Impact October 2015 by UTMB Health

UTMB UTMB NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER •• OCTOBER OCTOBER 2015 2015

Breathing new life into lung research Students get hands-on with surgical robot

On the road to better breast care Spotlight on Budget & Analysis VP

A healthy dose of compassion

UTMB officers, from left, Daniel Bowen, Michael Riedel and Duran Martinez, along with the two recovered rings and their owners. UTMB Officers Daniel Bowen and Duran Martinez recently helped recover stolen family heirlooms during a routine traffic stop. After observing a person in a moving car throw a piece of paper out of the window, the officers conducted a traffic stop that resulted in the apprehension of a subject with an out-of-state warrant for his arrest. Several items were recovered from the vehicle, including a United States Military Academy class ring. A second ring also was recovered, which turned out to be an 85-year-old family heirloom. Through some quick investigative work, the rightful owners of the rings were located. Great work, Officers Bowen and Martinez! Dr. Robert Beach, professor emeritus in UTMB’s Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, and faculty advisor for St. Vincent’s Hope Clinic in Galveston, received the 2015 Houston’s Heroes Award at the ministry’s annual St. Vincent’s Day celebration on Sept. 26. In addition to Beach, 21 UTMB student directors of the Hope clinic also were recognized for their volunteer service. The student-run clinic is a cooperative effort between UTMB and St. Vincent’s House, committed to providing quality health care to the underserved population in Galveston County. Dr. Abbey Berenson, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and director of UTMB’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health, received NIH funding to continue UTMB’s Building Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health Program for another five years. This is the third cycle of funding for this program, which trains junior faculty to conduct research in women’s health. Only five other BIRCWH programs in the U.S. were successfully renewed (Harvard, Mayo, UCSF, UNC-Chapel Hill and UC-Davis). Great job, Dr. Berenson! Sheryl L. Bishop, PhD, professor and director of the bio-behavioral research laboratory in the School of Nursing, is featured in a new film about how the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, various government entities and the scientific community might react to an extraterrestrial visiting Earth. “The Visit” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was featured at SXSW in Austin. The film has been released through Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/ on-demand/thevisit.

Dr. Andrea M. Glaser joined UTMB as the director of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and a professor in the Department of Pediatrics in July. She received her medical degree from the UT Health Science Center at Houston and completed her Pediatric residency and Pediatric Gastroenterology fellowship there as well. Glaser sees patients with gastrointestinal diseases from birth through adolescence and has a particular interest in nutrition and infant-feeding disorders. She has conducted research regarding medications used to treat reflux in infancy. Glaser is boardcertified by the American Board of Pediatrics in General Pediatrics and board-eligible in Pediatric Gastroenterology. Kyriakos S. Markides, PhD, a professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, is this year’s winner of the Robert W. Kleemeier Award—the highest honor given by the Gerontological Society of America—in recognition of his “outstanding research in the field of gerontology.” Markides, editor of the Journal of Aging and Health, is the author or co-author of more than 340 publications, most of which focus on aging and health issues in the Mexican-American population, as well as minority aging issues in general. His research has been funded continuously by the National Institutes of Health since 1980, and he is credited with coining the term “Hispanic Paradox,” a finding that Hispanic and Latino Americans tend to have health outcomes that are comparable to, or in some cases better than, those of their U.S. white counterparts, despite lower average income and education. The Texas Nurses Association has named David Marshall, JD, DNP, chief nursing officer at UTMB, as one of the 25 outstanding nurses in the Houston/ Galveston area. The honorees are nominated by their peers and co-workers as exemplary registered nurses. Marshall will be honored at the group’s 25th annual Nursing Celebration on Nov. 12 in Houston.

Dr. Ben Raimer, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Doug Matthews. Dr. Ben Raimer, senior vice president for Health Policy and Legislative Affairs, and Doug Matthews, assistant vice president for Government Relations at UTMB, hosted Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on Sept. 2 for a tour of UTMB’s biocontainment unit that could be used to treat Ebola patients. UTMB is one of nine hospitals in the country selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to be a regional treatment center for patients with Ebola or other highly infectious diseases.

OCTOBER 2015

impact

From the President

OC TOBER 2 0 1 5

Welcome to the latest issue of Impact! This issue highlights a number of individuals and initiatives that make UTMB the vibrant institution it is. Among them: • A day in the life of Shawn Carr, pharmacy tech on our Galveston Campus • A profile of Celia Bailey-Ochoa, vice president of Budget and Analysis • The 2015 Hector Garcia Award winner and an excerpt from his essay on cultural competence in health care • Dr. Joseph Sonstein talking about robot-assisted surgery with STEM students at Angleton High School • José Martinez and why he decided to drive the UTMB Mobile Mammography van • Dr. Joaquin Cortiella and his personal quest to bioengineer lungs • How research administrators help keep UTMB at the forefront of discovery • Health Tips to your phone, from the Center to Eliminate Health Disparities • Numerous accomplishments and kudos in the Working Wonders column and throughout the newsletter I also want to encourage everyone to visit the following websites to learn important information about campus security and fire safety, our efforts to ensure a drug-free campus, and the new Campus Carry law that goes into effect on Aug. 1, 2016.

Promise of RoboticAssisted Surgery Page 5

A Dose of Compassion Page 8

• www.utmb.edu/securityreport • www.utmb.edu/drug-free • www.utmb.edu/campus-carry (Please note: This site includes a form by which you can communicate your thoughts to the Campus Carry Committee, which is formulating UTMB’s plan for complying with the law.)

