GALVESTON, Texas - Hundreds of incoming students at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and their families will attend a series of events on Saturday, Aug. 22, where they will be welcomed into the UTMB community.
Incoming students from all four UTMB schools are expected to attend Welcome Weekend 2009 at the Galveston Island Convention Center, 5600 Seawall Blvd., where they will hear from UTMB leaders. "We have a tradition of welcoming our students and their families into the UTMB family," said Vince Loffredo, associate vice president for student services. "We want to make sure the parents and families are as well-informed as the students are about UTMB." The event is meant to introduce students and their families to UTMB and will feature a joint orientation session for students and family members, discussions about student services and several breakout sessions. UTMB was established in 1891 as the University of Texas Medical Department and has grown from one building, 23 students and 13 faculty members to a modern health science center. The 84-acre campus includes four schools, three institutes for advanced study, a major medical library, a network of hospitals and clinics that provide a full range of primary and specialized medical care and numerous research facilities. UTMB is a component of the University of Texas System.