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Impact Stories of Philanthropy Wings of generosity A salute to smiles More than a number Support from endowments lifts Annual event improves the oral Leading the state in personalized UTHealth Houston faculty health of veterans behavioral health care
The Campaign for UTHealth Houston Our communities face complex and pervasive conditions, and the increased demand for health professionals poses significant challenges for health systems around the nation. Over our 50-year history, UTHealth Houston has stood at the forefront of these challenges, combining education, research, and patient care to move health care forward. To build on our expertise and bring our unique capabilities where they are most urgently needed, we launched our largest philanthropic effort yet, Many Faces. One Mission. Within these pages, you will read stories about how your commitment to Many Faces. One Mission. combines with others to improve lives throughout our community—from providing scholarships and education to address shortages in the workforce, to training health professionals fluent in the unique needs of underserved populations, to addressing conditions where every second matters. Because of you, we are able to rise up and meet the challenges at hand. Thank you for being a part of the UTHealth Houston story—and for your dedication to building a healthier community.
this
The Campaign for UTHealth Houston issue
Many Faces. One Mission. is our $500 million commitment to:
Engineering the future of health care
8 A partnership to advance innovative programs
Wings of generosity
14 Support from endowments lifts
UTHealth Houston faculty
Beating in rhythm
24 Delivering life-changing cardiovascular care
and innovation
A salute to smiles
32 Annual event improves the oral health of veterans
training the next generation of improving advancing
HEALTH HOUSTON’S BRAIN AND
More than a number
PROFESSIONALS HEALTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 40 Leading the state in personalized
behavioral health care
We will deepen our commitment We will save lives and improve We are building a leading
to the next generation health outcomes throughout center of care for brain
of practitioners and innovators, as Houston and Texas by amplifying and behavioral health, dedicated
Marching on with hope
well as the educators who
train them, to address shortages in
critical health professions.
collaborative research;
encouraging a passion for learning;
and promoting patient care and
to discovering better treatments
for neurological conditions
and making mental health care
46 Reimagining care of pediatric brain tumors
public health projects, programs, accessible to all.
and outreach initiatives.
uth.edu/many-faces-one-mission
training the next
g e n e r at i o n o f
H E A LT H P R O F E S S I O N A L S E N G I N E E R I N G T H E F U T U R E O F H E A LT H C A R E
A partnership to advance innovative programs
Today’s students hold the potential to tackle tomorrow’s health challenges. By harnessing
a passion to improve lives, they will become the physicians and researchers who guide
our communities to better health, the dentists who deliver bright new smiles, and the nurses
who provide compassionate routine and complex care.
As our nation faces growing shortages of health care workers, UTHealth Houston is deepening
our commitment to training the next generation of health professionals—as well as the
experts who educate them. Through unique collaborations that place students at the forefront
of their field and faculty support that helps enrich the academic environment, we are
positioning our graduates to make an even greater impact on health.
WINGS OF GENEROSITY
Scan the QR code with Support from endowments lifts UTHealth Houston faculty
your mobile device.
M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION.
training the next
g e n e r at i o n o f
H E A LT H P R O F E S S I O N A L S
Today’s students hold the potential to tackle tomorrow’s health challenges. By harnessing
a passion to improve lives, they will become the physicians and researchers who guide
our communities to better health, the dentists who deliver bright new smiles, and the nurses
who provide compassionate relief to patients during their darkest hours.
As our nation faces growing shortages of health care workers, UTHealth Houston is deepening
our commitment to training the next generation of health professionals—as well as the
experts who educate them. Through scholarships that help students achieve their dreams and
lecture series that unite the world’s top scientific minds, we are positioning our graduates
to make an even greater impact on health.
Scan the QR code with
your mobile device.
E NGI N E E R I NG
THE FUTURE OF
HEALTH CARE
A PA RT N E R S H I P TO A DVA N C E I N N OVAT I V E P R O G R A M S
Engineers construct marvels of civilization: They build bridges to connect
distant communities, erect skyscrapers that breach the horizon, and develop the
energy grids that power humankind. They also play a vital role in safeguarding
the health of our communities and pushing the boundaries of biomedical science.
Bioengineers specialize in solving challenging health issues—from rapidly
developing vaccines that protect against COVID-19 to manufacturing nanoparticles
that target specific cancer cells.
“Solving problems is what The MD/MBE program harnesses
makes me tick,” says Greg Zhang, the creativity and ingenuity of
who will become the first two of Houston’s leading institutions
graduate of the joint MD/Master of to prepare future health
Bioengineering (MBE) program professionals like Greg with the
through McGovern Medical School skills to develop solutions to
at UTHealth Houston and Rice urgent health needs and improve
University. “The MD/MBE program patient care.
is a unique opportunity for me
to merge my passions and bridge
the gap between engineers
and physicians to improve lives."
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston students in the MD/MBE program like
Greg Zhang use the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment at Rice University to engineer
real health solutions for real clients throughout the Texas Medical Center and beyond.
8 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. TR AINING THE NE X T GENER ATION OF HE ALTH PROFESSIONAL S 9
ABBY LOUIS NEEL MUTYALA
Interested in improving the health of underserved populations, Neel joined the MD/MBE program after seeing the potential for
Abby joined the MD/MBE program to learn how to navigate technology to improve patient outcomes during his clinical rotations
government regulations to bring medical devices to patients in need at McGovern Medical School. In his MBE coursework, he is
around the world. In her MBE coursework, she is helping to helping develop a device to improve the outcomes of children with
develop a device that can stabilize the fetus during fetoscopic spina hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by the buildup
bifida repair—a delicate procedure before birth to correct a defect of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. The device monitors pressure
that occurs when the spine does not properly close. in the brain and allows health providers to drain excess fluid.
“My education through the MD/MBE program would not be “Medical school is a large financial commitment, and the
possible without the generous support of donors,” Abby says. extra year of the MD/MBE program only adds to that,” Neel says.
“The scholarship I received not only benefits me, it benefits “Donors who have supported scholarships to the program
the lives of the patients I will touch through my care and the are enabling me to become the best physician I can be for my
ideas I develop using my bioengineering experience.” future patients.”