Leader Spotlight Page 12

As always, I hope you enjoy reading about your colleagues throughout Texas. Let the Impact team know your ideas for future articles, and thank you for all you do to improve health and improve lives.

Mammograms on the Go

Dr. David L. Callender UTMB President

Impact is for and about the people who fulfill UTMB’s mission to improve health in Texas and around the world. We hope you enjoy reading this issue. Let us know what you think! ON THE COVER: Shawn Carr, a senior pharmacy tech in UTMB’s Central Pharmacy, prepares a personalized medication for a patient.

Page 13

Vice President Marketing & Communications Steve Campbell

Associate Vice President Marketing & Communications Mary Havard

Campus mail route: 0144 U.S. Postal address: UTMB Marketing & Communications 301 University Boulevard Galveston, TX 77555-0144

Editors Kristen Hensley KirstiAnn Clifford Stephen Hadley Art Director Stephen Hadley

P R INT E D B Y U T MB G R A P H IC D ES IG N & P RIN TIN G S ERVICES

PAT I E NT C A R E

Understanding

a silent killer BY KIRSTIANN CLIFFORD

t’s one of the most serious illnesses you’ve never heard of. Sepsis affects more than a million Americans every year and is the ninth leading cause of disease-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Still, many people don’t know about sepsis, which can occur as the body responds to severe infection. Often referred to as “blood poisoning,” sepsis is a serious complication of infection that kills more than 258,000 people of all ages across the U.S. every Suspecting year—that’s more than the number of deaths Sepsis from prostate cancer, There is no single symptom of sepsis. breast cancer and AIDS Rather, it is a combination of symptoms. combined. Common Since sepsis is the result of an infection, causes of sepsis include symptoms can include infection signs pneumonia, urinary (diarrhea, vomiting, sore throat, etc.), as tract infections and skin well as any of these symptoms: infections caused by S – Shivering, fever infected insect and dog E – Extreme pain or general discomfort bites or scratches. P – Pale or discolored skin S – Sleepy, difficult to wake up, confused I – “I feel like I might die” feelings S – Short of breath

Pat Davis, DNP, director of Nursing Advancement, Education and Practice at UTMB, stressed the importance of recognizing symptoms, which can include fever, nausea, low blood pressure and diarrhea. “Early sepsis awareness for all providers is so important because minutes matter when the cluster of sepsis symptoms occur,” said Davis. “We all must be aware and vigilant. Care is sometimes delayed when sepsis is overlooked or misdiagnosed. Getting antibiotics and additional treatments started immediately is the key to a successful recovery and reduction in deaths from sepsis.” At UTMB, putting a stop to sepsis has become a priority over the past several years. In 2013, the Texas Hospital Association gave UTMB the Bill Aston Award for Quality in recognition of its improvement of sepsis mortality with early identification and treatment. UTMB staff developed a protocol for treating and reducing sepsis, resulting in a 70-percent drop in mortality caused by the infection. In recognition of Sepsis Awareness and Prevention Month in September, UTMB organized activities to promote awareness,

Creators of the winning poster in the 2015 Sepsis Awareness and Prevention Poster Contest are, from left, Barbara Calloway, Veronica Cordoba and Michele Grace.

Other winning entries ... Second place went to “Sepsis: Germs Gone Wild,” by Kathleen Denke, Judy Ramirez and Dawn White from the Department of Perioperative Nursing, Day Surgery Unit, Galveston Campus. Third place went to “One Day of Sepsis Care: UTMB vs. World – SSCIMPreSS Study,” by Charles Mitchell, Melinda Tillman, Dona Creson, Dr. William Mileski and George Kramer, PhD, from the Departments of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine.

including informational booths with fliers, a poster contest offering Clinical Competency and Advancement Program points and drawings for prizes. Badge cards with sepsis warning signs and statistics also were distributed to UTMB health care workers. More than 20 posters were submitted for the 2015 Sepsis Awareness and Prevention Poster Contest from areas of UTMB Nursing and other interprofessional areas. This year’s winning poster was created by Barbara Calloway, Veronica Cordoba and Michele Grace, from the UTMB Angleton Danbury Campus. Their poster, titled “Operation Sepsis— Education: Keeping Patients in the Game of Life,” also won first place in its category at the Texas Medical Center’s 1 Voice for Sepsis Poster Contest on Sept. 30 in Houston. As nurses in the Emergency Department, Grace and her colleagues are always on the lookout for sepsis symptoms. “Every patient who comes through the ED gets a screening for sepsis,” said Grace. “When we see patients, we are doing the investigation and are trying to identify it quickly so we can get them the antibiotics they need as quickly as possible. We want everyone to know that sepsis is a huge deal and can affect anyone at any age—it even killed Superman. Christopher Reeve died of sepsis after a wound got infected.” Special recognition goes to Jane Gonzalez and Catherine Ivash, DNP, for coordinating the committee that planned the Sepsis Awareness and Prevention Month activities.

OCTOBER 2015

impact

EDUCATI ON

Transforming surgery’s future Extolling the promises of robotic-assisted procedures BY STEPHEN HADLEY

ne by one the students took their turns at the console, peering through a viewfinder while their fingers gripped the controls, their movements translated through a computer to a surgical robot operating a few feet away. Just above the moving robotic arms, the students’ precise gestures were showcased on a colorful 3-D display that looked more like a video game screen than a scene from an operating room. Dr. Joseph Sonstein, director of Minimally Invasive Urology at UTMB, told the dozens of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics students gathered in the Angleton High School auditorium in early September that the scene is one repeated every day by surgeons the world over. “Using robotics for surgery has gone from the cutting edge to being bread and butter for many urologists,” Sonstein said during his presentation, which was organized by UTMB’s Angleton Danbury Campus and Intuitive Surgical, the maker of the da Vinci surgical robot. “Certainly everything is moving toward minimally invasive for patients. The pathology and the diseases aren’t changing for the most part. The basic surgical skills are not changing. What’s changing is the technology that bridges those two.”

