Doctor to speak on understanding, managing diabetes in senior citizens
The UTMB Sealy Center on Aging is hosting a conversation with Dr. Elena Volpi on “Strategies to Improve Eating Habits of Seniors with Diabetes.” The talk will address choosing foods for diabetic meals on a budget, learning healthy eating habits and understanding how diabetes medicine works.The event will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in the UTMB Sealy Center on Aging Learning Center, located in the UTMB Primary Care Pavilion, Suite 115 at 400 Harborside Drive, in Galveston. Seating is limited. Call 409-771-3044 for reservations.

SCI Café: Cocaine
The Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine, Institute for Translational Sciences and Mod Coffeehouse in downtown Galveston present the latest discussion of SCI Café — Where Science and Communities Interact. Ellie Hanley, executive director of the ADA Women’s Center; Kathryn A. Cunningham, director of the UTMB Center for Addiction Research; and Jai Rudra, assistant professor in the UTMB department of pharmacology and toxicology, will discuss “Cocaine addiction, vaccine development and treatment” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Mod Coffeehouse, 2126 Postoffice St., in Galveston.

New employee health care program
UTMB is now offering a new health care service, Employee Access 2-Care. The new program is designed to improve access to quality health care for UTMB employees. By offering accessible appointments at convenient times, UTMB hopes to promote a healthier work environment.

New book on breast health
UTMB mammographer Karen Seaman has seen many changes and advancements in technology and care. During that time, she journaled common cases she saw on a regular basis.Those cases were the inspiration for her book, “A Breast of the Situation.” Seaman offers advice based on her 33 years in mammography. “A Breast of the Situation” is available for purchase at karenkayseaman.com and Amazon.com.

Excellence in nursing
UTMB School of Nursing Dean Pamela G. Watson hosted the 2014 Excellence in Nursing awards luncheon, presented by the Good Samaritan Foundation, in recognition of outstanding nurses in a number of categories. During the last 60 years, the foundation has awarded more than $15 million to more than 15,000 nursing students in Texas.This is the fourth consecutive year that UTMB’s nursing professionals have been recognized as leaders in education and care. Many UTMB nurses were honored this year with bronze medal recognitions, while high honors went to Jamie Heffernan, Charles Machner and Linda Rounds.

New EAC member
Laura Leal Rosales joined the Employee Advisory Committee to fill a vacant position as an Academic Enterprise representative. She joined UTMB in August 2012 as the director of Sponsored Programs in Research Operations.The EAC helps to improve communications among UTMB staff. The council, which is sponsored and endorsed by the office of the president, works to promote a positive and collaborative work environment that is committed to assessing, prioritizing and communicating employee needs.

Inside UTMB is compiled by the communications department at the University of Texas Medical Branch.