Students in the MD/MBE program According to Allison Ownby, PhD, “The MiniVent is essentially a box Now in his final year of medical Just as the MD/MBE program
follow a condensed five-year this exchange of knowledge with two motors to automatically school, Greg plans to carry has enabled Greg, Abby, and Neel
academic path that enables them between engineering and medical squeeze the bag valve mask his experiences in the MD/MBE to learn how to engineer
to simultaneously earn an MD students forms the heart of for consistent ventilation over program into his future career solutions to pressing health
from McGovern Medical School and the program. “While our medical extended periods of time,” says as a surgeon. problems, donors have engineered
an MBE from Rice. After spending students bring knowledge Greg. “We also installed sensors unique opportunities for them
their first three years in medical about specific health care issues that allow health providers to “By combining my skills as to succeed. Since the Many Faces.
school, students complete and clinical experiences to monitor ventilation.” One Mission. campaign launched,
a surgeon with my knowledge
the one-year MBE degree at Rice the program, engineering students generous commitments from
before completing their final bring the skills to develop As COVID-19 continues to fill of bioengineering, I’ll be UTHealth Houston Development
year of medical school. technologies,” she says. “By emergency rooms around the able to make a bigger impact Board members Carolyn Frost
combining these strengths in the world with people suffering from on the health of my patients,” Keenan, Barbara J. Gibbs,
“The clinical knowledge I gained same classrooms, we can breathing issues, the MiniVent and Barry M. Lewis have supported
he says. “I hope to create
offer unparalleled experiences.” could make lifesaving care more scholarships for students in the
during the first three years of Allison Ownby, PhD new devices that will make
accessible to patients, no matter MD/MBE program.
medical school gave me a unique During the MBE curriculum, students Associate Professor and where they are. surgeries more effective.”
perspective entering the MBE create real solutions that make Associate Dean, Educational Programs
portion of the program,” says a tangible impact on patients by McGovern Medical School at “In addition to designing the Since Greg completed the MBE
working on bioengineering projects UTHealth Houston MiniVent, we also outlined the portion of the program in
Greg. “My Rice classmates used
proposed by faculty and health steps to bring it to market, May 2021, two additional medical
their engineering backgrounds professionals from across the Texas which included obtaining patents, students began their MBE
to guide discussions on product Medical Center. In one of the meeting government regulations, studies in fall 2021: Abby Louis
development and engineering program’s core courses, students and securing funding,” says and Neel Mutyala.
principles, and I shared assemble in teams and select Greg. “Students in future MBE
a project that interests them. From cohorts will pick up the project “Our vision is to continue
my clinical experiences to help there, students transform into where we left off and continue expanding the MD/MBE program
my classmates understand CEOs and generate a model to bring to refine it, taking the steps to offer more opportunities
the unique needs of physicians the product from idea to market. to eventually make the product for students,” says Gang Bao, PhD,
and patients.” available to health providers.” Chair of the Department of
Gang Bao, PhD
Greg’s team set out to create a Bioengineering at Rice University.
low-cost bag valve mask ventilator “Building off its success, we hope Professor and Chair,
Department of Bioengineering
for children called the MiniVent, to grow additional collaborations,
which could provide emergency including joint research programs George R. Brown School of Engineering
ventilation to patients with severe that leverage the strengths Rice University
breathing issues without the of the extraordinary faculty at
need to manually squeeze the bag. both institutions.”
10 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. TR AINING THE NE X T GENER ATION OF HE ALTH PROFESSIONAL S 11
“As health challenges around the world continue to evolve, our
communities need physician-scientists who make exceptional
patient care more accessible and more effective. Collaborations
like these and the donors who support them empower us to
In the Translational Biomimetic Bioelectronics Lab, John P. Seymour, PhD (left), and
capitalize on the innovative environment and one-of-a-kind
research engineers including Xiaokang Bai, PhD (right), use novel materials and advanced
equipment to design bioelectronics devices to treat neurological diseases like epilepsy.
institutions of the Texas Medical Center to train this new
generation of health professionals.”
As the program continues to grow, and the partnership between
UTHealth Houston and Rice University strengthens, new
opportunities for students and additional collaborative programs
will flourish.
LaTanya J. Love, MD
In one collaboration, Sandipan allow doctors to make fewer
Dean of Education ad interim
Pati, MD, a neurologist with implants while still collecting a
McGovern Medical School and more precise reading of the brain. Associate Professor,
UTHealth Houston Neurosciences, Their efforts earned a two-year Department of Pediatrics
and John P. Seymour, PhD, seed grant to help advance the McGovern Medical School at
who holds joint appointments at project toward clinical trials. UTHealth Houston
Sandipan Pati, MD McGovern Medical School —
Associate Professor, and Rice University, are developing “Through our affiliations with
Executive Vice President for Student
Department of Neurology a device that could improve the the Texas Institute of Restorative Affairs and Diversity
McGovern Medical School at diagnosis of epilepsy. Neurotechnologies at UTHealth
UTHealth Houston
UTHealth Houston Houston and the Neuroengineering
“Like going into a bustling stadium Initiative at Rice University, we
and trying to listen for one specific have access to the brightest minds,
conversation amid the commotion, the most advanced technologies,
diagnostic tools for epilepsy help and the most innovative ideas that
neurologists listen in the brain both institutions offer,” explains
to learn where seizures are coming Seymour, who received a seed
from,” says Seymour. “We’re grant from the Barbara J. Gibbs
engineering a device that will allow Partnership Fund for a separate
physicians to pinpoint where collaborative project. “Philanthropy
seizures originate with greater provides critical seed funding
precision by amplifying the signal that enables us to leverage that
and reducing a significant amount environment and pursue
of biological noise.” novel projects to collect the
evidence required to earn larger
During stereoelectroencephalography, federal grants.”
John P. Seymour, PhD
a common diagnostic procedure
Associate Professor, Vivian L. Smith for epilepsy, doctors implant small With new frontiers in health
Department of Neurosurgery devices called depth electrodes science and engineering waiting
McGovern Medical School at in the brain, which measure brain to be explored, UTHealth Houston
UTHealth Houston activity to help locate seizures. and Rice University are primed
— Pati and Seymour are redesigning for discovery.