Dr. Joseph Sonstein, director of Minimally Invasive Urology at UTMB, speaks at Angleton High School about robotic-assisted surgery.

Sonstein, who is also an assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Urology, said that the emergence of robotic-assisted surgery dovetailed with his education at UTMB from 2005 to 2011. Before 2005, the use of robotic surgery wasn’t as commonplace as it is today. Instead, surgeons were using either laparoscopy or traditional open surgery, both of which had limitations for doctors and their patients. He said robot-assisted surgery has turned out to be the best of all worlds. “The benefit from a patient perspective is that the robotic interface allows us to do more complex surgery in a minimally invasive fashion than straight laparoscopy. As compared to an open surgery, the recovery time is shorter with the robotics and some studies are showing an improvement in the actual quality of the surgery in addition to decreased blood loss, smaller incisions

“Using robotics for surgery has gone from cutting edge to being bread and butter for many urologists.” - Dr. Joseph Sonstein

impact

OCTOBER 2015

and quicker recovery time.” During his presentation, the students’ interest was piqued when Sonstein mentioned that video game players’ nuanced hand-eye coordination typically can be an asset for roboticassisted surgery. Sonstein referenced a colleague’s study that found high school- and college-aged students who play video games are much quicker and more adept at picking up the hand-eye skills needed for roboticassisted surgery than many residents. “Hand-eye coordination and just being able to manipulate something through this interface is really important,” Sonstein told the students. “Using your hands, a joystick and looking through a screen, that’s something that a lot of you might do more than your parents want, but little did you know that you’re potentially training for a future in robotic surgery.” Sonstein’s presentation was part of a focus by the Angleton Independent School District to invite experts to share their knowledge with students.

RES E A R C H

Breathing new life into lung research BY CHRISTOPHER SMITH GONZALEZ

hen it comes to organ transplants, Dr. Joaquin Cortiella knows the clock is always ticking.

“There are people dying every day because they don’t have an organ,” Cortiella said. “Those people are dying, those people are getting sicker, the lists are getting longer and the number of organs are fewer.” For the past 15 years, Cortiella, a pediatric anesthesiologist, and Joan Nichols, PhD, associate director of the Galveston National Laboratory at UTMB, have worked together against the clock to find a way to bioengineer lungs in the lab. Those lungs would be invaluable for testing and modeling, they said. They could also be used for lung transplants, which would be lifesaving for many, particularly children, Cortiella said. Diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, Cortiella knows he too could be on a transplant list someday. But his interest in growing bioengineered lungs began long before he was diagnosed with cancer and lung disease. It was in the 1980s, during his pediatric training in Boston, that Cortiella saw many premature babies born without fully developed lungs. Many would die or, if they lived, would go on to endure pulmonary diseases. “My interest was piqued because of that,” Cortiella said. “I wanted to learn more about how we can save these children.” But his first attempt at making a bioengineered lung while still in Boston did not pan out. When Cortiella came to UTMB in 2001 to give a talk, a mutual friend arranged a meeting with Nichols. Over lunch, Cortiella and Nichols sketched out on a napkin how they could make their idea work. Since then, the two have carried on a friendly banter, often disagreeing, but steadily making progress. A decade and a half later, that napkin still sits on Nichols’ desk in the GNL, and the lungs they engineered together have been transplanted successfully into two different pigs. Their work involves taking lungs that could not be used for transplant patients and removing the cells until only the proteins, or scaffold, are left. Then new cells are added to the

Dr. Joaquin Cortiella, a pediatric anesthesiologist, and Joan Nichols, PhD, associate director of the Galveston National Laboratory at UTMB, in their lab where they’re working to bioengineer lungs. scaffold, which grow until, eventually, you have a functioning lung. While methodically making progress on their work, Cortiella would have to leave periodically when called up by the U.S. Army Reserve to serve in the medical corps. He signed up to serve in the late 1990s and is now a Colonel who received a Bronze Star for his service. “I believed it was my turn to give back to the country,” he said. It was in 2010 when he was serving at a military hospital in Iraq that he started wheezing during a normal run. A CT scan revealed a tumor in his chest. Upon his return to Texas, doctors found that he had thymoma, a rare tumor of the thymus. Treating the tumor led to Cortiella’s pulmonary fibrosis. Once a regular runner, Cortiella now has to have oxygen available at home. He knows he’ll need a lung transplant someday, but he hardly thinks about it. Rather, he said, he is even more convinced of the importance of the work he, Nichols and others are doing. “It reminds me of how many people with lung disease are out there who are in worse shape than me—and how valuable this research is in helping those people.”

