By UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH

David Marshall, UTMB’s chief nursing and patient care services officer will be recognized by the Texas Nurses Association District 9 as one of 25 outstanding nurses of 2015 at their annual celebration Thursday in Houston. Marshall was nominated by his peers and co-workers as an exemplary registered nurse in the Houston/Galveston area. Marshall began his career with UTMB in 1983 as a staff nurse and was named Chief Nursing Officer in 2001.

Scholarships, awards and thank-yous

The School of Medicine recently held its Award and Scholarship Luncheon at which 285 students earned 442 scholarships thanks to many donors. The total amount funded to pursue medical studies for the current year is $1,979,683. “Academics are a top priority in a student’s mind, but I would argue that a close second is financial stability,” said Trevor Silva, a class of 2018 School of Medicine student. “Not only does it affect us presently, but living off imaginary money is always in the back of our minds. I can personally attest to the peace of mind an academic scholarship gives to a student.”

Reyes to hold excellence in teaching professorship

Victor Reyes, an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, has been selected to receive the Mary and J. Palmer Saunders Professorship for Excellence in Teaching. This is the highest honor the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences bestows on faculty in recognition of their efforts in teaching and mentoring students. Reyes will hold the professorship through Sept. 30, 2017.

Beasley named director of regulatory and scientific affairs

David Beasley has been appointed director of regulatory and scientific affairs in the office of regulated nonclinical studies. Beasley joined UTMB as a postdoctoral fellow in 1999 and is now an associate professor in the department of microbiology and immunology. He also serves as associate director of UTMB’s WHO Collaborating Center for Vaccine Research, Evaluation and Training on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Of historical note

Some milestones as UTMB marks its 125th anniversary: In 1919, The University of Texas Medical Department, as UTMB was then known, officially was renamed The University of Texas Medical Branch. In 1942, UTMB graduated two medical classes in one year to meet the demand for physicians during World War II.