Adjunct Associate Professor,
these depth electrodes to make
Department of Electrical them more accurate, which could
and Computer Engineering
12 Rice University M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. 13
WINGS Engineering the future of health care
O F G E N E RO S I T Y
S U P P O RT F R O M E N D OW M E NT S L I F T S
U T H E A LT H H O U S TO N FAC U LT Y
Flight begins with liftoff, a boost that propels us away from familiar
ground toward rarified air. At UTHealth Houston, endowed funds provide
resources in perpetuity that set our faculty on trajectories to new heights
as they conduct life-changing work and train the next generation of health
professionals, who will meet future health challenges headon.
FURTHERING
A DENTAL LEGACY
Ana Neumann, DDS, PhD, carries When Neumann met Stevenson
the name of her late mentor and after joining the School of Dentistry
friend in a special way. As holder faculty in 2010, she found
of the Gene C. Stevenson they shared a commitment to
Distinguished Professorship in evidence-based dentistry, and
Dental Education, she pursues the both held Master of Public Health
same goals that drove them both degrees. Neumann earned
as dentists. a master’s degree and later
a doctorate at UTHealth School
“I still miss him today,” she says of Public Health as the only
of Stevenson, who served as dentist in her class.
faculty at UTHealth Houston School
of Dentistry for 25 years before
passing away in 2016. “He was a
wonderful, dedicated faculty
Dentistry and public health have always held an inextricable link for
member and a real scholar.” Ana Neumann, DDS, PhD. The Gene C. Stevenson Distinguished Professorship
in Dental Education helps her synergize these two disciplines to benefit
patients and their communities.
14 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. TR AINING THE NE X T GENER ATION OF HE ALTH PROFESSIONAL S 15
Ana Neumann, DDS, PhD
Gene C. Stevenson Distinguished Todd D. Wilson, MD
Professor in Dental Education Associate Professor,
Professor, Department of Surgery
Department of General Practice and McGovern Medical School
Dental Public Health at UTHealth Houston
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
SURGICAL TRAINING GETS A MAKEOVER
In a world with nearly unlimited information at the touch of a smartphone screen, medical students
and residents have access to more knowledge than ever before—and more ways of learning it.
“I could never dissociate “I maintain these lectures in my “Dr. Stevenson was helping Todd D. Wilson, MD, has watched “Given the time constraints to predict what residents may be
dentistry and public health course with special dedication patients with HIV when it was this transformation take shape residents have, YouTube-style looking for and help them
because really everything to Dr. Stevenson,” says Neumann, hard to get a dentist to do with the residents he teaches in videos could actually serve as find the right videos more quickly.
who directs the dental public the Department of Surgery
we do is public health,” that,” Neumann says. “Following great educational tools,” Wilson
health program at the School of at McGovern Medical School at While the first videos will focus
she says. Dentistry. “I still use his slides.” that example, this endowment UTHealth Houston. Where surgical says. “The problem is that we on specific surgeries, Wilson hopes
helps us care for patients who procedures were once the only have a few resources with to expand the effort into different
She and Stevenson shared Today, she sees a wide range might have a hard time finding purview of textbook diagrams or good videos vetted by experts.” fields and institutions outside
a goal of teaching students how of possibilities for using funds firsthand observation, today’s UTHealth Houston.
treatments elsewhere.”
to analyze data to determine from the Stevenson Distinguished future surgeons have found new
the best dental practices based Professorship, which was ways to study. A computer programmer in his “I greatly appreciate what the
on the evidence. They worked founded by Stevenson’s widow, Neumann also teaches her students spare time and an official
Glassell family has done
together to redesign the curriculum Lori, to honor his memory and to evaluate evidence, think “It turns out our residents prefer Apple software developer, Wilson
for students in dental public advance evidence-based dentistry critically, and uphold the highest short videos that demonstrate saw an opportunity to blend in catalyzing this effort, which
health classes, adding lectures and critical thinking. Potential standards of dentistry. specific techniques,” he says. YouTube learning with trusted taps the incredible potential
to familiarize students uses include creating research YouTube offers a plethora of such medical expertise. of emerging technologies
with how to critically appraise opportunities for faculty at the “If we can equip them with the videos and has drawn the
like machine learning,” he says.
scientific literature. School of Dentistry and supporting best possible knowledge, they can attention of residents, but Wilson With support from the Glassell
the school’s clinic for patients really make a difference in a lot points out the lack of quality Family Research Innovation
“I see this as only the beginning
with special needs. of people’s lives,” she says. control on the platform. Yet even Endowment, he launched of what is possible.”
with his concerns, he believes a collaboration with UTHealth
video learning can play a key role Houston School of Biomedical
in supplementing textbooks, which Informatics to create an app
may not reflect the most recent with short instructional videos
advances in surgical technology. vetted by a committee at
McGovern Medical School. The app
will use artificial intelligence
16 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. TR AINING THE NE X T GENER ATION OF HE ALTH PROFESSIONAL S 17“Faculty endowments like professorships, chairs, and research
Bing Yu, PhD
funds empower our educators to create unique experiences and
The JLH Foundation Chair in
Transplant Prevention programs that grow our students into tomorrow’s health care
Associate Professor,
Department of Epidemiology, and public health leaders. As health challenges evolve and new
Human Genetics, and
Environmental Sciences issues emerge, these endowments help bring the brightest
UTHealth School of Public Health
minds to UTHealth Houston to train the professionals that
will keep our communities healthy long into the future.”
