By UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH

The Texas Department of State Health Services redesignated the University of Texas Medical Branch as a Primary (Level II) Stroke Facility in our trauma service area. The reviewers commended the medical branch for our ongoing commitment to ensuring quality care for stroke patients and leadership in the development of our state stroke system.

Castro recognized for social work

Rebecca Castro was named Social Worker of the Year by the Gulf Coast Branch of the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. The annual award honors a member who exemplifies the best of the profession’s values and achievements through specific accomplishments. Castro has been at the medical branch for more than 20 years, spending 13 years in the Emergency Department before moving to the Community Health Program. She is currently working to reintegrate the practice of social work at the medical branch, bringing together social workers from across the institution to promote and support interdisciplinary, coordinated patient care.

Davila at School of Nursing named outstanding faculty member

Yolanda R. Davila has been selected as the 2016 recipient of the Pamela G. Watson School of Nursing Award, which recognizes an outstanding faculty member who has made major contributions through a commitment to excellence in research, publications, education and nursing leadership.

Remember parking has changed at Galveston campus

Visitors to hospitals should now park in the hospital garage located in front of the new Jennie Sealy Hospital. The garage can be approached via Sixth Street from either Harborside Drive or Market Street. Signs will direct visitors to the new parking area. The garage previously used by visitors, located at Market and Eighth streets, has become employee parking. Other public parking areas, including the garage located on Harborside Drive adjacent to the Emergency Room and UTMB Health Clinics and the surface lot in front of the Primary Care Pavilion on Harborside, remain open to patients and visitors.

Of historical note

The kidney transplant program at the medical branch, the first in the Houston/Galveston area, began in 1967 and there have been more than 2,600 kidney transplants since.