RESEARCH BRIEFS Claudia Hilton, PhD, has found that games used for exercising have the potential to serve as a valuable addition to therapies for children with autism spectrum disorders who have motor and cognitive function impairments. As a way to combat the low levels of physical activity seen in these children, researchers investigated the use of the Makoto Arena, a game involving a

triangular-shaped arena with pillars at each point and lights and sounds at various levels of the pillars. Those playing the game must hit the correct spots as they light up on different pillars. The data showed improvement in response speed, executive function and motor skills among children with ASD. Hilton said the exertion of participating in this type of game may help improve the neural connections in the brains of these children. The study was recently published in The International Journal for Sports and Exercise

Medicine. Nikos Vasilakis, PhD, was part of an international consortium of scientists who worked to map the differences in various strains of dengue virus. Previously, scientists have described four distinct variants, but in a paper published recently in Science, researchers reported that, while the viruses clustered around the four genetically distinct types, the way a body’s immune

OCTOBER 2015

impact

RESEARCH

A special dessert social was held on Sept. 25 to honor the work done by research administrators at UTMB.

Research Administrators: At the forefront of discovery BY KIRSTIANN CLIFFORD

o you know what a research administrator is? If your answer is “no,” you’re not alone. However, research administrators play a vital role in supporting faculty members and ensuring UTMB continues to work wonders in the prevention, detection and treatment of illness and disease. Anyone who has participated in sponsored research knows that budget development, grant application preparation and submission, contract negotiation and regulatory processes can be confusing and never-ending. UTMB’s more than 180 research administrators help faculty navigate these areas so researchers can focus their energy on research. They also protect our institution and ensure that research dollars are spent wisely. “Whether it’s helping to get grant applications out the door or get the money spent once research money is received, research administrators are here to help both pre- and post-award,” said Toni D’Agostino, associate vice president for Research Administration at UTMB. “We sit in an odd place where our customers are both federal sponsors as well as faculty. Our job is to be the go-between and understand what faculty members need and translate that into the correct language or approach so that the sponsoring entity will grant approval. Research administrators really provide a lot of support so the faculty member can then do the science.” For UTMB’s 2015 fiscal year, the institution brought in more than $115 million for research. In NIH funding alone, UTMB’s awards exceeded the previous federal fiscal year, with a total of more than 145 awards and $72

system recognizes and responds to the virus indicates an overlap among the four dengue types not previously described. While several dengue vaccine candidates are under development, currently there are no licensed vaccines against dengue virus, which infects up to 390 million people a year with about 500,000 patients experiencing potentially life-threatening complications. Wei-Chen Lee, PhD, compared hospital readmission rates between women who delivered

impact

OCTOBER 2015

million—which is better than how some sister UT Health institutions faired and a great accomplishment under the current federal budget situation. UTMB has two areas of research administrators on campus—some work in central administration, comprising Research Services and Grants and Contracts Accounting, and others are in specific departments, working closely with principal investigators or lead researchers for a particular project. David Hileman is a department administrator at UTMB who works with Internal Medicine, Neurology and the Sealy Center on Aging. His staff of three research administrators works directly with investigators daily to develop grant proposals and manage awards. “Research administrators are vital in obtaining and maintaining our sponsored research,” said Hileman. “In fact, over the past three years, our group has helped our areas submit nearly 400 proposals.” As a way to show appreciation for research administrators, UTMB held a special dessert social in the Rebecca Sealy building on Sept. 25, which is National Research Administrator Day. D’Agostino said it’s important to show appreciation for all research administrators who work behind-the-scenes in a challenging but rewarding environment. “We have such great faculty who are doing incredible things. The science is amazing and everyone has a really great story, so that’s what makes it so exciting for us,” said D’Agostino. “I’m not a science-minded person, but it’s really rewarding to build relationships and help faculty get the tools they need so they can do the science leading to these tremendous discoveries.”

their babies in rural and urban hospitals. Results indicated that women who delivered in rural hospitals were more likely to be readmitted within a month compared to women who delivered in urban hospitals. Lee said that several factors might contribute to this finding, including less family support after delivery in rural areas and that there are fewer newborns and more elders in rural areas compared to urban areas,

which makes the recruitment of physicians who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology more difficult. The findings are currently available in the journal Rural and Remote Health. RESEARCH BRIEFS were written by Donna Ramirez, Christopher Smith Gonazalez and Johnston Farrow. Find out more at www. utmb.edu/newsroom.

BY KIRSTIANN CLIFFORD

Shawn Carr never imagined she would be responsible for operating a giant medication-dispensing robot when she started as a pharmacy tech at UTMB 25 years ago. “When I first started in outpatient pharmacy, we used a typewriter to process our prescription labels,” said Carr. “It’s pretty cool to see how much pharmacy has changed and evolved over the years.” Located on the seventh floor of the new Clinical Services Wing, Carr and her colleagues at UTMB’s Central Pharmacy are responsible for dispensing and delivering about 6,000 doses of medications each day for hospital patients on UTMB’s Galveston Campus. I get a glimpse of the futuristic robot when I meet up with Carr on a Wednesday morning. She leads me to a giant circular “cage,” which houses two large robotic arms and hundreds of commonly prescribed pharmaceutical drugs hanging on rods in bar-coded packages. The robot serves as a centralized drug distribution system that automates the storage, dispensing and restocking of inpatient medications. Carr explains that once medications are ordered by doctors and reviewed by pharmacists, the robot’s electronic “eye” reads the barcode and the robotic arms pull the medication from the rod, depositing it into patient-specific boxes called cassettes. The cassettes are then loaded onto