SAVING ORGANS, SAVING LIVES
Rapid advances in medical technology have given UTHealth School of Public Health researcher Eric Boerwinkle, PhD
Bing Yu, PhD, an unprecedented window into the inner workings of the human body. Dean
M. David Low Chair in
Public Health
Able to view tens of thousands which was founded to help support Recognizing the potential for
Kozmetsky Family Chair in
of biomarkers—molecules that the financial needs of transplant even greater discoveries, in 2021
Human Genetics
indicate either normal processes patients and their families and to the JLH Foundation established
or disease—many of them support transplant programs and The JLH Foundation Chair in Professor, Epidemiology,
Human Genetics, and
never before explored, her team research. Intrigued by the potential Transplant Prevention to advance
Environmental Sciences
has made significant progress of Yu and Boerwinkle’s research research focused on precursors
in finding markers associated with to prevent organ failure and thus the to organ failure like high UTHealth School of Public Health
potentially fatal conditions like need for transplants altogether, blood pressure and diabetes.
heart disease. the JLH Foundation made a Yu was named the chair’s inaugural
substantial commitment to fund holder in 2021 and will use
“We all have good and bad their work. distributions to examine genes
and biomarkers to identify
things in our body, so we want
Less than two years later, Yu and patients at high risk for disease
to evaluate everything,” Boerwinkle uncovered a key and discover new interventions.
she says. “When we identify compound linked to high blood
these markers, we can see pressure, a major contributor “I am very honored to be the
to kidney failure. They also found holder of this position,” Yu says.
how much risk a person might
a gene that regulates compound “There are still a lot of chronic
have for future disease.” levels, which could serve as a diseases that do not have effective
target for developing treatments. treatments, and this philanthropic
In 2016, Yu and Eric Boerwinkle, PhD, support positions us to find
were researching the mechanisms “Once we have blood pressure solutions that save even more
of end-stage heart and kidney under control, we can protect patients from the ordeal of
failure when they met Paula Hern, kidney function,” Yu says. “This organ transplants.”
chair of the JLH Foundation, could prevent people at
high risk of kidney failure from
needing transplants.”
18 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. 19improving
H O U S T O N ’ S H E A LT H
B E AT I N G I N R H Y T H M
Delivering life-changing cardiovascular care and innovation
A sprawling metropolis with an unbreakable spirit, Houston is home to a vibrant and rapidly
growing community of people from around the world. While the city boasts world-renowned
medical resources, its residents face a unique host of evolving health challenges—from heart
disease to cancer to COVID-19.
For 50 years, UTHealth Houston has stood at the forefront of safeguarding health in Houston
and beyond. From leading innovative research and care to advance heart health to connecting
veterans with essential dental care, we are improving health for people in our communities.
A SALUTE TO SMILES
Scan the QR code with Annual event improves the oral health of veterans
your mobile device.
M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION.improving
H O U S T O N ’ S H E A LT H
A sprawling metropolis with an unbreakable spirit, Houston is home to a vibrant and rapidly
growing community of people from around the world. While the city boasts world-renowned
medical resources, its residents face a unique host of evolving health challenges—from heart
disease to cancer to COVID-19.
UTHealth Houston has stood at the forefront of safeguarding Houston’s health for nearly
50 years. From improving geriatric care for the most vulnerable older adults to connecting
underserved populations to much-needed dental care, we are improving health for people
throughout Houston and beyond.
Scan the QR code with
your mobile device.
I M P R O V I N G H O U S T O N’S H E A L T H 23BE AT I NG
IN RHYTHM
DELIVERING LIFE-CHANGING
C A R D I OVA S C U L A R C A R E A N D I N N OVAT I O N
The body’s cardiovascular system is vast, with sprawling labyrinths of arteries,
capillaries, and veins long enough to wrap around the world more than twice.
With a beating heart at its core, this complicated network winds its way through
vital organs and tissues, delivering precious oxygen and nutrients. Despite its
enormous size and complexity, new surgical techniques offer revolutionary ways
to address life-threatening cardiovascular problems—sometimes through even
the tiniest incisions.
For Emanuel J. Ramos Tenorio is part of a world-class
Tenorio, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral team of researchers led by
research fellow in the Department Gustavo S. Oderich, MD. Together,
of Cardiothoracic and Vascular they collaborate on novel
Surgery at McGovern Medical techniques to investigate and
School at UTHealth Houston, treat diseases of the aorta
learning about minimally invasive like aneurysms, which are weak,
Gustavo S. Oderich, MD surgery in medical school bulging areas in the blood
sparked a lifelong passion. vessel’s walls.
John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern
Distinguished Chair
“The biggest drive for me in my
Professor, Department of
career is to help people,” Tenorio
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
says. “I was amazed when
McGovern Medical School at I learned how we can solve big
UTHealth Houston
cardiovascular issues through
small incisions.”
Emanual J. Ramos Tenorio, MD, PhD (left), and Gustavo S. Oderich, MD (right),
save lives by repairing aortic aneurysms with customized stent grafts that
are tailored to each patient.
24 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. I M P R O V I N G H O U S T O N’S H E A L T H 25Oderich and Tenorio develop customized stent grafts
to address each patient's unique needs.
BEFORE
A patient had
multiple aneurysms in different
segments of the aorta.
In particular, the team researches Oderich is a national leader in Throughout the Many Faces.
cutting-edge stent grafts that endovascular techniques and one One Mission. philanthropic
are manufactured to fit the patient’s of a few surgeons in the United campaign, donors including David P.
anatomy and can account for States with FDA approval to use Storch and the Krist Foundation
vital blood vessels that branch off these specialized stent grafts have generously supported
from the aorta. Physicians insert to treat complex aortic aneurysms. educational opportunities in
the device through a small incision His team has demonstrated that cardiovascular medicine such as
in the groin. Once placed, the the devices are safe and effective— fellowships. Commitments like
device diverts blood flow from the and can lead to shorter recovery these help equip tomorrow’s
aneurysm, helping to prevent times for patients. cardiovascular experts to continue
aortic rupture. improving health in Houston
“Every month, we have a new and beyond.
“The day after I defended device or new techniques to treat
the aorta,” Tenorio says. “If you “Our research fellows produce
my PhD thesis in Brazil, I moved
are a creative person, you can do
to the United States to work landmark contributions
a lot of research in endovascular
with Dr. Oderich,” Tenorio says. surgery that allows you to that change lives,” Oderich says.
“Under his guidance, I have improve lives.” “Philanthropy helps ensure
had the opportunity to study we have the resources to support
endovascular techniques our fellows and to pursue the
and hone my skills as a surgeon next innovations in endovascular
aortic repairs.”
AFTER
and researcher to provide
Oderich and Tenorio created
the best care for our patients.”
customized stent grafts
to divert blood away from the
patient’s aneurysms, helping
to prevent aortic ruptures.
26 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. I M P R O V I N G H O U S T O N’S H E A L T H 27Estrera replaced Jerry’s ascending “The year after my surgery
aorta and aortic arch and repaired was an uphill climb. I lost nearly
his valve during a five-hour surgery.
