IM Alumni Newsletter by UTMB Health

Department of Internal Medicine ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

November 2024

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH

A New Era at UTMB: Moving Medicine Forward

Message from Dr. Salim Hayek, Chair ad interim, Department of Internal Medicine

Dear UTMB Alumni,

As the new Chair ad interim of the Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB, I am excited to reach out and share with you the incredible transformations taking place at our alma mater.

First, allow me to introduce myself briefly. I’m Dr. Salim Hayek, and I’ve recently joined UTMB after a career that has taken me from the American University of Beirut to the University of Ottawa, Emory University, and most recently, the University of Michigan. I am a cardiovascular specialist in Cardio-Oncology, and a physician-scientist with an interest in targeting inflammation as a strategy to treat chronic diseases. As an administrator, I am specialized in innovative physician compensation models and datadriven optimization of clinical processes. What truly excites me now is the opportunity to be part of UTMB’s bright future.

Since arriving at UTMB, I’ve been struck by the unique character of this institution. The resilience, warmth, and generosity I’ve encountered here are truly remarkable. But what impresses me most is the untapped potential that lies within UTMB – potential that we are now poised to unlock under the visionary leadership of our new President, Dr. Jochen Reiser.

President Reiser has ushered in a new era at UTMB, one that seeks to strengthen all pillars of our academic mission. We are breaking down silos, fostering collaboration, and encouraging an innovative, entrepreneurial mindset across the entire institution. This new approach is already transforming how we approach patient care, conduct research, educate the next generation of healthcare professionals, and drive innovation.

In the Department of Internal Medicine, we’re embracing this vision wholeheartedly. We’re revamping our approach to faculty engagement, enhancing our patient care models, and expanding our programs across all divisions. I’m thrilled to share that we’ve welcomed 28 new faculty members over the past year, significantly strengthening our team and bringing fresh perspectives to our department.

Our commitment to cutting-edge research is stronger than ever. I’m proud to report that we’ve seen a remarkable increase in our research funding. The number of research awards has grown by 27.5%, from 109 to 139, with 30 new awards transferred in by our newly recruited faculty. Even more impressively, our total funding has increased by 23.5%, from $51 million to $63 million. This growth in research funding is a testament to the innovative work being conducted by our faculty and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries that lie ahead.

We’re also doubling down on our commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into our clinical, educational, and research endeavors. Our goal is nothing less than to lead Texas as the first truly AI-powered Health System, setting a new standard for healthcare delivery, medical education, and groundbreaking research.

To support these ambitious goals, we’ve launched several key initiatives:

1. We’re implementing a new high-value care model, focusing on delivering the best possible outcomes for patients by ensuring that our faculty and physicians are practicing at the top of their scope.

2. We’ve established a Medical Practice Committee to oversee and improve clinical protocols and practices.

3. We’re enhancing our research processes and have created an internal grant submission schedule to streamline and improve our grant application process.

4. We’ve developed a comprehensive faculty mentoring program to support the growth and development of our team members.

5. We’re reducing administrative burden through the implementation of tools like Monday.com and the creation of innovative spaces like “The Hub” to provide comprehensive administrative support.

These initiatives, among others, are designed to foster a more dynamic, efficient, and collaborative environment within our department.

But to achieve this ambitious vision, we need your support. As alumni, you are an integral part of the UTMB family and a crucial bridge between our illustrious past and our promising future. Your experiences, insights, and connections are invaluable as we chart this new course.

I’m reaching out today to call you to action. We need your involvement more than ever. Whether it’s through mentoring current students, participating in alumni events, contributing to our research initiatives, or supporting our programs financially, your engagement can make a real difference.

In the coming months, we’ll be launching several new initiatives designed to strengthen our alumni network and create more opportunities for you to get involved. I encourage you to stay connected with us through our alumni association and to reach out if you have ideas or want to contribute in any way.

Together, we can ensure that UTMB continues to move medicine forward, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare and medical education. Your alma mater is entering an exciting new chapter, and we want you to be part of it.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to UTMB. I look forward to meeting many of you in person and working together to shape the future of our beloved institution.

Warm regards,

Salim Hayek, MD Chair ad interim, Department of Internal Medicine

Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology University of Texas Medical Branch

Reflections from the 2024 Department of Internal Medicine Alumni Society and Scientific Meeting.

Scientific Meeting

The day began with Dr. Lindsay Sonstein opening the 33rd Annual Essentials in Internal Medicine Scientific Meeting on April 5th at Moody Gardens Hotel & Convention Center. As tradition would have it, Dr. Sonstein started with Morning Report. She presented 3 intriguing cases to the audience from the resident morning report archives. Our astute alumni had no problem solving each clinical case. Dr. Sonstein attends resident morning report each day in her role as residency program director for internal medicine. The day was filled with presentations from faculty from each division in the department of medicine. The annual meeting attracted 55 attendees overall. The conference offered 10.5 hours of CME including 1 hour of Ethics CME. A wide variety of topics were covered with updates from Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Hematology, Pulmonary Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Oncology and General Medicine. It was nice to bring back Oncology lectures to the 2024 conference.

Alumni Society Dinner

The evening began with a reception in the foyer of Gaido’s where many alumni members reconnected. There was a strong presence of past Rheumatology fellows as we were honoring Dr. Emilio Gonzalez and presenting the annual alumni teaching award to Dr. Vijaya Murthy.

The 33rd Annual Department of Internal Medicine Alumni Society Dinner was a success as we celebrated our alumni and their outstanding accomplishments and contributions. We were pleased to have our academic leadership past and present in attendance.

Dr. Peter Cram – Immediate Past Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine

Dr. Don Powell – Past Chair for the Department of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Marc Shabot – Vice Chair of Development and Immediate Past Vice Chair of Alumni Relations.

