Serving Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend Counties and Montgomery County
HOUSTON
April Issue 2018
Inside This Issue
Dr. Stephen Spann Named Founding Dean of UH College of Medicine
T
Halting the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease See pg. 12
INDEX Mental Health...................... pg.3 Legal Matters........................ pg.4 Oncology Research......... pg.5 Healthy Heart....................... pg.8
he University of Houston has named Dr. Stephen J. Spann founding dean of the UH College of Medicine. A seasoned physician, health care administrator and medical educator who holds both an M.D. and M.B.A., Spann was appointed planning dean for the college in fall 2015. Since then, he has shaped an academically desirable and financially feasible plan for the new college that will complement the current medical landscape in Houston and Texas. Spann’s vision for the College of Medicine focuses on preparing primary care doctors to practice in underserved urban and rural communities to ultimately improve health outcomes in Houston and across Texas. “Dr. Spann’s many years of training physicians and practicing in areas with health disparities uniquely positions us to accommodate the needs of Houston’s most underserved communities,” said Renu Khator, president of the University of Houston. “He is as passionate about closing the health care gap as our
university is about supporting our city’s most critical needs. I cannot think of a person with clinical and business expertise more qualified to lead.” “This is an important project to the Houston area and Dr. Spann is
the person we want creating the model and building it. Too many people don’t have access to proper care and that’s not just a health problem, it puts a strain on our economy and makes this a less see Dr. Spann... page 17
Rise in Coffee Consumption Might Help in Fight Against Colon Cancer By Cathy Frisinger Discovering a Plant Based Diet See pg. 15
A
report that Americans are drinking a lot of coffee might be good news in the battle against colon cancer, scientists with the Simmons Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center say. A recent industry survey found that coffee consumption is steadily increasing, with 64 percent of adults reporting having had at least one cup of coffee the previous day. Prior studies have found that coffee drinking is associated with a lower risk of getting colon cancer, as well as reduced risk of recurring tumors and death from colon cancer. “We don’t quite know how coffee
exerts its health benefit because there are many different compounds in coffee. But researchers have shown that both caffeinated and decaf can be helpful,” says Dr. Muhammad Beg, a GI cancer specialist at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of just 49 National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation. “Studies suggest that people who drink coffee may decrease the risk of colon cancer. “ T hat’s impor ta nt because colorectal cancer is the second-leading causes of cancer deaths in Texas,
according to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). CPRIT estimates that about 10,000 Texans will be newly diagnosed with invasive colorectal cancer each year and approximately 3,500 will die see Coffee... page 17
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 1 HOUSTON TX