OCTOBER 2015

impact

She crushes the tablets into a fine powder and adds sweet, pink syrup and a suspension agent into a beaker. Her attention to detail is obvious as she measures out the precise dosage and shakes it all together, then sets it aside for a final sign-off from the pharmacist on duty. “Compounding is my favorite area—it’s all about patient care,” said Carr. “They are depending on us. If we don’t have a medication that works for a patient, we’ll try to make it for them.” Carr shows me a filing cabinet bursting with recipes for everything from diaper rash cream to burn cream. She’s become close with the staff in the Blocker Burn Unit in John Sealy Hospital, as she spends hours every week preparing burn cream for wound care. Making a batch of the cream is a two-hour process that involves an industrial-sized mixer and ingredients such as healing ointment and the antibiotic bacitracin. “I know it’s mixed well when it starts to look like banana pudding and has a thicker consistency,” said Carr. “By the time I finish, we’ll have three, one-and-a-half gallon buckets of burn cream that will make 36 wraps for wound dressing. That sounds like a lot, but one burn patient can use four wraps a day. I’ll probably need to make another batch after lunch, too.” Shawn Carr stands inside the robotic prescription dispensing system in Central Pharmacy, which dispenses thousands of doses each day.

carts, which are delivered to units in the John Sealy Hospital and the TDCJ Hospital Galveston. While I watch the robot in awe, Carr makes sure it’s stocked with “fast-moving” medications like heparin, a drug that prevents blood clots. “What’s nice about the robot is that it runs 24/7 and never gets tired,” said Carr. “We have a big responsibility to get medications to patients as quickly as possible, so this robot helps us do it fast and efficiently. On a busy day in the hospital, it can produce anywhere from 3,500 to 4,000 doses.”

Carr also makes deliveries if needed. As we leave to deliver the cream to the burn unit, we run into another pharmacy tech, who’s rushing into an elevator to deliver important medication to another unit. I joke about how he must not need a gym pass for how much walking he does, and he tells me that he actually lost 25 pounds when he first started the job. I mentally add “physically fit” to my list of qualifications for pharmacy techs. A few minutes and about a quarter-mile walk later, we enter the burn unit. “We’re hooking you up!” Carr shouts as she greets Nelly Garza, a patient care technician who uses the burn cream for

wound dressings. You can tell the two women take their jobs seriously, but also know how to take a minute to smile in what can be a fast-paced and emotionally exhausting environment.

As we walk back to the Clinical Services Wing, I realize how Drugs that are too big or too heavy to fit in the robot are little I understood about the pharmacy before meeting Carr that put in the “carousel,” another morning. Pharmacists and automated storage and retrieval WHAT WE DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE pharmacy techs are not “just system for medications. When pill counters,” they are a vital IN THE LIVES OF OUR PATIENTS, Carr scans the barcode on a part of the health care system. patient label, the carousel’s FROM NEWBORNS TO PATIENTS IN HOSPICE UTMB’s pharmacy team shelves rotate and a light CARE. IT’S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY, BUT makes sure patients get the pops up, guiding Carr to the appropriate medication in appropriate medication storage THAT MOTIVATES ME TO DO MY BEST. the right dose at the right location. time. They play a critical When she’s not making sure the role in preventing medication errors, advising prescribers on automated systems are stocked and running smoothly, Carr medication choices, and ensuring safe and effective medication prepares personalized medications for patients. In a process use so patients have the best possible outcomes. called “compounding,” ingredients are mixed in the exact strength and dosage required to meet a patient’s specific needs. “What we do makes a difference in the lives of our patients, from newborns to patients in hospice care,” Carr said. “It’s a lot “It’s just like cooking—I follow a recipe,” Carr says, as she of responsibility, but that motivates me to do my best. I know begins transforming a blood pressure medication from a pill I’m my best self when I’m at work.” form into a liquid for a patient who has trouble swallowing.

“

impact

OCTOBER 2015

”

ED UC AT I O N

EXCERPT FROM THE WINNING ESSAY By Jorge Roman “ ... It was a typical night like any other on the Labor and Delivery service during my OB/GYN clerkship. The first thing we do as medical students is go introduce ourselves to all of the patients under our care. On this particular night I walk into the first room and say the usual “Hi my name is …I’m a medical student and I’m part of the team taking care of you tonight.” The patient responded with “Hablas Español?” This was nothing out of the ordinary as our patient population includes many people who only speak Spanish. I told her “Yo hablo espanol” and continued with my interview. I continued to go back and check in on her throughout the night. Just like all the other patients we were taking care of I would go back in and inform the patients and families about what was going on and made sure they were doing okay. It was later that night, a few hours after she delivered, that she told me how nice it was to have someone who spoke Spanish taking care of her and her family. There is something distinct that happens when you’re able to talk to a person in their native tongue versus through a translator. Emotional content, expressions, and information are gathered in such a way that you are able to get a better sense of how the patient is feeling. It can help people feel more comfortable with one another, especially during times of stress or sickness. I was able to connect with her through our shared language and this made her health care experience better. In this experience lies the foundation of what I believe it means to be culturally competent: the ability for two people to understand one another despite differences in where they are from and how they grew up. But does a person need to speak Spanish in order to connect with someone who only speaks Spanish? How else do we overcome obstacles like a language barrier or customs in order to achieve cultural competency? Read the entirety of Jorge Roman’s awardwinning essay at www.utmb.edu/impact

