Lab is Everything,” celebrated laboratory professionals who protect our future by skillfully adapting to meet today’s evolving patient care and public health challenges with resilience, innovation and expertise.

National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week is sponsored by the American Society for Clinical Pathology and coordinated by 17 national clinical laboratory organizations.

 

Enhancement efforts continue to improve wireless connectivity

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Recognizing the critical role technology plays in today’s education, the university has recently taken proactive measures to extend and strengthen Wi-Fi signal and improve wireless connectivity.

In the summer of 2023, the university mobilized to take measures to extend and strengthen Wi-Fi signal and improve connectivity, including upgrading the cellular network to 5G, modernizing audiovisual equipment and installing more than 300 new Wi-Fi access points throughout the campus. In addition, in January 2024 the university launched a survey-based initiative allowing for students to report in-the-moment feedback about their connectivity issues.

With 708 survey submissions to date, results indicate that the efforts of the initiative have paid off, with reports of significant improvement to connectivity and fewer reports of connection issues trickling in each week.

Students and other network users are still encouraged to provide survey feedback as the university continues to improve and enhance wireless connectivity on campus. Look for a QR code on flyers, banners and small, square stickers posted around campus. Scanning the QR code will take you to a very brief survey where you can report connectivity issues in seconds, helping the university to continue implementing targeted solutions to ensure reliable internet connection.

2024 Presidential Awards recipients recognized at ceremony

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During the Presidential Awards ceremony held on Wednesday, April 17 at the Betty Kelso Center at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, 15 individuals received awards in the areas of distinguished research scholar, clinical excellence, teaching excellence (emerging and sustained) and staff individual excellence. An award for team excellence was also given in recognition of exemplary contributions and outstanding collaboration.

Established in 1985, the Presidential Awards recognize exemplary performance by faculty and staff who consistently excel in their positions and demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission and core values of UT Health San Antonio.

During the ceremony, Acting UT Health San Antonio President Robert Hromas, MD, FACP, said all of the awardees embody UT Health San Antonio’s mission to make lives better.

“I am so proud of each of you and am glad your family, friends and colleagues could join you this evening as we thank you for your many contributions,” he said.

Hromas also shared that while all the honorees hold different positions and come from a variety of backgrounds, they share one trait: a desire to contribute in a unique and meaningful way for the benefit of others.

“Through their creativity, perseverance and leadership, they elevate our university as a stimulating environment for the education of the next generation of health professionals and scientists, an exciting home of research and discovery — and, perhaps most importantly, a beacon of hope,” Hromas said.

Hromas thanked the selection committees and all those who had a hand in putting the event together and spoke about how special the event was for President William L. Henrich, MD, MACP. Henrich passed away on March 14 from complications related to a second stem cell transplantation.

“I know he enjoyed these events immensely as they recognize those who truly fulfill our missions: our staff and faculty,” Hromas said. “Tonight, we recognize his values that live on in each of one of us. And so, we celebrate his presence here tonight and promise to continue to fulfill his legacy going forward.”

During the event, each of the awardees received a congratulatory senate proclamation from the State of Texas by Senator José Menéndez and a monetary award.

To view the printed program from the ceremony, click here.

To view a video featuring the honorees, click here.

The 2024 Presidential Award recipients are:

Distinguished Research Scholar

Kumar Sharma, MD, FAHA, FASN, L. David Hillis MD Endowed Distinguished Chair of Medicine, Chief of Division of Nephrology and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine

Clinical Excellence

Edward R. Kost, MD, Professor/Clinical, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Long School of Medicine

Carolina Solis-Herrera, MD, Associate Professor/Clinical, Chief of Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine

Teaching Excellence – Emerging

Jack Badawy, MD, Assistant Professor/Clinical, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine

Lea El-Hachem, DDS, MS, FICD, Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry

Teaching Excellence – Sustained

Paul B. Allen Sr., DSc, MPAS, PA-C, FAAPA, Associate Professor, Chair, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, School of Health Professions

Christine A. Andre, MD, Professor/Clinical, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine

Deborah L. Conway, MD, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vice Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, Long School of Medicine

Nikita Bharat Ruparel, DDS, PhD, MS, Associate Professor, Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry

Nilam J. Soni, MD, MS, FHM, FACP, Professor/Clinical, Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine

Staff Individual Excellence

Guiming Li, PhD, Research Scientist, Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Long School of Medicine

Brandie L. Otten, Associate Director, Institutional Review Board, Office of Clinical Research

Courtney McElhaney Peebles, MPH, Director, Research Operations, Office of the Dean, UT School of Public Health San Antonio

Carol Sherman, LCSW, Senior Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center

Angela M. Watts, PhD, Director, Academic Enhancement, Office of the Dean, School of Nursing