Had Jerry waited much longer to
30 pounds, and there was
go to the emergency department, a time when I worried I was
he likely would not have survived. never going to be myself again,”
Jerry says. “I am so thankful
“The surgery went well, and to Dr. Estrera, Dr. Smalling, and
Dr. Estrera told me the repair the entire UTHealth Houston
will last 50 years,” says Jerry. and Memorial Hermann teams
“That is perfect for me because to be where I am today."
I plan on living to 100.” Anthony L. Estrera, MD
Hazim J. Safi, MD, Distinguished Chair
For six weeks after his surgery, Through his determination and
in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
Jerry focused on recovery through the help of his care team, Jerry
cardiac rehabilitation, which gradually returned to the activities Professor and Chair, Department of
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
After months of cardiac and physical rehabilitation, Jerry Ashworth (left) has returned to normal gradually reintroduced him to he loves.
activities thanks to a lifesaving aortic repair performed by Anthony L. Estrera, MD (right), a proud routine daily activities. He also McGovern Medical School at
alumnus of The University of Texas at Austin. UTHealth Houston
regularly checked in with Estrera
and his cardiologist, Richard W.
Smalling, MD, PhD, to ensure his
aortic repair remained strong.
ON THE PULSE OF CARDIOVASCULAR CARE
Across UTHealth Houston, clinicians and researchers work together to develop solutions that save the
lives of patients throughout Houston and beyond—patients like Jerry Ashworth.
Jerry’s night began like any other When the pain in Jerry’s chest Jerry was experiencing an aortic
Monday night, playing pickup did not subside, he asked his son dissection, a life-threatening
basketball; however, he did not to drive him to the emergency condition in which the walls of the
expect for it to end with a trip department at Memorial Hermann aorta tear. With symptoms that
to the hospital. Focused on making Memorial City Medical Center, mimic other diseases—including a
shots and defending the other where a team of nurses and heart attack—aortic dissections
team, a sudden pop in his chest physicians quickly ruled out a heart can be difficult to diagnose,
took his breath away. attack. Jerry’s symptoms were especially in young, healthy patients
not adding up, so a cardiologist like Jerry. Richard W. Smalling, MD, PhD
“I stepped off the court and conducted a physical exam, in James D. Woods Distinguished Chair in
grabbed my shorts, trying which he detected a heart murmur. In Jerry’s case, the dissection Cardiovascular Medicine
to figure out what was wrong,” He ordered an echocardiogram resulted from an aortic aneurysm.
Jay Brent Sterling Professor in
Jerry says. “I was only 49 years to look for structural irregularities When the blood vessel ruptured, Cardiovascular Medicine
in Jerry’s chest. it dislodged his aortic valve,
old and exercised regularly. creating a heart murmur. The
Professor,
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
I had no family history of cardiologist rushed to transfer
“He turned the screen toward
cardiac problems, but I started Jerry to Memorial Hermann-Texas Department of Internal Medicine
me so I could see what was
to wonder if I was having Medical Center for open heart McGovern Medical School at
wrong. Something in my chest surgery, where Anthony L. Estrera, UTHealth Houston
a heart attack.”
looked like a flag blowing MD, and his team were waiting
Jerry, Senior Vice President and in the wind,” Jerry says. “It was to assess the situation.
CEO of Memorial Hermann Cypress
my aortic wall.”
and Memorial Hermann Katy “Aortic dissections generally impact
Hospitals, stayed on the sidelines people much older than Jerry,”
drinking water and trying to Estrera says. “But they can happen
walk off the discomfort while his son in younger patients and require
finished up the basketball game. rapid interventions.”
28 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. I M P R O V I N G H O U S T O N’S H E A L T H 29The many faces of From treating complex congenital heart conditions to investigating the genetic causes
of heart disease and conducting surgical interventions for aneurysms and heart
failure, the many faces of UTHealth Houston stand at the forefront of heart and vascular
cardiovascular medicine at medicine. Philanthropy helps this elite team pursue innovative research and foster
collaborations that pave the way for more effective prevention and treatment options
UTHealth Houston across the full spectrum of cardiovascular conditions.
Anthony L. Estrera, MD, specializes Biswajit Kar, MD, serves as Susan T. Laing, MD, provides Through the John Ritter Gustavo S. Oderich, MD, pushes Families with children who have
in treating aortic aneurysms and a Chief of the Center for Advanced compassionate cardiology Research Program in Aortic and the boundaries of cardiovascular congenital heart problems come
dissections while developing Cardiopulmonary Therapies care in Houston while evaluating Vascular Diseases, Dianna M. medicine by innovating minimally to Houston from around the world
leading-edge surgical techniques. and Transplantation, where he leads cardiovascular disease in Milewicz, MD, PhD, works to invasive surgical techniques to see Jorge D. Salazar, MD, an
the field in interventional underserved populations along the prevent premature deaths due to treat complex aortic conditions. expert in pediatric and congenital
“For the past half-century, the cardiology, structural heart disease, United States-Mexico border to acute aortic dissections. heart surgery who takes on the
cardiogenic shock, advanced to reduce health disparities and “Endovascular repairs have most challenging cases to deliver
Texas Medical Center has
heart failure, and transplantation. improve patient outcomes. “Family history is a major the best possible outcomes.
been the center of cardiovascular changed how we treat aortic
treatment, research, and risk factor for thoracic aortic diseases. We have everything we
“With advanced therapies “Heart disease is truly dissection. If we know “There are many things in
education for the world. We need to write the next chapter
and surgical techniques, we can preventable. If we want to make who has the risk, we have life we can’t fix—people often
strive to carry on that spirit of cardiovascular surgery here in
help patients with complex an impact on cardiovascular a really good chance must learn to live with their
of innovation and deliver Houston, and our work is
heart disease live longer and disease morbidity and mortality, of preventing a death.” conditions. But congenital heart
unmatched, patient-centered only beginning.”
with a better quality of life the most cost-efficient approach disease is something we can
cardiovascular care.” than ever before.” is to focus on prevention.” fix, and we can help these
patients lead full lives.”
