Science Expo Nov. 2 will give 1,500 teens a hands-on introduction to health careers

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HIgh school students dissect a sheep heart at a previous Science Expo.

Media contact: Rosanne Fohn, fohn@uthscsa.edu, (210) 232-5998

Backup media assistance at the event: Olga Coronado, coronadoo@uthscsa.edu, (210) 639-6273

WHAT:           About 1,500 high school and college students from throughout South Texas will learn how to perform dissections using some of the newest, high-tech, virtual human anatomy software. They’ll also learn to assist breathing using intubation on a simulation manikin, start an intravenous (IV) line, immobilize “patients” for transport in an ambulance and much more at the Health Professions Fair and Science Expo at UT Health San Antonio.

The hands-on event is designed to introduce students to the wide variety of health-related and biomedical professions available to them in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.

New this year is a Science Jeopardy game, a visit to the Lab Animal Resources area to observe animal research subjects, and the Anatomage tables with 3D printing and virtual reality demos. The Anatomage tables are so new that a School of Health Professions faculty member is studying their effectiveness in student learning compared to the traditional human anatomy lab using human cadavers.

WHEN:           Media are invited from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. There will be great visuals of hands-on learning and interviews with visiting students, parents and teachers, as well as with UT Health San Antonio faculty and student volunteers.

WHERE:         Sessions will be held in various locations at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Campus of UT Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive.

WHO:             The event is organized through UT Health San Antonio’s Office of Recruitment and Science Outreach, led by Director Irene Chapa, Ph.D. Joining her are medical, dental, nursing, basic science and health professions faculty members and students.

A Spanish-language spokesperson will be available for interviews.

NOTES:          Because pre-registration was necessary, this educational event is full and registration is closed. Buses will be bringing students from as far away as the Rio Grande Valley to this event.

This is the 17th consecutive year that the event has been held.

“Science Expo is a wonderful opportunity for high school and college students to explore or confirm their thoughts on potential career paths in the biomedical science professions. Our goal is to motivate and educate these students and encourage them to pursue STEM careers,” Dr. Chapa said.

“We also hope to empower and equip students with the tools they need to become competitive applicants for professional programs and to succeed once they are accepted,” she added.

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For current news from the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, now called UT Health San Antonio™, please visit our online newsroom, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

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The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, now called UT Health San Antonio®, is one of the country’s leading health sciences universities. With missions of teaching, research, healing and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have produced 36,500 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit www.uthscsa.edu.

SECC exceeds goal by nearly $40,000

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The State Employee Charitable Campaign at UT Health San Antonio raised nearly $400,000, exceeded its goal and handily defeated UTSA in a one-day challenge for most contributors.

The campaign began early in September with a goal of $360,000. The final amount contributed was $398,794. The UTSA challenge Sept. 19 was for most individual donations that day. UT Health San Antonio had 1,095 donors while UTSA had 611.

“The results of this year’s campaign once again indicate the generous spirit of UT Health San Antonio employees,” said SECC chairs Mary Henrich and President William Henrich, M.D. “Please know that your participation in this campaign will certainly make a difference in the lives of many in  our community.”

Cindi Adcock in the Office of the President has been the longtime coordinator of the SECC at UT Health San Antonio.

Vice Admiral Bono to deliver Military Health Institute’s Distinguished Lecture

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Vice Admiral (Ret.) Raquel C. Bono, M.D.

Navy Vice Admiral (Ret.) Raquel C. Bono, M.D., former director of the Defense Health Agency, will deliver the Military Health Institute’s Distinguished Lecture at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, in Holly Auditorium on the Long campus. A reception begins at 5:30 p.m.

Dr. Bono will speak on “The Case for Disruptive Leadership.”

As the head of the Defense Health Agency, Dr. Bono led the merger of four separate health delivery systems into an integrated system of readiness and health for the entire military. She will share her experiences and insights for designing and sustaining a value-based health system through disruptive leadership.

Born in Quezon City, the Philippines, and raised in Texas, Raquel Cruz Bono is a trained surgeon who earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and medical degree from Texas Tech University. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, she served as head of casualty receiving at Fleet Hospital Five in Saudi Arabia. Other duty stations include general surgery at Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia; attending surgeon at the Burn Trauma Unit at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia; and director of Restorative Care at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

Register here

Evolution of San Antonio Research Company

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Rebecca McMahon and Ann Beal Salamone

Rochal Industries, a former UT Health San Antonio collaborator, is a small, privately-held research company in San Antonio whose founders invented the first no-sting, liquid bandage in the late 1980s.

The firm has released a new wound care product: the Biakos antimicrobial skin and wound cleanser, designed to remove harmful microbes from post-surgical wounds, pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers and burns.

They plan to release five more wound care products within the next five years, including Bioshield, a product that recently received FDA approval and is expected to go to market in 2020.

Read the full story from San Antonio Express-News