We also had special Alumni guests including Dr. Tedd Mitchell, Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System and past President of the Texas Tech University Health Science Center. Dr. Mitchell attended with his wife Dr. Janet Tornelli-Mitchell. We also acknowledged Dr. Richard Helmer who currently serves as president elect of the John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association as of May of this year.

The department of internal medicine alumni society started in 1992 and we celebrated our 33rd annual meeting this year. This would not be possible without the efforts of Dr. Marc Shabot and our past Chair of Medicine Dr. Don Powell. I want to thank them both for their leadership over the years. At our 33rd annual meeting, Dr. Peter Cram presented a departmental update. Dr. Cram spoke highly of our faculty and their dedication to clinical care, education and research. He talked about growth of our department. Dr. Cram joined our department as Professor and Chair in April of 2021 serving as chair until May of this year.

Alumni Reconnecting: Left to Right Dr. Rick Waldo, Dr. Carlos Kier, Dr. Richard Helmer

Faculty and Past Fellows: Left to Right

Dr. DJ Sweet, Dr. Daniel Gonzalez, Dr. Vijaya Murthy, and Dr. Bahareh Rezazadeh

Past Rheumatology fellows show their appreciation for Dr. Gonzalez. From left to right: Dr. Ronak Gandhi, Dr. Vijay Murthy, Dr. Enrique Medina, Dr. Daniel Gonzalez, Dr. Bahareh Rezazadeh

Tributes were paid to Dr. Emilio Gonzalez by his past fellows including his son Dr. Daniel Gonzalez, who is a graduate of UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine in 2018. Dr. Daniel Gonzalez completed his residency in internal Medicine and fellowship training in Rheumatology here at UTMB in 2023. Dr. Vijaya Murthy also paid tribute to Dr. Gonzalez and recalled her fellowship training and the kindness of Dr. Emilio Gonzalez.

Dr. Emilio Gonzalez has more than 25 years of service to UTMB in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology. He completed his fellowship

training in clinical Immunology and Rheumatology here at UTMB in 1981 after which he served as faculty until 1989. He then served as faculty at Emory University in Atlanta, GA from 1989 to 2004 after which he returned to UTMB. He has served as Director of the Division of Rheumatology in the Department of Internal Medicine here at UTMB since he returned in 2004. Dr. Gonzalez has mentored numerous fellows during his time as Director of the Division of Rheumatology. He is a founding fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and was elected as an American College of Rheumatology master in 2014. Dr. Gonzalez recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Master Clinicians at UTMB.

During the Alumni dinner, Dr. Vijaya Murthy was presented with the Alumni Teaching Award for 2024. Many past Rheumatology fellows were present for the dinner and ceremony. Dr. Murthy follows in a long line of outstanding clinician educators at UTMB in the Department of Internal Medicine. The following day, our scientific meeting resumed. Dr. Marc Shabot was the session moderator for the morning. Dr. Emilio Gonzalez delivered the William P. Deiss, Jr. M.D. Lecture in Medicine.

On a final note, I want to thank Mrs. Alyssa Hodge for all her efforts in organizing this event and keeping the alumni society going strong. We simply could not do this without her dedication and exceptional administrative skills. We hope that you will come to our annual event each year. Please spread the word as we continue to grow our alumni society. Please take advantage the lifetime membership benefits. Your alumni membership will go a long way to support our annual conference and dinner. We will honor Dr. Masood Ahmad in 2025 and he will also deliver the Deiss lecture.

Written by

Bernard Karnath, M.D.

M. Ruth Baxter, MD and Virgil C. Baxter, MD

Professorship in the Department of Internal Medicine given by Eugenia Tholcken Emeritus Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine

Distinguished Teaching Professor UT System

Dr. Gonzalez is presented with a gift from the Alumni Society in gratitude for his decades of service to UTMB. Dr. Gonzalez was presented with a portrait of Old Red.

Dr. Richard Goodgame

Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine.

July 12, 2024

Dr. Richard Goodgame, MD, is an emeritus scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine and from 2008 to 2018 was both Professor of Medicine and Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency at UTMB. He is the 2024 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2001, UTMB’s Office of the President established the John P. McGovern Lifetime Achievement Award in Oslerian Medicine, an award that recognizes the practice and teaching of humane medicine in the tradition of Sir William Osler and affirms the university’s commitment to Oslerian ideals.

Dr. Goodgame earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1975. His training in internal medicine was at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Goodgame is well known for his work in Uganda. During his time in Uganda, he trained numerous physicians. He subsequently returned to the United States to complete his Gastroenterology Fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. After completed of his fellowship training, Dr. Goodgame served as Faculty for the next 19 years at the Baylor College of Medicine. During his time at the Baylor College of Medicine, he served as Chief of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy at the Ben Taub Hospital. He also served as the Fellowship Program Director for Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Goodgame came to UTMB in 2008 just after Hurricane Ike hit Galveston to become the Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency. He would serve as program director for the next 10 years. He guided the program through some difficulty times and was a crucial part of UTMB’s reconstruction efforts after the storm.

Dr. Goodgame received the Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2014 from the University of Texas System. He was recognized this year by the UTMB John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The following is the presentation given by Dr. Michael Boyars the Osler Oration on Friday, July 12, 2024, in honor of Dr. Richard Goodgame.

Dr. Michael Boyars recognizes and honors Dr. Richard Goodgame. Dr. Boone Goodgame accepts the Award on behalf of his Father. Dr. Boone Goodgame is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Texas at Austin Dell School of Medicine and Program Director for the Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship.

Dr. Boone Goodgame accepts the Award on behalf of his Father. Dr. Boone Goodgame is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Texas at Austin Dell School of Medicine and Program Director for the Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship.

