By UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH
Ever thought about a career in academic medicine? The University of Texas Medical Branch is presenting a conference July 16 at the Jennie Sealy Hospital for medical students, residents and fellows to provide information about careers in academic medicine. Presented by the medical branch’s Hispanic Center of Excellence and the Center to Eliminate Health Disparities, the Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians conference is geared to reach groups of people who are underrepresented in academic medicine. Topics are expected to include career options, leadership development, financing and diversity and inclusion in an academic medicine workforce. Sponsored registrations are available. For more information, contact Dr. Norma Perez, noaperez@utmb.edu.
Top nurse
UTMB nurses Meredith Hartzog, an adult patient care services nurse, and Gwen Hilderbrand, a neuro/neurosurgery ICU nurse, were selected as two of the top 150 nurses in the Houston area by the Houston Chronicle. The nurses were honored during National Nurse’s Week at the Salute to Nurses Luncheon on May 5. Hartzog and Hildebrand were selected among hundreds of nominations by a panel of educators and leaders identified by the Chronicle.
Nichols named 2016 Piper Award Winner
Joan Nichols, Ph.D., a professor of Internal Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology, and associate director for research and operations for the Galveston National Laboratory, is one of 10 professors in Texas to be selected by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation as a 2016 Piper Professor. The Piper Professor Awards were first introduced in 1958, and honor effective and dedicated professors from two- and four-year colleges and universities in Texas. In letters of recommendation sent to the foundation, Nichols was described as a hardworking, dedicated and inspiring professor and researcher who is just as comfortable in her lab as she is in front of a classroom or speaking to members of the community. Nichols, who has been with UTMB since 1994, said she went back to graduate school for her doctoral degree because she wanted to teach and work with medical and graduate students.
Special recognition for Correctional Managed Care employees
Several Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital Galveston Correctional Managed Care employees were recognized during a special awards ceremony on May 11, hosted by Dr. Owen Murray, vice president of Correctional Managed Care, and Dr. Olugbenga Ojo, chief medical officer of TDCJ Hospital Galveston. Mohamed Mohamud, a nurse in Medical/Surgical Telemetry, was the winner of this year’s Owen Murray Award for Nursing Excellence; Kellie Perrone, a patient care technician in the Transitional Care Unit, received the Award for Administrative Excellence; Don Bosco, a senior warden, was recognized for his service excellence; and nurses Paula Stangeland and Bryan Hicks were honored for going above and beyond in responding to an accident involving multiple traumas.