Staff Team Excellence

Orthopaedic Trauma

Team Leader: Boris A. Zelle, MD, Professor

Team Members:
Animesh Agarwal, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics
Jennifer Aguilar, RN, Clinical Research Nurse
Christina Brady, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics
Anna Conti, Administrative Assistant – Senior
Douglas Cromack, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery
Christopher Delallo, MPAS, PA-C, Physician Assistant
Anil Dutta, MD, Associate Professor of Orthopaedics
Priscilla Gomez-Ramos, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, Physician Assistant
Thomas Hand, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics
Jennah Jorge, MPAS, PA-C, Physician Assistant
Ravi Karia, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics, Executive Vice-Chair
John Kodosky, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics
Case Martin, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics
Monica Ramirez, CPC, Surgical Care Coordinator

 

Construction of Center for Brain Health more than a third complete

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Construction on the $100 million Center for Brain Health is more than a third complete.

Construction on the $100 million Center for Brain Health, a new patient care and clinical trials facility of UT Health San Antonio, is now about 35% complete, with full completion expected by September 2025 and an anticipated opening in December 2025.

The Center for Brain Health — located at 4940 Charles Katz Drive — is among $1 billion in capital investments undertaken by UT Health San Antonio over the next four years, including the UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital opening this December.

Below is the progress to date on the Center for Brain Health construction project:

  • Concrete structure: complete.
  • Mechanical penthouse level 6 steel structure installation: ongoing.
  • Exterior mock-up with finish materials: expected completion in May.
  • Exterior wall-framing: about 50% complete with window installation recently started.
  • Interior wall-framing and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems: ongoing on levels 1 – 5.
  • Work on the enclosed glassed-in corridor connection to allow for patient and staff access between the Medical Arts and Research Center (MARC) and the Center for Brain Health and the plaza to the Medical Arts and Research Center: started.

    Schematic of the connection between the Center for Brain Health and the Medical Arts and Research Center (MARC). Image provided courtesy of Alamo Architects Inc. and TreanorHL.

The Center for Brain Health is being built to advance research and provide innovative expert care of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, movement disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other vexing health concerns. The facility also will serve as an educational site for medical residents and postgraduate trainees.

This rendering provides an aerial view of the plaza from the South. Image provided courtesy of Alamo Architects Inc. and TreanorHL.

Designed by Alamo Architects Inc. and TreanorHL, the Center for Brain Health will contain 75 exam rooms, 50 faculty offices, a 12-chair non-oncology infusion center, an outpatient pharmacy as well as space for leading research and clinical trials. The five-level building, 103,500 gross square feet in size, will provide ease of access for families and patients and meet their many needs under one roof. The builder is Joeris General Contractors, Ltd.

 

Graduate students from UT Health San Antonio bring together science and fun at annual Viva Science SA

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Science demonstration at Viva Science SA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2024

Contacts: Eileen Teves, 210-450-7239, tevese@uthscsa.edu

Monica Taylor, 210-450-8970, taylorm1@uthscsa.edu

MEDIA ADVISORY 

WHAT:         A free, family-friendly event, Viva Science SA will feature interactive and hands-on science booths with fun activities, poster presentations by local scientists, science-themed artwork and a distinguished speaker.

Designed to enlighten, engage and excite minds of all ages in the San Antonio community, Viva Science SA will display science in an entertaining and enjoyable experience for all.

The event is led by The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UT Health San Antonio and graduate student leaders with the support of all schools at UT Health San Antonio and community partners.

Attendees will enjoy live entertainment and music, including delicious food from popular food trucks.

WHEN:         Saturday, April 20, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

WHERE:       Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

WHO:           Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UT Health San Antonio; current and future scientists of all ages

WHY:           The goal of this initiative is to foster engagement between our (and your) scientists and the general public while showcasing the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to San Antonio’s economic and cultural development.

 NOTES:        Olajide A. Williams, MD, MS, professor of neurology and vice dean of community health at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, is this year’s keynote speaker. Williams is the founder and chair of Hip Hop Public Health, an internationally recognized organization that uses multimedia to engage young people about the health of families and communities.

Middle school, high school, undergraduate and graduate students will present posters of their academic research from a wide range of health and science topics. Presentations are geared towards community audiences to raise awareness and support discussions of current science-related efforts and research, along with its respective impact in the community and on people’s everyday lives.

There are more than 4,000 graduates at UT Health San Antonio’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, with a little over 700 remaining in and serving the San Antonio area. Many graduates are employed in various areas including academia, military research, consulting and healthcare. Their contributions to science have a significant cultural and economic impact in the area, fueling San Antonio’s $42 billion biomedical industry.

For a complete schedule of events at Viva Science SA, visit vivasciencesa.com.

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