Lefeber Winter Lecture Series on Aging
The 19th annual Lefeber Winter Lecture Series, presented by the Sealy Center on Aging on consecutive Tuesdays through March 4, continues tonight from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Levin Hall South Auditorium, located at 10th and Market streets. “Is HIV a model of accelerated aging?” will be presented by Dr. Kevin P. High, professor of medicine and translational chief in the section of infectious diseases and associate dean for clinical research at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Next week’s lecture will look at pathways to healthy aging. For more information, contact Kelley Prevou at kaprevou@utmb.edu or 409-747-1987.
Healthy health policy lunch
“Tackling health inequities: Field experiences of a social medicine practitioner” is on the menu for the next Healthy Health Policy lunch and lecture series. Dr. Rajiv Bhatia, a leader nationally in health impact assessment and social medical practitioner, will speak at noon on Feb. 19 in the Clinical Sciences Auditorium on campus. The series is sponsored by the Offices of the President and Health Policy and Legislative Affairs, and co-sponsored by the Center to Eliminate Health Disparities and the UTMB student chapters of the American Medical Association and the Texas Medical Association. For more information, contact Becky Trout at rltrout@utmb.edu or 409-747-2734.
Science academy
The UTMB Office of Educational Outreach/Science Education is offering the Saturday Biomedical Science Academy to students in grades four to six. The program offers hands-on activities designed to develop awareness for the “world of science” and show how creative, fun and applicable science can be. The spring program is for mainland students from Dickinson, Texas City, Hitchcock, Santa Fe and La Marque who are enrolled in private and public schools, as well as those who are home-schooled. Students outside the listed areas will be considered, if space is available. The free program will be from 9 a.m. to noon on April 12, April 26 and May 10. Students must commit to attend every session and class size is limited to 25 students. The deadline to register is Feb. 28. To apply, go to www.utmb.edu/oeo and click on “Student Programs.” For more information, contact Alicia C. Simmons at acsimmon@utmb.edu or 409-772-9119.
Stroke support group
A review of resources and equipment, along with physical, occupational and speech therapy, are the topic for this month’s UTMB stroke support group meeting. The group, for persons who have had a stroke, their spouses, caregivers and significant others, will meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 26 in a new location: the Sealy Center on Aging and Learning conference room in the Primary Care Pavilion, Entrance A, Room 1.612A, 400 Harborside Drive in Galveston. Free parking is available. For more information, call 409-772-1833 or go to www.utmb.edu/Rehab. This effort is supported by a President’s Cabinet Award.
New faculty
The School of Nursing welcomes new faculty members Frances Sonstein, an assistant professor in the master’s degree program, and Dora Kuntz, an assistant professor in the bachelor’s degree program.
New director
Deborah Mordecai has joined UTMB as the director of patient care and assistant chief nursing officer for Women’s, Infants’ and Children’s Services. She has more than 25 years of experience in nursing excellence with a focus in maternal and child health.