2 0 1 5 H E C T O R P. G A R C I A M . D . C U L T U R A L C O M P E T E N C E A W A R D

Expressing the importance of empathy, understanding

From left, Dr. Norma Pérez, Dr. Juliet V. García, essay winner Jorge Roman, Cecilia García-Akers, Jim Akers, Susanna García, Dr. Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa and UTMB President Dr. David L. Callender. BY STEPHEN HADLEY

hird-year medical student Jorge Roman was named the winner of the 2015 Hector P. García M.D. Cultural Competence Award during a luncheon Sept. 18. Roman’s essay, which touched on the importance of empathy and appreciating cultural differences while practicing medicine, was selected from a record number of submissions for this year’s competition. The double-blinded essays were reviewed and ranked by representatives from the four schools. The program, which is sponsored by the Office of the President and the Hispanic Center of Excellence, recognizes a student who “demonstrates commitments to providing quality health care to all by incorporating cultural competence in his or her service to others.” Roman said he considers García a role model for the ways he served his community and patients throughout his life, and that service inspired his essay. “The process of writing this essay helped remind me of a saying that ‘the

pre-clinical years are the pre-cynical years,’” Roman said. “Empathy can sometimes be lost over time and some forget why they started medicine in the first place. It’s always good to come back and remember what my values are, what I believe in and what I want to do with my career. Anyone can go and write a prescription. It’s something else to care for another human being.” UTMB President Dr. David Callender said that García was a pioneer in the many ways that he cared for his patients and that UTMB is proud to celebrate his legacy as a distinguished alumnus. “Dr. García believed that everyone had a right to an education and no one should be denied access to health care for any reason, especially ethnicity or socioeconomic status,” Callender said. Also during the luncheon, García’s family and the memorial foundation that bears his name announced the establishment of an endowed scholarship within UTMB’s School of Medicine. Dr. Juliet V. García, director of the University of Texas Americas Institute, was the keynote speaker at this year’s luncheon.

OCTOBER 2015

impact

E AC

Here is something else to ‘Like’ In an effort to forge more connections among employees and students, UTMB recently launched a new Facebook page—I Am UTMB—for sharing accomplishments, information and news to an internal audience on social media.

Current members of the Employee Advisory Council are: back row, Tilly Clark, Jennifer Anderson, Julie Cantini, Kelly Prevou; middle row, Jacqueline Pope, Angel Morales, Frank Valiulis, Cathy Guyton, Souby George, Kevin Moore, Dawn Meyer; front row, Philesha Evans, Mary Ann Hellinghausen, Mary Schlobohm. Not pictured: Pinkee Patel and Neal Cooper.

If you’re an employee or student, check out the new page today. Click “Like” and select “Get Notifications” to ensure you never miss posts that affect UTMB employees and students.

Employee Advisory Council offers chance to represent co-workers

The new Facebook page is different from the more public face of UTMB that can be found on the UTMB Health page.

Nominations to serve on the Employee Advisory Council (EAC) will be accepted through Oct. 23. One EAC representative from each UTMB entity (Academic Enterprise, Health System, Correctional Managed Care and Institutional Support) will be elected by employees within that entity during the election period, Nov. 2-20.

The focus for I Am UTMB is you, the employee or student who makes UTMB the special place it is as we all follow our mission to improve health for the people of Texas and around the world.

To nominate yourself or a co-worker to represent your peers for a three-year council term: 1. Visit the EAC website at http://blogs.utmb. edu/EAC and review the EAC Bylaws. 2. Provide a brief biography that describes your role at UTMB (fewer than 300 words) and a statement about why you want to serve on the EAC. Include your contact information, including Employee ID#, email, phone number and department name. (Sample bios are on the EAC website under EAC Members.) 3. Provide an up-to-date professional digital photo of yourself to be placed on the EAC website.

impact

OCTOBER 2015

4. Supply a statement of support from your supervisor/manager indicating your ability to devote three to five hours each month for the three-year commitment period to the council. 5. Email your biographical information, statement of why you want to be elected, supervisor endorsement and your digital photo to Cathy Guyton (clguyton@utmb.edu) by midnight, Oct. 23. Thanks go to the following EAC members whose terms are ending: Neal Cooper (Institutional Support), Jacqueline Pope (Health System), Pinkee Patel (CMC) and Kelley Prevou (Academic Enterprise).

LE A D E R S POT L I G H T

Spotlight on Celia Bailey-Ochoa, Budget and Analysis

s vice president of Budget and Analysis, Celia BaileyOchoa assumes responsibility for UTMB’s overall budget process. She plays a vital role in ensuring coordination of budget and planning efforts across UTMB’s Health System, Academic Enterprise and Institutional Support departments, as well as coordinating UTMB’s legislative appropriations requests. For more than 15 years, she has held various positions within UTMB Business and Finance, including director of Payroll, director of Transactional Accounting and associate vice president of Finance—Accounting and Reporting. Before joining the UTMB family, Bailey-Ochoa worked in public accounting firms in Massachusetts and California. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.

Celia and her husband, Mike, visiting Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

She took some time out to answer a few questions about the challenges she faces at work, as well as her journey from Ireland to the U.S. What does the Road Ahead look like for you?

We will always need to prepare a formal financial plan, or budget, to meet external reporting requirements and have a point of comparison to actual results—but budgets become outdated quickly when you are in a complex, dynamic environment such as ours. Given the degree of change in our internal and external environments, it is becoming increasingly important to routinely review assumptions and re-forecast expected results so that course corrections can be implemented to achieve financial goals. We must have the right tools and processes in place to inform decision-makers about the “financial road ahead.” You’ve been at UTMB for more than 20 years. What do you like most about working here?

Few of us have been untouched by a serious illness in our own life or those of family and friends. I find it rewarding to support, in my small way, UTMB staff who care for people and search for ways to prevent and treat disease. I have been fortunate to work with talented and kind people who have guided and supported me and provided opportunities to advance my career without having to leave the UTMB family.