30 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. I M P R O V I N G H O U S T O N’S H E A L T H 31A S A LU T E
TO SMILES
A N N U A L E V E NT I M P R OV E S T H E
O R A L H E A LT H O F V E T E R A N S
As Army veteran Danny Sneed tells it, his smile is his style.
That pride keeps him motivated to care for his oral health, but
this time something dangerous slipped past his notice.
“He had a dental infection “Some vets come in and find out
that he didn’t know was there,” there’s more going on than just
says Lauren Sanchez, DDS, a toothache,” Sneed says.
a second-year resident at UTHealth
Houston School of Dentistry. Yet many veterans living in poverty—
especially those experiencing
Sanchez caught Sneed’s homelessness—never receive such
infection—which, if left untreated, timely interventions or even
could have spread throughout basic oral care. While the United
his body—at Give Vets a Smile, an States Department of Veterans
annual event at the School of Affairs offers a broad range
Dentistry where veterans receive of health services to veterans, only
free oral health screenings, those who were prisoners
preventive care, or urgent care. of war or have certain degrees
Students, residents, and of service-related disabilities
faculty from the School of Dentistry qualify for dental benefits—roughly
and Cizik School of Nursing 13% of veterans.
at UTHealth Houston staff the
A signature event at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry since 2015, Give Vets a Smile event from start to finish.
serves as a lifeline to veterans unable to access oral health care. For some, it may be the first
time they have seen a dentist in years.
32 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. I M P R O V I N G H O U S T O N’S H E A L T H 33“When we ask veterans how long In the years since and throughout
it has been since they had the Many Faces. One Mission. “After we complete their
dental care, some will say decades,” campaign, community donors
treatment during the event, we
says Bridgette R. Pullis, PhD, RN, including Delta Dental Community
who leads the Veterans’ Bachelor of Care Foundation and Amegy Bank try to direct the veterans
Science in Nursing program at have stepped in to help grow to a reliable dental provider they
Cizik School of Nursing and helped the program from a simple focus can afford, whether here at
start Give Vets a Smile. on pain relief to a range of oral
the school’s clinics or out in the
health services offered by students,
Pullis, whose father served in the residents, and faculty from
community,” Sanchez says.
Naval Construction Battalion the School of Dentistry and Cizik “So, we're really trying to help
(commonly known as “Seabees”) School of Nursing. them find a place where
Danny Sneed, who served as a legal
during World War II, saw the urgent they can go and continue
clerk in the Army, keeps his smile
need for dental care during her The event begins with Pullis
bright with help from Give Vets a
work with homeless veterans getting the word out to community
maintaining their oral health on
Smile and spreads the word to others
through his job with U.S. Vets. through U.S. Vets, an organization veterans. She now has help from a regular basis.”
dedicated to ending homelessness veterans like Sneed, who works at
among veterans. Many of the U.S. Vets. Since the Many Faces. One Mission.
veterans Pullis encountered campaign began in 2015, the
suffered from years of drug abuse “I make sure everybody at event has provided over $275,000
that wrought severe damage worth of care to more than 500
our housing community knows,”
to their oral health and left them veterans. Pullis and Melchor hope
missing teeth—a handicap in he says. “I hand out flyers. that with additional philanthropic
trying to find a job. I put up poster boards. I knock support, they can expand Give Vets
on doors. I tell them it’s a Smile—currently held only once
She approached Margo Y. each year—to two days a year.
more than just an opportunity
Melchor, EdD, RDH, to determine
if the School of Dentistry
to get your teeth cleaned, “It's not uncommon to have veterans
could leverage the talent of its and that oral health can affect call us asking how to obtain care,”
faculty and students to find the whole body.” Melchor says. “So even though we
a solution. Together, they launched are doing our best to address
Bridgette R. Pullis, PhD, RN the first Give Vets a Smile event this need, we still have many more
Associate Professor, Department of in 2015. Students from Cizik School veterans in need of help.”
Undergraduate Studies of Nursing help veterans fill out
Cizik School of Nursing at “That first year, we were medical history forms, which That help has proven a lifeline
UTHealth Houston can help avert life-threatening for Sneed, who sees the event as
basically on a shoestring budget
complications during treatment. a way to honor the sacrifices
because no one knew us On the day of the event, they of those who served by providing
yet,” says Pullis, who worked conduct the initial intake for each quality oral health care that
with U.S. Vets to invite veteran—determining the can relieve pain, restore confidence,
specific issue that needs care, and keep smiles on the faces
veterans in need of care. “But
screening for COVID-19, and of Americans who proudly wore
we had a great response taking vital signs while looking the uniform.
and ended up seeing about for conditions like high blood
90 patients.” pressure that might require “You have to admit, the people
monitoring throughout the day. here are doing a great job,” he says
with a grin. “And my smile’s
Dental and dental hygiene students the evidence.”
and residents work under faculty
supervision to provide cleanings,
basic screenings, and procedures
Margo Y. Melchor, EdD, RDH like tooth extractions and root
A team effort makes Give Vets a Smile successful.
Associate Professor, canals. They also watch for signs
Faculty, residents, and students work together to ensure
Department of Periodontics and of more serious conditions like
every veteran truly leaves with a smile.
Dental Hygiene oral cancer.
Director, Community Outreach
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry
34 I M P R O V I N G H O U S T O N’S H E A L T H 35a d va n c i n g
B R A I N A N D B E H AV I O R A L
H E A LT H MORE THAN A NUMBER
Leading the state in personalized behavioral health care
The ripple effects of brain and behavioral health conditions extend beyond individual patients.
They can rob people of their memories, identities, and enthusiasm for life, impacting the
families and communities who provide love and support.
That’s why UTHealth Houston experts are at work exploring how the brain works and delivering
new treatment options for patients everywhere. From addressing gaps in the understanding
and care of mood disorders to providing hope and healing for children with brain tumors, our
experts are pushing the frontiers of brain and behavioral health every day.
MARCHING ON WITH HOPE
Scan the QR code with Reimagining care of pediatric brain tumors
your mobile device.
M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION.a d va n c i n g
B R A I N A N D B E H AV I O R A L
H E A LT H
The ripple effects of brain and behavioral health conditions extend beyond individual patients.
They can rob people of their memories, identities, and enthusiasm for life, impacting the
families and communities who provide love and support.