Dr. Boyars’ Presentation of Dr. Goodgame at the Osler Oration on July 12, 2024 on Behalf of the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine:

Dr. Richard Goodgame, or Rick as everyone calls him, was the Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program from 2008 through 2017. He retired from UTMB and medicine in 2018. He came to UTMB after Hurricane Ike devasted our island and our hospital. I worked with Rick as the Senior Associate PD for those 10 wonderful years and got to know him and his life story, which I would like to share with you. He is a singularly unique individual and if you never got to know him, you are the poorer for it.

When I think of him the word humanitarian describes the essence of Rick Goodgame. He loves his fellow man and is constantly striving to make life better for others. After finishing his residency and then a tropical diseases fellowship, Rick went to Uganda right when the AIDS epidemic hit. He helped run the Department of Medicine, started a GI consultation service, and helped the country design it’s AIDS response. In the process he helped train scores of physicians and future leaders of the East Africa medical establishment. When he returned to the states, he completed a GI fellowship and for 19 years worked at Ben Taub Hospital serving the underserved of Houston and training a generation of future gastroenterologists. When you meet someone who was a student, resident, or fellow during that time, you can tell he made a strong impact on them as they light up as they ask about him.

He came here in 2008 after our island and medical center was devastated by Hurricane Ike. He could and maybe should have turned down the job, but he came anyway. That’s when I got to know and work closely with him, which was an education in itself. He inherited a medical residency which was in decline. To make matters worse he recruited that first residency class when we had no hospital or medical school to show our applicants. None of our residents were in Galveston as they were completing their clinical rotations elsewhere. Somehow the strength and sincerity of his character convinced people that coming to our island would be good for them. It turned out they were wrong. It was the best educational decision they ever made.

Rick made morning report a fun and a stressless learning experience that everyone wanted to go to. His teaching style must be witnessed to understand his uniqueness. I’ve seen him lie down on the floor extending his leg to demonstrate the psoas sign. I’ve seen him make up and sign a song about the causes of diarrhea and sign it to our residents. He single-handedly rejuvenated journal club into an experience which taught us, me included, how to read and understand the medical literature. He made scholarly activity and research a priority for our residents. This enabled them to easily get involved in research and participate in local, regional, national and international meetings resulting in an ever-increasing number of publications resulting in an overall acceptance rate into fellowship of around 90%. He was years ahead of the national curve with bringing bedside ultrasound and a new evaluation system for residents to our program. But above all he raised the spirit, morale and self-esteem of our residents and the GIM faculty. He gave us back our pride in our profession, our work, and ourselves.

We did things we didn’t want to do, but we did them because he asked and we trusted him, and most telling we didn’t want to let him down. We were always better for having done them. His home became a second home for our residents with countless parties, meetings, and celebrations there. He was truly a father figure for our residents, and they loved him. It is a love well-earned. We were happy for him when he retired in 2018 because we knew it was time for him to spend time with Susi and his children and grandchildren. He is a special person, and he has been missed. I have kept his last sign out sheet to me to remind me what a meticulous doctor he is.

Despite what he thought, Rick was not like everyone else. For those of us who got to work with and knew him, he touched our lives and our hearts in a profound way that few people can and made us better doctors and people because of it. Everyone whose life he touched is better for it and his impact will live on in the next generation of UTMB physicians.

Michael Boyars, MD Associate Director, Residency Program Professor, Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine Chief Resident Reunion

Dear Alumni and Fellow Chief Residents,

It has been 10 years since our last chief resident reunion and 2025 is a great year to host another reunion! I would like to invite all former chief residents to travel to Galveston on April 4-5, 2025, for our 34th Annual Essentials in Internal Medicine conference at the Moody Gardens Hotel & Convention Center with the Alumni Society Dinner on April 4, 2025 at Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant. Our past chief residents will be recognized during the alumni luncheon on Friday, April 4, 2025. We will begin the conference with morning report, taking us back to our residency days of case discussions and differential diagnoses. Being a chief resident was one of the most formative times in my career and I am so thankful to be included among the legacy of UTMB Internal Medicine

Chief residents. On the next page you will find a full list of our past chief residents, it is easy to recognize how many former chiefs have ascended into leadership positions within their field. We are very excited about this reunion and I hope you will all join us in Galveston! On the next page you will find a full list of our past chief residents. I am looking forward to seeing all of you. We will recognize our past chief residents at the alumni luncheon on Friday, April 4, 2025 at Moody Gardens.

Lindsay Sonstein, MD, FACP

Professor

Laura R. Schweppe Distinguished Professor

Program Director Internal Medicine Residency

Vice Chair Education

Department of Internal Medicine

University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston

April 4-5, 2025

Moody Gardens Hotel & Convention Center Galveston, Texas

We will be honoring Dr. Masood Ahmad at the Alumni Society Dinner on April 4th at Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant

Course Directors:

Bernard M. Karnath, MD, FACP

Lindsay K. Sonstein, MD, FACP

Michael T. Nguyen, MD, FACP

J. Marc Shabot, MD, MACP, FACG

Chief Resident Reunion 1999

Chief Resident Reunion 2015

Past Chief Residents for Internal Medicine

1954-1955 David C. Miesch, M.D. Eward Egbert, M.D.

1958-1959 H. Gene Sarles, M.D. A. Ray Remmers, M.D.

1959-1960 A. Ray Remmers, M.D.

1960-1961 Irving H. Schweppe, M.D.

1961-1962 Archie Leder, M.D.

1962-1963 Robert Fortran, M.D.

1963-1964 Maurice Herring, M.D.

1964-1965 Max Y. Harris, M.D.

1965-1966 Fredrick Gregory, M.D.

1966-1967 Oscar Fonseca, M.D.

1967-1968 Jack W. Moncrief, M.D.