“Taking the road less traveled has certainly made all the difference in my life.”

What is the most challenging aspect of your job as VP for Budget and Analysis?

Probably working with my Finance colleagues to quickly analyze monthly financial results and effectively communicate the reasons for material deviations from planned performance. When we do our job well, leaders have information that helps to either reinforce operational success or identify the need for action to ensure we accomplish financial goals. What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?

Some people may not know that I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and lived there until I came to the U.S. to attend high school at age 14. What brought you to the U.S.?

I was in the fifth grade when I was selected to be part of the Cape Cod Irish Children’s program, which involved spending the summer with a host family on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The intent of the program was to bring Protestant and Catholic kids together in a safe, non-sectarian environment to foster relationships and build bridges despite our religious and political differences. I had never been around Catholic kids before because we attended different schools and lived in different neighborhoods. After spending three summers

with a wonderful host family, my parents made the incredibly hard decision to allow me to pursue a dream and attend high school in the U.S. Long story short, I graduated from the University of Massachusetts and life brought me to Galveston over 25 years ago. Mike and I still make frequent trips to the Cape to enjoy the beauty and visit with friends. Taking the road less traveled has certainly made all the difference in my life. What activities do you enjoy when you’re not at work?

I enjoy traveling with family and friends and taking lots of photos to capture wonderful memories. Mike and I have made numerous trips back to Ireland to visit my family and added on some side trips to other European countries, specifically England, Scotland, France and Italy. In the U.S. we have traveled to Hawaii and particularly enjoyed our visits to Washington state and the New England area. What’s something you always wanted to do but have not done yet?

I have always wanted to spend time tracing back my family tree and learning more about those who came before.

OCTOBER 2015

impact

PAT IENT CARE

From 18-wheelers to mobile mammogram van, UTMB driver finds his calling BY KIRSTIANN CLIFFORD

As the driver of UTMB’s Mobile Mammography Unit, José Martinez knows more about breast health than most men. “I’ve learned a lot driving this bus for the last three years,” said Martinez, who can be seen behind the wheel of the 40-foot state-of-the-art vehicle about four days a week. “It’s amazing to see how many women don’t have any information about breast health. They start asking me questions, and I have to be ready.” UTMB launched the mobile program in 1999 in response to a need identified in Southeast Texas and the Gulf Coast area to provide access to low-income women in desperate need of breast cancer screening. Each year, the team of expert caregivers serves about 2,500 women and visits more than 60 locations, including UTMB’s Regional Maternal and Child Health Program clinic sites. On most days, Martinez and a mammography technologist hit the road at 7 a.m. to get to a scheduled location and perform screenings. A steady stream of patients come and go every 15 minutes—many of whom only speak Spanish. As a native Spanish speaker, Martinez isn’t afraid to transform from driver to patient advocate, and help techs communicate with patients. Madeline Goldenschue, a mammographer at UTMB, and José Martinez standing outside the Mobile Mammography Unit on a day they worked in Pearland.

impact

OCTOBER 2015

“He’s an exceptional driver and overall helper,” said Madeline Goldenschue, a mammographer, who

More on mobile mammograms: The mobile mammography program is a component of UTMB Health’s Breast Imaging Center, which has been designated as a Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. Through vital partnerships with organizations such as the Julie Rogers Gift of Life Program, the Komen Foundation, D’Feet Breast Cancer of Galveston County, Cancer Stop, The Ruth Kempner Endowment for Breast Cancer Screening, and Texas Breast and Cervical Cancer Services, the bus is able to provide mammograms free of charge to low-income women. Women with breast implants can also be served, and the mammography van is equipped with a wheelchair lift to serve those with special mobility needs. The mobile van has regularly scheduled site visits in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, Montgomery and Orange counties. It also participates in the Sunday Screening Mammogram Program, health fairs and other special events. For more information on the UTMB Mobile Mammography Unit and screening eligibility criteria, as well as other activities associated with Breast Health Month, visit utmbhealth.com/breasthealth.

works with Martinez often. “He isn’t embarrassed to answer all sorts of questions or assist with required paperwork, and patients seem to really trust him. He’s picked up all the information along the way and now knows a lot more about breast health than he ever thought he would.” Martinez drove 18-wheelers in Mexico before moving to Texas and getting a job at UTMB in 2010. He started as a truck driver, delivering hospital linens. When he stumbled across the opportunity to drive the mammogram van, it struck a personal chord. “My grandmother died from breast cancer, so it gives me motivation to help others in any way that I can,” said Martinez. “I love working with people and it’s truly an honor to be here. My wife is always surprised at how much I know about women’s health—I make sure she takes care of herself, too.”

CMC

Taking Town Hall on the road BY MARY ANN HELLINGHAUSEN

new concept for UTMB in which leaders head out “on the road” to meet employees where they are, launched Sept. 2 at the CMC Summer Conference in Houston. UTMB President Dr. David L. Callender presented his first Town Hall “On the Road’’ during a meeting of roughly 500 UTMB Correctional Managed Care (CMC) leaders.

UTMB President Dr. David L. Callender speaks during the first Town Hall On the Road event, held as part of the CMC Summer Conference on Sept. 2 in Houston.

