2013 President’s Cabinet Awards

The 2013 award winners are, seated from left, Roxanne Radi, medical student; Rebecca L. Trout, executive director for community relations; Dr. Tuere Coulter, assistant professor, family medicine; Nancy Schultz, executive director of the Galveston Children’s Museum; Dr. Juliet McKee, assistant professor, family medicine; Julie Kutac, doctoral candidate, Institute for Medical Humanities; and Gisele A. Lombard, senior lung transplant coordinator. Standing, from left, Dr. Cheryl S. Watson, professor, department of biochemistry and molecular biology; Dr. Vicki Freeman, President’s Cabinet awards committee chair; Dr. Meredith Masel, program manager, Oliver Center; Ellen Adriance, applications system analyst; UTMB President, Dr. David L. Callender; Dr. William Mileski, chief, trauma surgery; David Gersztenkorn, medical student; Ann Masel, President’s Cabinet chair; and Dr. John Fraser, professor, department of preventive medicine and community health.

Centering Pregnancy Visits at Ball High School.Dr. Tuere Coulter and Dr. Juliet McKee
Department of Family Medicine

This program expands the present outreach program at Galveston’s Ball High School Teen Health Clinic for pregnant teenagers. It will provide emotional support and encourage participants to have routine prenatal care while also educating them about healthier lifestyles. Integrating the program into the existing maternity clinic will create an atmosphere of support, education and growth to help teens face the challenges of pregnancy while achieving their educational and life goals.

Food for Thought David Gersztenkorn and Roxanne Radi
School of Medicine Students

This program will establish semi-monthly interactive nutrition education and cooking classes at St. Vincent’s Clinic to teach health and diet principles to uninsured or economically disadvantaged citizens. Through practical strategies for weight loss and healthy living, classes will focus on cooking styles and economical ingredients to lower carbohydrates, calories, fat and sodium while still preparing tasty dishes.

Healing through Humanism: Community Conversations on Compassion Julie Kutac and Dr. Meredith Masel
Oliver Center for Patient Safety

This is a five-part film series for the UTMB and surrounding communities to examine how people find meaning in the face of suffering and illness. Following each viewing, UTMB faculty will guide discussions about compassion and understanding during life-altering illnesses.

Hometown Science 3D Web Outreach Ellen Adriance and Dr. Cheryl S. Watson
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Second Life is a web-based three-dimensional computer version of the world, with people represented as avatars. This program will employ Second Life technology and UTMB faculty to present topics online that promote the relevance of the university’s biomedical research, clinical care and educational missions to the Galveston and Clear Lake communities. Civic groups, local media and community college science classes will promote the program.

Moving from What's the Matter?  to What Matters Most to You? Dr. Meredith Masel
Oliver Center for Patient Safety

Shared-decision making enables patients and their providers to make health care decisions together, taking into account the best scientific evidence available and the patient’s values and preferences. To develop an infrastructure for shared-decision making at UTMB, this program will train advocates, create a library containing shared-decision making information and solicit community input to better align patients’ values and lifestyles with their health care.

Preventive Medicine:  Shumsky Therapeutic Pillows Gisele A. Lombard
Transplant Services

Hospital-acquired pneumonia is the second-most common infection originating in U.S. hospitals. The most effective therapies to prevent its occurrence are deep breathing and intentional coughing exercises. Through the program, the UTMB Transplant Council will provide organ-specific therapeutic pillows to post-operative transplant recipients to facilitate these exercises. Each pillow is designed for the respective shape of the transplanted organ and features an anatomical diagram for patient education.

Save a Life Tour:  A Program to Increase Drunk and Distracted Driving Awareness in Galveston County Young Drivers Dr. John Fraser and Dr. William Mileski
Surgery/Trauma Services

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in adolescent and young adult drivers. To lower the incidences of drunk and distracted driving, the Save a Life Tour will feature day-long programs at five local schools through high-impact demonstrations and video. Students also will participate in driving simulators that mimic the effects of alcoholic beverage consumption and/or texting while driving. Computer survey kiosks will record students’ knowledge and attitudes about impaired driving before and after the presentations.

When I Grow Up Rebecca L. Trout and Nancy Schultz
Health Policy and Legislative Affairs

This partnership with the newly created Galveston Children’s Museum will establish a “clinic” space at the museum that will include a special character mirror/body mirror interactive device and other teaching aids to demonstrate an internal view of the human body. The mirror will display visually striking interactive effects as children wave their arms or move their legs, learning in a fun-filled atmosphere..

 

For more information about the President's Cabinet or how to join, contact Marie Marczak at (409) 747-4876