1968-1969 Jonathan F. Deckard, M.D.

1969-1970 Gerald A. Beathard, M.D.

1970-1971 James D. Lindley, M.D.

1971-1972 Glen H. Stanbaugh, M.D.

1972-1973 Roger Kiser, M.D.

1973-1974 Robert L. Ward, M.D.

1974-1975 Del L. Chumley, M.D.

1975-1976 Gary E. Erwin, M.D.

1976-1977 R. Scott Ream, M.D.

1977-1978 Rick T. Waldo, M.D.

1978-1979 Pete Reuter, Jr., M.D

1979-1980 James. W. Wright, M.D.

1982-1983 Robert E. Beach, M.D.

1983-1984 J. James Rohack, M.D.

1984-1985 Michael A. Ainsworth, M.D.

1985-1986 Neil K. Dorsey, M.D. Gregory A. Braden, M.D.

1986-1987 Michael J. Borucki, M.D. Victor, Cardenes, M.D.

1987-1988 S. Louis Bridges, Jr, M.D., Ph.D. S. Michael Clark, M.D.

1988-1989 John D. Updegrove, M.D. Thomas M. Weber, M.D.

1989-1990 Lisa L. Dever, M.D. Ann Rosson, M.D.

1990-1991 Thomas D. Fisher, M.D.

Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.

1991-1992 Claro Diaz, M.D.

Gus W. Krucke, M.D.

1992-1993 Darshan P. Anadu, M.D.

Rich R. Lieux, M.D.

1993-1994 Pamela Clanton, M.D.

Louis (Bo) Self, M.D.

1994-1995 Sue Prill, M.D.

Gino Sedillo, M.D.

1995-1996 James T. Jackson, M.D.

Russell LaForte, M.D.

1996-1997 Donna Sue Dolle, M.D.

Thomas F. Gregrory, M.D.

1997-1998 Nancy Hughes, M.D.

Steven Sibbitt, M.D.

1998-1999 Michael Blackmon, M.D.

Maria Chee, M.D.

Bradley Meek, M.D.

1999-2000 Kristine B. Patterson, M.D.

John W. Hollingsworth, M.D.

2000-2001 Chris Chiles, M.D.

Lane Miller, M.D.

Kate Westmoreland, M.D.

2001-2002 Todd McGehee, M.D.

Rosalyn Stewart, M.D.

Brooks Watson, M.D.

2002-2003 Jennifer James, M.D.

Pamela Havlen, M.D.

Brent Kelly, M.D.

2003-2004 Erica Campagnaro, M.D.

Iyad N. Daher, M.D.

Jonathan D. Greifenkamp, M.D.

2004-2005 Serena Aunon, M.D.

Drew Beaty, M.D.

Steve Quach, M.D.

2005-2006 Angela Hewlett, M.D.

Batul Valika, M.D.

C. Keith Cofas, M.D.

2006-2007 Brad Broussard, M.D.

Gerardo Garza-Gutierrez, M.D.

Maria Nicole Perez, M.D.

2007-2008 Kristie Blank, M.D.

Juan G. Martinez M.D.

Sabeen Najam, M.D.

2008-2009 Erica Gregonis, M.D.

Lindsay Hilbert, M.D.

Neel Shah, M.D.

2009-2010 Tran C. Huynh, M.D. Chandandeep Takkar, M.D. Phong Tang, M.D.

2010-2011 Michaela Ginn, M.D.

Astrud Leyva, M.D.

Chuck Mathers, M.D.

2011-2012 Michael Babineaux, M.D.

Jason Bell, D.O.

Cindy Lyou, M.D.

2012-2013 Pilar Acosta, M.D.

Giovanni Geslani, D.O. Parham Parto, M.D.

2013-2014 Bashar Hmoud, M.D. Jennifer McCracken, M.D. James Pattarini, M.D.

2014-2015 Munira Mehta, D.O. Habeeb Salameh, M.D. Geoff Weikle, D.O.

2015-2016 Muhannad Al Hanayneh, M.D. Ada Burroughs, M.D.

Patricia Rodriguez Lozano, M.D.

2016-2017 Khannah Baxter, M.D. Tracey Lindeman, M.D. Roshni Patel, D.O.

2017-2018 Ryan Gullatt, M.D.

Vincent Petros, M.D.

Sidra Qureshi, M.D.

2018-2019 Steven Klimczak, M.D.

Sharon Li, M.D.

Paul Park, M.D.

2019-2020 Rawan Dayah, M.D.

Zakari Kwota, M.D.

Anh Nguyen, D.O.

2020-2021 Cesar Perez, M.D. Christopher Perez, M.D. Krishna Suthar, M.D.

2021-2022 Aesha Aboueisha, M.D. Nadia Ahmed, M.D. D.J. Sweet, D.O

2022-2023 Alexander Dang, M.D.

Elizabeth Davis, M.D.

Christopher Nguyen, D.O.

2023-2024 Anna Archbold, M.D.

Sarah Jenkins, M.D.

Marissa Lee, D.O

Joseph Orndorff, D.O

2024-2025 Jordan Malone, D.O.

James Scott, D.O.

Melissa Victory Brodman, M.D.

Marcus Ynalvez, M.D.

34th Annual Essential in Internal Medicine: Update on Principles and Practice and Department of Internal Medicine Alumni Society Meeting

UTMB FACULTY

The 34th Annual Essential in Internal Medicine: Update on Principles and Practice and Department of Internal Medicine

Alumni Society Meeting will be held on April 4-5, 2025, at the Moody Gardens Convention Center. The 33rd Annual Essential conference was a huge success, and we hope that this year will bring even more alumni back to our annual meeting. The meeting agenda is listed to the right. We have excellent speakers and topics as always. Please visit our alumni website to register for this conference. Please use the QR code below. We look forward to seeing you there. Dr. Masood Ahmad will be delivering the Deiss Lecture on Saturday April 5, 2025. Please also come to our Alumni Dinner on Friday, April 6, 2025, at Gaido’s where Dr. Masood Ahmad will be our Alumni Honoree. We will also have a Chief Resident reunion. The last Chief Resident reunion was in 2015.