That’s why UTHealth Houston puts our experts to work exploring how the brain works and
delivering new treatment options for patients everywhere. From making rapid stroke diagnosis
and care a reality to helping people with substance use disorders overcome addiction, our
experts are pushing the frontiers of brain and behavioral health every day.
Scan the QR code with
your mobile device.
ADVANCING BR AIN AND BEHAVIOR AL HE ALTH 39MOR E T H A N
A NUMBER
L E A D I N G T H E S TAT E I N P E R S O N A L I Z E D
B E H AV I O R A L H E A LT H C A R E
The statistics are staggering. One in five adults will struggle with a behavioral
disorder during their lifetime, and the ripple effects reverberate throughout
the community, straining hospitals and public institutions. Behavioral disorders
are responsible for one out of every eight visits to the emergency department,
and more than eight million Americans care for an adult family member with
a behavioral disorder, averaging 32 hours a week in unpaid care.
With only 10 state psychiatric “We need to emphasize behavioral
hospitals across Texas to serve its health now and address those
29 million residents, the waiting list issues because of how important
for treatment can easily amount to they are, how prevalent,” explains
months, and private facilities may Jair C. Soares, MD, PhD. “It's a
not be covered by insurance, major cause of disability
resulting in thousands of dollars in worldwide. These are very common
out-of-pocket expenses. conditions that need to be better
addressed so that people can live
Yet the real story lies beyond what fuller, happier lives.”
the numbers tell us; it lies in the
lives disrupted, the dreams dashed,
and the anguish lived through
every day.
Alongside the experts in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,
Lokesh Shahani, MD (left), and Jair C. Soares, MD, PhD (right), stand at the forefront of delivering
much-needed personalized care for patients with behavioral disorders.
40 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. ADVANCING BR AIN AND BEHAVIOR AL HE ALTH 41Jair C. Soares, MD, PhD
Pat R. Rutherford, Jr. Chair in Psychiatry
Lokesh Shahani, MD
Professor and Chair,
Associate Professor,
Faillace Department of Psychiatry and
Faillace Department of Psychiatry and
Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral Sciences
Director, Center of Excellence on
McGovern Medical School at
Mood Disorders
UTHealth Houston
— McGovern Medical School at
UTHealth Houston
Chief Medical Officer,
—
UTHealth Houston
Behavioral Sciences Campus Executive Director,
UTHealth Houston
Behavioral Sciences Campus
For years, behavioral health In spring 2022, UTHealth Houston “The new hospital improves Shahani says the goal is to create The Dunn Center Building will “We are building a massive
experts in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, strengthened its commitment to access to inpatient psychiatric a more complete continuum also allow the university to double footprint in behavioral
Department of Psychiatry and behavioral health when it opened of care by providing step-down the number of psychiatric
care for our community,” health at UTHealth Houston,”
Behavioral Sciences at McGovern the doors of a new facility that, beds for those patients who need residents. “When this happens,
Medical School at UTHealth combined with the UTHealth says Lokesh Shahani, MD. more time in the hospital, we will have the largest says Soares. “We now
Houston have dedicated themselves Houston Harris County Psychiatric “It provides us an opportunity something the region previously psychiatric residency program have the Behavioral Sciences
to pursuing discovery, clinical, Center (HCPC), has created to develop innovative and lacked. In the future, patients could in the nation,” says Shahani. Campus in addition to close
and translational research and the largest academic psychiatric transition from acute to subacute
personalized ways of caring for to 20 sites in the community
offering individuals and their families hospital in the nation. A collaboration care in the hospital, to a partial
access to the latest treatments with the Texas Health and Human individuals suffering with hospitalization program, to and partnerships with
and therapies. Services Commission, the new mental illness.” an intensive outpatient program, hospitals throughout the
facility, which carries the name of and finally to outpatient-only care. Texas Medical Center.”
the John S. Dunn Behavioral This is critical to easing and
Sciences Center, adds 264 beds reintegrating patients back into
to the existing 274 beds at UTHealth the community.
Houston HCPC.
42 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. ADVANCING BR AIN AND BEHAVIOR AL HE ALTH 43More patients translates into more research. “The Dunn Behavioral Part of the Dunn Foundation’s transformational gift—which the
The Center of Excellence on Sciences Center will help us grow exponentially at the same Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center was named in honor of—is
Mood Disorders includes an proportion on the research side,” says João de Quevedo, MD, PhD. designated for research like this, an endeavor they have supported
active research and clinical team “With longer treatment programs, patients can be enrolled since their giving began in 1986. Similarly, Anthony Faillace made
dedicated to finding biological
in more comprehensive research.” a significant commitment in honor of his father and founding
markers and targets for
definitive treatment for patients chair of psychiatry at UTHealth Houston, Louis A. Faillace, MD,
with mood disorders, such as De Quevedo balances seeing “There is the chronological age that which created faculty chairs that provide resources for behavioral
approximately 40 patients a week is on your driver’s license, and
bipolar disorder and depression. research and educational programs.
for mood disorders with leading then there is biological aging,” says
the Translational Psychiatry Program de Quevedo. This biological aging
in the Faillace Department of is associated with non-psychiatric Understanding the importance But there is still work to be done.
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. conditions like cardiometabolic innovation plays in ending João de Quevedo, MD, PhD
The Translational Psychiatry disease and cancer. “The data suffering, Elizabeth and Drew “I really believe that we are now
Professor, Faillace Department of
Program sits at the center of four show that patients with behavioral Kanaly created a research where the field of oncology was Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
overlapping focus areas—the Center disorders age quicker biologically endowment to help find answers, 30 years ago, before major
Director,
of Excellence on Mood Disorders, versus chronologically. We are and Yvonne and Walter Johnson investments created a much better
Translational Psychiatry Program
The Center for the Center for Neurobehavioral trying to understand why and how made a substantial estate understanding of the pathways
Neurobehavioral Research Research on Addiction, the Brain to prevent that.” commitment to ensure work like and mechanisms involved in McGovern Medical School at
on Addiction researches UTHealth Houston
Collection for Research in Psychiatry this continues long into the causation,” says Soares. “This is in
new therapies and develops Disorders, and the Trauma and The team has a large focus on future. They join a growing list many ways still the last frontier
evidence-based treatments Resilience Center. treatment-resistant behavioral of individuals and foundations in medicine.”