Callender updated them about recent UTMB highlights and discussed the institution’s growth and plans for the future. He also encouraged employees to use UTMB’s Road Ahead document—which focuses on People, Value, Strategic Management and Growth, and Resources—as a guide in their daily efforts to advance UTMB’s mission to improve health for the people of Texas and around the world. Employee Advisory Council members

Traditionally, Town Halls have been held on the Galveston Campus, with online viewing options for additional locations. Based on survey results and focus group feedback, UTMB leadership felt it important to visit employees in person, so they’re “hitting the road.’’ Town Hall On the Road will bring you the latest UTMB updates and give leadership an opportunity to hear directly from you. Watch for details on sessions as they’re scheduled.

also were on hand to greet CMC employees during the conference, and Callender answered questions from CMC employees at the end of the meeting. To see more photos from the event and view CMC-related questions and answers, visit the EAC website at https://blogs.utmb.edu/eac.

2015 Correctional Managed Care Employee Service Awards The 2015 Employee Service Awards were announced at CMC’s Summer Conference Sept. 2 in Houston. Congratulations to all 184 CMC employees nominated this year! Above & Beyond Award 1st Place: Raydonna Young, RT 2nd Place: Christie Bilodeau, EMT 3rd Place: Eve Brindley, RN Beneficial Innovation Award 1st Place: Travis Miller, Software System Specialist 2nd Place: Tracey Pearson, RN 3rd Place: Teresa Bradley, LVN Excellence in Team Spirit Award 1st Place: Denae Juan, RDA 2nd Place: Alexander Williams, CCA 3rd Place: Susana Montoya, Phlebotomist Meritorious Achievement Award 1st Place: Kirk Abbott, RN 2nd Place: Lisa Vandewalle, Lead Application System Analyst 3rd Place: Jimmy Evans, CCA

Outstanding Patient Care Award 1st Place: Shirley Rabius, LVN 2nd Place: Liz Moore, RN 3rd Place: Ken Vandewalle, DDS Rising Star Award 1st Place: Jesse Snyder, RPh

2nd Place: Donna Schoen, CCA 3rd Place: Michael Cole, DDS Servant Leader Award 1st Place: Kelly Naramore, Mental Health Manager 2nd Place: Jacqueline Smith, RN

3rd Place: Nathesia Browder, MHC Safety Awareness Award 1st Place: Earline Anglin, LVN

OCTOBER 2015

impact

CON ST RUCTI ON

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Jennie Sealy Hospital opening set for spring

Dedication events in late February to offer first look at state-of-the-art facility

Above: Crews continue work on the new Jennie Sealy Hosptial in early October to help get the new facility ready for its spring opening. Below: The view of the Galveston Ship Channel from the hospital.

BY STEPHEN HADLEY

onstruction of the new Jennie Sealy Hospital is nearing completion as crews ready the facility for a spring date for accepting the first patients. The new facility, which will feature 310 medical-surgical patient rooms and additional shelled space for possible future expansion, will be dedicated during a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 26. In addition, employees and staff will have an opportunity to get a first look of the completed hospital on Thursday, Feb. 25, while tours for the public and referring physicians are planned for Saturday, Feb. 27. The new hospital will provide a warm and comforting environment for patients, with views of the Gulf of Mexico and the Galveston Ship Channel from each room. In addition to patient rooms, the $438 million facility includes 60 dedicated ICU beds, a 28-bed day surgery unit and 20 operating suites that feature state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment permanently integrated into the operating rooms.

impact

OCTOBER 2015

Events planned to commemorate the opening of Jennie Sealy Hospital Thursday, Feb. 25 First chance for employees and staff to tour the new facility. Friday, Feb. 26 2 p.m.: Dedication of Jennie Sealy Hospital Saturday, Feb. 27 Tours available of the new hospital for the public and physicians who will be referring patients to Jennie Sealy Hospital.

Health tips ... straight to your phone By the UTMB Center to Eliminate Health Disparities Text HEALTH to 37420 to begin receiving new tips to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and manage health concerns. The service, funded through the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program, is free and no personal information will be collected. More tips are available at www.facebook.com/UTMBHealthTips. 1. A tip for sore eyes: If you spend a lot of time watching computer/ television screens, take 20 seconds every 20 minutes to look at something far away.

6. Pack fresh fruits and vegetables. Try taking them with you to work. When you crave a snack, you will have healthy options on hand.

2. How is your posture right now? Are you slouching or hunched forward? Make a mental note to keep your back straight.

7. Avoid the bellyache. It’s easy to overeat when dining out. Ask for a to-go box so you will have an easy meal for later.

3. Nix the salt. Instead, try herbs and spices as an excellent substitute on your food this week.

8. No gym necessary. Exercise doesn’t have to be in a gym or with heavy weights. Try swimming, biking, skating, dancing or stair climbing. Aim for 20 minutes, three times a week.

4. Stand up and stretch! Nervous about exercising at the office? Don’t be. Invite co-workers to join you in taking the stairs or walking during lunch. 5. Commit to breakfast. Skipping meals can lead to overeating later, which in turn can lead to weight gain.

9. Get moving to feel better. Being active releases brain chemicals that make you feel better about yourself. Have you noticed this? It also helps with achieving a healthy weight.

PARTI N G ( FLU) S HOT

A dose of flu prevention UTMB offers its employees, retirees and volunteers free flu shots each year to help prevent the spread of seasonal influenza. The 2015–2016 Flu Free program is provided in partnership with UT SELECT, a PPO plan administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Vaccinations are now available at the Employee Health Clinic in the Primary Care Pavilion and at all clinics and inpatient units. pictured, from left:

Dana Martino, LVN, and Priscilla Boothby, administrative coordinator in the Patient Placement Center.

OCTOBER 2015

impact