Thank you,

Bernard Karnath, M.D.

M. Ruth Baxter, MD and Virgil C. Baxter, MD Professorship in the Department of Internal Medicine given by Eugenia Tholcken Vice Chair of Alumni Relations Department of Internal Medicine

University of Texas Systems Distinguished Teaching Professor

Emeritus Scholar John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine

CME Course Director

Masood Ahmad

Edward D. and Sally M. Futch Endowed Professor in Cardiology

Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory

University of Texas Medical Branch

Brooke Corning

Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology

Associate Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship Program

University of Texas Medical Branch

Alex Duarte

Professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Vice Chair for Faculty Development

University of Texas Medical Branch

Danielle El Haddad

Assistant Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine

General Cardiology

University of Texas Medical Branch

Miles Farr

Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Medicine

Associate Director, Residency Program

Assistant Provost, Community Engagement and Education University of Texas Medical Branch

Salim Hayek

Chair ad interim Department of Internal Medicine

Professor, Internal Medicine

Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer, University of Texas Medical Branch

Erin Hommel

Associate Professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine

Assistant Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Director of Quality Management

University of Texas Medical Branch

Bagi Jana

Professor and Section Chief Division of Hematology and Oncology

University of Texas Medical Branch

Cancer Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Bernard Karnath

M. Ruth Baxter, MD and Virgil C. Baxter, MD

Professorship in the Department of Internal Medicine given by Eugenia Tholcken

Vice Chair of Alumni Relations Department of Internal Medicine

Emeritus Scholar john P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine

University of Texas Medical Branch

Kashif Khan

Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

General Hepatology

University of Texas Medical Branch

Tina Kochar

Associate Professor in the Division of Nephrology

Medical Director DaVita Victory Lakes University of Texas Medical Branch

Jennifer McCracken

Associate Professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology

Director, Allergy Fellowship Program

University of Texas Medical Branch

Vijaya Murthy

Associate Professor in the Division of Rheumatology

Division Chief ad interim Rheumatology

University of Texas Medical Branch

Tejo Musunuru

Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology

University of Texas Medical Branch

Cancer Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Arun Narayanan

Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology

Clinical Electrophysiologist University of Texas Medical Branch

Michael Nguyen

Assistant Professor in the Division of General Medicine Vice Chair, Community Clinical Programs University of Texas Medical Branch

Nisarg Shah

Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology Associate Director, Endocrinology Fellowship Program University of Texas Medical Branch

Lindsay Sonstein

Laura R. Schweppe Distinguished Professor Division of General Medicine

Vice Chair of Education

Program Director Internal Medicine Residency Program University of Texas Medical Branch

Daniel Stanton

Fellow in the Division of Infectious Disease

Department of Internal Medicine

University of Texas Medical Branch

Rizwana Sultana

Associate Professor in the Division of Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Department of Internal Medicine

University of Texas Medical Branch

34th Annual Essentials in Internal Medicine: Update

and Department of Internal Medicine Alumni Society Meeting

AGENDA

APRIL 04-05, 2025

Friday, April 04, 2025

Morning Session Moderator: Dr. Bernard Karnath

8:00 AM Internal Medicine Morning Report

Dr. Lindsay Sonstein

8:30 AM Management of Atrial Fibrillation

Dr. Arun Narayanan

9:00 AM Antibiotic Allergy

Dr. Jennifer McCracken

9:30 AM Prostate Cancer Management

Dr. Bagi Jana

10:00 AM BREAK

10:30 AM Constipation and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Dr. Brooke Corning

11:00 AM Glomerular Diseases

Dr. Tina Kochar

11:30 AM Topics in Primary Care

Dr. Michael Nguyen

Noon LUNCH

Afternoon Session Moderator: Dr. Michael Nguyen

1:00 PM Cardio-Obstetrics

Dr. Danielle El Haddad

1:30 PM Management of NASH / NAFLD

Dr. Kashif Khan

2:00 PM Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Dr. Rizwana Sultana

2:30 PM BREAK

3:00 PM Dementia and Osteoporosis

Dr. Erin Hommel

3:30 PM Endocrine Causes of Hypertension

Dr. Nisarg Shah

4:00 PM Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Dr. Alex Duarte

4:30 PM Biomarkers in Clinical Medicine

Dr. Bernard Karnath

Saturday, April 05, 2024

Morning Session Moderator: Dr. Marc Shabot

8:00 AM Cardio-Oncology

Dr. Salim Hayek

8:30 AM Infectious Diseases

Dr. Daniel Stanton

9:00 AM Topics in Hematology

Dr. Tejo Musunuru

9:30 AM BREAK

10:00 AM Deiss Lecture – Echocardiography and Telemedicine

Dr. Masood Ahmad

10:30 AM Updates in Rheumatology

Dr. Vijaya Murthy

11:00 AM Ethics of Opioid Prescribing (Ethics)

Dr. Miles Farr

Noon Adjourn – Please Claim your CME Credit

Conference Registration information is available now. Please visit our Alumni Society webpage for more information. https://www.utmb.edu/internalmedicine/for-our-faculty/alumni-society

Department of Medicine Alumni Teaching Award

Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

Dr. Vijaya Murthy was the recipient of the Department of Medicine Alumni Teaching Award for 2024. Dr. Murthy is Associate Professor in the Division of Rheumatology. She also serves as interim Division Director for Rheumatology and the Director of the Rheumatology Fellowship program. Dr. Murthy completed her Internal Medicine Residency and Rheumatology Fellowship Training here at UTMB. She then joined our department in 2013. Dr. Murthy is well known for her clinical acumen in Rheumatology. Her days are filled with focused patient centered clinical teaching. She teaches at all levels including medical students, interns, residents, and fellows. She actively teaches in the pre-clerkship and clerkship curriculum in addition to her bedside teaching on rounds.