for addiction and substance disorders. Patients who do not committed to advancing
use disorders informed “In translational research, respond to traditional treatment behavioral health.
by behavioral neurosciences. are more likely to be on disability,
we work on the basis of the
attempt suicide, and have “The impact of philanthropy
disease to discover how it increased health expenditures.
develops and why. From there, goes beyond what is seen
we propose new therapies,” “These patients have been sick through a donor’s initial gift.
explains de Quevedo. To do most of their lives. They give up It impacts other researchers,
that, researchers work in
their dreams. They drop out of who produce preliminary data
college. Their relationships suffer,
tandem with clinicians to obtain to apply for grants to keep
The Brain Collection for and they are unable to hold a
patient data, neuroimaging, job,” explains de Quevedo. “When
programs going,” de Quevedo
Research in Psychiatry
and blood samples and to you treat them, and you are able says. “Without our donors,
Disorders houses brain tissue
to help understand how the employ genomic, behavioral,
to bring them back to normalcy, it’s we would not be competitive.”
life-changing. These are the
brain functions and how it
epidemiological, and people we would really like to help
regulates behavior to identify
the biological causes of
bioinformatics approaches. because the others are already
served by traditional treatments.”
behavioral disorders.
For example, researchers are
investigating the accelerated aging Building on evidence that
that happens in people with bipolar disorder is linked to the
bipolar disorder. loss of neurons and increased
inflammation in the brain, Soares
and de Quevedo are initiating
the first pilot study to determine
whether stem cells—which have
The Trauma and Resilience been shown to stimulate neuron
Center is a multidisciplinary growth after a stroke—can
treatment, research, and effectively treat complex behavioral
education center devoted to disorders like treatment-resistant
helping people who experience bipolar depression.
psychological problems
in the aftermath of traumatic
life experiences. M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. ADVANCING BR AIN AND BEHAVIOR AL HE ALTH 45M A RC H I NG ON
WITH HOPE
R E I M A G I N I N G C A R E O F P E D I AT R I C B R A I N T U M O R S
Abbi Evans and her family mark a routine eye exam in December 2020
as the beginning of a journey that forever changed their lives. When the optometrist
noted something odd about Abbi’s optic nerve and referred her to a specialist,
the Evans family felt something was wrong.
“You go to your eye exam expecting Further testing revealed that Abbi’s
to leave with a prescription for tumors were benign and caused
glasses or contacts, but we left by neurofibromatosis type 2, a rare
with a prescription for an MRI and genetic disorder characterized by
a growing fear,” says Abbi’s mother, the continued growth of noncancerous
Christy. “Before long, we learned tumors in the nervous system.
that our daughter had three With no cure, patients like Abbi require
brain tumors.” lifelong monitoring to keep the
tumors in check.
A junior in high school in Corpus
Christi, Texas, Abbi’s life was
bustling: In addition to excelling
in her classes and preparing for
college entrance exams, she was a
talented and passionate clarinetist
in her school’s marching band.
Aside from some unusual
headaches, nothing suggested
Abbi had anything as serious as
a brain tumor, much less three
of them.
David I. Sandberg, MD, has dedicated his career to helping children beat the odds
against deadly tumors of the central nervous system—whether through surgery or
through innovative therapies that deliver medications directly to the brain.
46 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. ADVANCING BR AIN AND BEHAVIOR AL HE ALTH 47Doctors promptly ordered Following surgery, Abbi spent
additional MRIs to check the rest of five weeks in physical rehabilitation
Abbi’s nervous system and found at TIRR Memorial Hermann to
another benign tumor, called an regain her mobility and coordination.
ependymoma, on her spinal cord. Her therapy team was led
With the tumor encroaching on by Stacey L. Hall, DO, Director of
vital nerves in her spinal cord, the Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
family contacted neurosurgeon at TIRR Memorial Hermann.
David I. Sandberg, MD, at McGovern
Medical School at UTHealth “One of my main goals
Houston and UTHealth Houston
following surgery was to rejoin
Neurosciences. He advised them to
drive to Houston for emergency the marching band,”
David I. Sandberg, MD
surgery to remove the tumor. Abbi recalls. “My therapists
Dr. Marnie Rose Professor in
Pediatric Neurosurgery
incorporated my clarinet into Abbi’s (middle row, center) desire to return to marching band motivated her to give
Although the trip between Corpus
our sessions by having me her all to physical rehabilitation. With help from her therapy team and support from
Director, Division of Christi and Houston is typically her family, she was able to pick up her clarinet again and march on.
Pediatric Neurosurgery an uneventful 3.5-hour drive, a
clean it, put it together, and
Department of Pediatric Surgery historic weather event was brewing. practice breathing exercises.”
Sweeping from the northwest,
McGovern Medical School at
UTHealth Houston Winter Storm Uri strengthened into Abbi completed her rehabilitation
a life-threatening natural disaster just in time to take the field
and took aim at Houston. again with her marching band.
Building off that momentum,
“Dr. Sandberg had no choice she graduated eighth in her class,
and in fall 2022, she will begin
but to immediately schedule Abbi
her college education with the hope
for surgery the day after to one day work in the health
we arrived, which was when the care field.
storm was predicted to hit,”
“I may face more challenges and
says Christy. “He told us he
surgeries, but I know I’m in
would walk to the hospital the best hands with Dr. Sandberg,”
for Abbi if he had to, and when says Abbi. “I want to take these
the storm shut down the city the experiences and the example
next day, he kept his word.” Dr. Sandberg provided to care for
my own patients in the future.”
Stacey L. Hall, DO Sandberg trudged through more
Assistant Professor, than a mile of sleet, snow, and
Department of Physical Medicine ice to reach Children’s Memorial
and Rehabilitation Hermann Hospital. Despite
McGovern Medical School at an unpredictable commute, Abbi’s
UTHealth Houston surgery went as planned, and
Sandberg successfully removed
the tumor while preserving
her spinal cord.
48 M A N Y FACE S. ONE MISSION. ADVANCING BR AIN AND BEHAVIOR AL HE ALTH 49You can also read