Department of Internal Medicine FACULTY – ALUMNI

AWARD RECIPIENTS

Dr. Vijaya Murthy receives the Department of Medicine Alumni Teaching Award on April 5, 2024 from Dr. Bernard Karnath

Vijaya Murthy, MD

Department of Internal Medicine Mentorship Program

Faculty Mentorship at UTMB

The Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Mentorship Program is under the direction of Dr. Alex Duarte. Dr. Duarte is a tenured Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine, the Director of Pulmonary Function Laboratory and Vice Chair of Faculty Development in the Department of Internal Medicine.

As you may recall from our newsletter in 2021. Dr. Jack and Lynn Alperin established the Dr. Jack and Lynn Alperin Department of Internal Medicine Mentor of the Year Award. This award honors and rewards outstanding mentors and emphasizes the importance of our mentorship program.

The faculty mentorship program in the department of internal medicine aims to pair experienced faculty members with junior colleagues to foster professional development, enhance career growth, and provide guidance on navigating academic and clinical challenges. By creating formal mentoring relationships and offering resources and training for mentors and mentees, the project seeks to promote knowledge sharing, support career advancement, and build a collaborative and nurturing academic environment. The goal is to strengthen the department’s overall faculty development and retention efforts while enriching the professional experiences of both mentors and mentees.

We are please to present to you the recipients of the 2024 Alperin Mentor of the Year Awards.

Senior Faculty Mentor of the Year

• Dr. Gulshan Sharma, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical & Clinical Innovation Officer Professor, Division of Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Sharma joined UTMB in 2004 in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care as an assistant professor. He has served as Medical Director of MICU/CCU and TDCICU, and Program Director for the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program and and the Director of the Division of Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine.

Mid-Career Faculty Mentor of the Year

• Dr. Maria Belalcazar, Vice Chair for Engagement for the Department of Internal Medicine, Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Director of UTMB’s Inpatient Diabetes Program.

Dr. Belalcazar has been a faculty member at our institution for over twenty years. She has held numerous roles during her tenure, including that of physician scientist, clinician, and educator, with almost six years as Internal Medicine Clerkship Co-Director. Dr. Belalcazar has a long history of inspiring students, residents, and fellows in clinical care and scholarship development. She works closely with mentees offering guidance and support on the achievement of their career goals. Dr. Belalcazar’s mentoring role has expanded to junior faculty colleagues. She develops and promotes departmental initiatives that strengthen faculty belonging and career fulfillment.

Dr. Alex Duarte presents the 2024 Alperin Mentor of the Year Awards to Dr. Gulshan Sharma (Senior Faculty Mentor of the Year) and Dr. Maria Belalcazar (Mid-Career Faculty Mentor of the Year) at the internal medicine grand rounds on October 17, 2024.

BRINGING THE WORLD TO UTMB: An Invitation to Shape Our Future

Dear UTMB Alumni and Friends,

As valued members of the UTMB family, your journey with us did not end at the end of your training — it evolved. Today, I am reaching out to invite you all to be part of an exciting new chapter in our shared story, one that coincides with a pivotal moment in UTMB’s history.

We are entering a transformative phase under the leadership of our new President,

Dr. Jochen Reiser, and his leadership team. Their arrival heralds a series of initiatives designed to re-invigorate our core missions of clinical, research, and educational excellence. This renewed focus on our fundamental strengths comes at a critical time, as we seek to elevate UTMB’s standing in the medical community and beyond.

In line with this revitalization, we are embarking on an ambitious initiative to bring world-class experts to our campus. This program will expose our students, Residents, Fellows, and faculty to cutting-edge ideas, foster partnerships for groundbreaking research, and enhance our ability to attract top-tier talent — all in perfect alignment with Dr. Reiser’s vision for UTMB’s future.

Central to this vision is our enhanced Department of Internal Medicine Lectureship Program. We are aiming to establish named lectureships in every specialty and subspecialty within our Department of Internal Medicine. This is where you, our alumni and friends, come in.

We are inviting you to create a lasting legacy by endowing a lectureship in your specialty or in the specialty of your choice as an alumnus or as a grateful patient. With a tax-deductible contribution ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000, you can establish a lectureship that will bear your name or honor a mentor or loved one. Your gift will elevate our department’s academic stature and attract the finest clinical educators and investigators, directly supporting the new leadership’s goals for UTMB.

Remember the mentors who shaped your training at UTMB or the doctors that made a difference in your care? This is your opportunity to pay it forward. Your contribution

will inspire the next generation of medical professionals, advance cutting-edge research in your field, and strengthen UTMB’s reputation as a leader in medical education.

I have been part of this department for over 50 years, and I can say with certainty: your impact will be profound and lasting. This is more than a donation — it’s an investment in the future of medicine and in the institution that helped shape your careers, at a time when your support can make a critical difference.

To participate, consider which specialty you would like to support, then reach out to me directly to discuss your vision. We will work together with the UTMB Development Office to structure your gift in a way that best serves your intentions and maximizes the impact on our institution.

Of course, contributions to our General Internal Medicine Lectureship Fund are always welcome. For those ready to make a transformative impact, this named lectureship program offers a unique opportunity to be part of UTMB’s exciting new direction.

I am here to answer any questions and help you through this process. Let’s talk about how we can work together to elevate UTMB and honor your legacy. I look forward to seeing many of you in Galveston next April and discussing how we can shape the future of UTMB together.

Your gift is not just a contribution — it is a statement about the value of your UTMB education and your commitment to the future of medicine. Let’s make this happen together and be part of this exciting new era at UTMB.

Sincerely,

J. Marc Shabot, M.D., MACP, FACG Raymond C. Gregory Professor of Medicine Vice Chair for Development

Department of Internal Medicine

Dear Alumni,

I write to you as a lifetime member of our internal medicine alumni society and a member of the Deiss Society. Our alumni society began in 1992 under the leadership of Dr. Marc Shabot and Dr. Don Powell. I became the Vice Chair of alumni relations for the department of internal medicine last year. I have served as co-director of our annual CME meeting since 2013 and editor of this November newsletter since 2017. I encourage you to become a lifetime member and join the Deiss society. Your contribution will go a long way to support our alumni endeavors including our annual CME conference and alumni dinner.

I had the good fortune of working with Dr. William P. Deiss when I was a senior medical student back in 1994 and as a second-year resident in 1996. Dr. Deiss was an inspiration to all that worked with him. He was a master bedside diagnostician and excellent teacher of clinical medicine. I hope to continue his legacy by continuing to grow the Deiss Society. The William P. Deiss Society is an organization of alumni and other friends who contribute $10,000 or more to the department or to any of its divisions or programs. Whether these donors contribute a lump sum of $10,000 or more or their cumulative gifts reach the $10,000 mark, they become lifetime members of this select group. The Deiss Society is a chance for us to reflect on the legacy of one of our finest leaders of our department. Please make your contributions today.

Dr. William P. Deiss served as Department Chair from 1968 to 1984. He was well known for conducting morning report daily among other teaching activities including professor rounds.

The William P. Deiss Lectureship in Medicine has been an integral part of our annual CME conference. We have had incredible speakers over the past many years at our annual conference. Your contribution will go to support this lectureship and our annual alumni meeting. Please contact me anytime.

Written

Bernard Karnath, M.D.

M. Ruth Baxter, MD and Virgil C. Baxter, MD

Professorship in the Department of Internal Medicine

given by Eugenia Tholcken

Vice Chair of Alumni Relations, Department of Internal Medicine

University of Texas Systems

Distinguished Teaching Professor

Emeritus Scholar John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine

CME Course Director bmkarnat@utmb.edu

The University of Texas Medical Branch Funding Opportunity

The Chairman’s Council and the William P. Deiss Society

Dr. William P. Deiss was more than an able leader. He was an outstanding physician in his own right. He was the owner of an expert and generous scientific mind. And he was a dedicated servant to the profession, as evidenced by his presidency of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. William P. Deiss was more than an able leader. He was an outstanding physician in his own right. He was the owner of an expert and generous scienti c mind. And he was a dedicated servant to the profession, as evidenced by his presidency of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

As UTMB’s largest department, the Department of Internal Medicine is a collection of 12 divisions providing patient care, conducting research and o ering training in the management of acute and chronic diseases. Home to 136 faculty and 162 residents and fellows, it represents a sizeable portion of the university’s patient care enterprise and is one of the pillars of medical education at UTMB.

To ful ll its promise, the Department of Internal Medicine relies on the involvement and support of our alumni, grateful patients and other friends. rough their generosity, they become partners in the future of medical care, education and research at UTMB— enabling us to prompt innovations in treatment, provide seed funding for promising but untested research projects and lay the groundwork for advances in medical training. To recognize the generosity of our benefactors, the department has established two groups that honor their contributions.

The Chairman’s Council

Contributions to The Chairman’s Fund or The William P. Deiss Society should be addressed to:

Individuals who make unrestricted gi s of $1,000 or more to the department in any given year become members of e Chairman’s Council. Used at the chairman’s discretion, these resources support the department’s greatest needs. Such funds might allow a resident to travel to a professional meeting to present a paper, they might underwrite student educational activities or they might purchase a piece of equipment crucial for a young investigator’s work, resulting in the preliminary ndings essential to attracting future outside funding.

Members of e Chairman’s Council are recognized at the department’s annual Alumni Society Dinner, held in conjunction with the Department of Internal Medicine Alumni Society meeting.

The Deiss Society

Named for the respected physician-educator who guided the Department of Internal Medicine from 1968 to 1984, e William P.Deiss Society is an organization of alumni and other friends who contribute $10,000 or more to the department or to any of its divisions or programs. Whether these donors contribute a lump

sum of $10,000 or more or their cumulative gi s reach the $10,000 mark, they become lifetime members of this select group.

In addition to recognizing members at the department’s annual Alumni Society Dinner, the department, with their permission, permanently records their names on a plaque displayed at the entrance to the chairman’s suite.

e Deiss Society is a chance for us to re ect on the legacy of one of UTMB’s nest—to connect Dr. Deiss’s name with the e ort to enlist broad-based philanthropic support for the department’s future.

A Message

On behalf of the department, we thank our alumni for carrying forward our specialty’s tradition of excellent patient care, scienti c exploration and mentoring of future generations of internists. We would also like to express our appreciation to all the department’s friends for their generosity and for their encouragement. We would be happy to answer questions about our programs and to welcome interested visitors to campus.

Salim Hayek, MD

Vice President and Chief Transformation O cer

Chair ad interim, Department of Internal Medicine sahayek@utmb.edu

Deiss Society Members

Abdominal Specialists of South Texas

Dr. and Mrs. Jack B. Alperin

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Attas III

Dr. Anjrejs and Gail Avots-Avotins

Mr. and Mrs. Lin T. Barker

Drs. M. Ruth and Virgil Baxter

Dr. and Mrs. Gerald A. Beathard

Dr. and Mrs. William R. Berry

Dr. and Mrs. Michael C. Boyars

Drs. Michael and Patricia Brannan

Dr. Bruce and Vicki Bauknight

Dr. Carlos O. Canales

Mr. and Mrs. Armin Cantini

Dr. and Mrs. James Cao

Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Chester

Dr. and Mrs. Delbert L. Chumley

Dr. and Mrs. Philip L. Cimo

Dr. and Mrs. Ernest W. Cochran

Drs. Charles and Rosemary Conlon

Dr. and Mrs. David L. Cottom

Dr. and Mrs. James R. Cotton, Jr.

Mr. Jack T. Currie

Dr. Jerry C. Daniels

Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Day

Dr. and Mrs. William J. DeGroot

Dr. Mahmoud Dweik

Mr. and Mrs. Tilman Fertitta

Dr. and Mrs. Emilio Gonzales

Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Goodgame

Dr. and Mrs. Sanjeev Goswami

Dr. and Mrs. A. Damon Gowan

Dr. and Mrs. J. Andrew Grant

Dr. R. Fred Gregory

Dr. and Mrs. James C. Guckian

Dr. and Mrs. Praveen Guturu

Dr. and Mrs. Max Harris

Dr. and Mrs. R. Robert Hatlelid

Dr. and Mrs. Richard E. Helmer III

Dr. Mark Holden

Dr. and Mrs. Bernard M. Karnath

The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund

Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Kempner, Jr.

Dr. Patsy Koeppe and Mr. Doug Koeppe

Dr. and Mrs. Marc Kudisch

Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth B. Kummerfeld

Mr. and Mrs. Allen LeCornu

Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Levacy

Dr. and Mrs. Gurinder Luthra

Colonel (Ret.) and Mrs. Donald P. Mafrige

Dr. William E. McCarron, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Emmett McCoy

Dr. and Mrs. Rai Mehta

Dr. Charles H. Mims

Mr. and Mrs. George P. Mitchell

Drs. Tedd and Janet Tornelli-Mitchell

Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Moody

Dr. and Mrs Edward B. Nelson

Dr. and Mrs. Larry Oliver

Dr. and Mrs. Sreeram Parupudi

Dr. and Mrs. Don W. Powell

Dr. Nischita Reddy-Merla

Dr. Vonda Reeves-Darby

Dr. Nischita Reddy-Merla

Dr. and Mrs. David W. Reininger

Dr. Vonda Reeves-Darby

Dr. and Mrs. David W. Reininger

Dr. Jim and Charli Rohack

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Rotman

The Runge Family

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Rotman

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

The Runge Family

Dr. and Mrs. Harry E. Sarles, Jr.

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

Dr. and Mrs. Charles Schuhmacher

Dr. and Mrs. Harry E. Sarles, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Charles Schuhmacher

Dr. Jo Ellen Schweinle

Dr. and Mrs. H. Irving Schweppe

Dr. and Mrs. J. Marc Shabot

Dr. and Mrs. Gulshan Sharma

Dr. and Mrs. Ned Snyder III

Dr. and Mrs. Roger D. Soloway

Dr. and Mrs. Ned Snyder III

Dr. and Mrs. Glen Stanbaugh, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Roger D. Soloway

Dr. Michael and Colleen Hagen Stavinoha

Dr. and Mrs. Glen Stanbaugh, Jr.

Mrs. Earl Stouf et

Dr. Michael and Colleen Hagen Stavinoha

Mrs. Earl Stouf et

Dr. and Mrs. James G. Stovall

The Stubbs Family

Mrs. Leah “Jean” Tholcken

Dr. and Mrs. Randall Urban

Dr. and Mrs. A. Nicholas Verne

Mr. and Mrs. E. Duer Wagner

Dr. and Mrs. Rick T. Waldo

Dr. and Mrs. John M. Wallace

Mr. and Mrs. Bob White, and Jennifer White

Dr. and Mrs. John F. Williams, Jr.

Drs. Maurice and Phylette Willis

UTMB Internal Medicine Alumni Society Membership Application/Renewal

2025-2026: ❑ New Member ❑ Renewal Member

Please take advantage of the new lifetime membership option

Name

Address

Home Phone Office Phone

E-mail

❑ I am enclosing $10,000 to join The Deiss Society or the first of five payments of $2,000/each

❑ I am enclosing $1,000 to join the 2025-2026 Chairman’s Council

❑ I am enclosing my annual dues ($50.00) payable to UTMB Internal Medicine Alumni Society

❑ I am enclosing $500 for my Lifetime Membership to the UTMB Internal Medicine Alumni Society

❑ I am enclosing my voluntary contribution to the James C. Guckian Resident Education Fund

❑ I am enclosing my voluntary contribution to the Don W. Powell Excellence in Residency Award

❑ I am enclosing my voluntary contribution to the William P. Deiss, Jr Lectureship in Medicine

❑ I am enclosing my voluntary contribution to the Alumni Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award

❑ I am enclosing my voluntary contribution to the Department of Internal Medicine Mentorship Program Fund

TOTAL ENCLOSED: $

$50.00

To make a voluntary donation online, please visit the website: www.utmb.edu/internalmedicine/home/for-our-faculty/alumni-society/ways-to-give

❑ Yes, I am interested in considering a larger gift and would like to speak with the Director of Development

Please make checks payable to: Internal Medicine Alumni Society (IMAS)

Mail to: Internal Medicine Alumni Society

c/o Bernard Karnath, MD

The University of Texas Medical Branch

301 University boulevard Galveston, TX 77555-0566

Questions?

Phone: (409) 266-1665

Fax: (409) 772-8762

E-mail: imedalum@utmb.edu

77555-0567

301 University Blvd. Galveston, Texas

The University of Texas Medical Branch

Department of Internal Medicine