News from the Department of Surgery

Children and Guns don't mix! - KENS-5 Great Day SA: Learn how to protect your children from gun accidents. Ronald Stewart, MD, Chief of Trauma, Department of Surgery, and Trauma Medical Director of University Hospital, is interviewed regarding the tragic consequences of gun accidents in the home. Sunday June 21 2009, is National ASK day — Asking Saves Kids. Get involved right now, and learn more about this lifesaving message. | View the KENS-5 video of Dr. Stewart's interview (6-18-09)

Congratulations to George M. Layton, MD, South Texas Poison Center Specialist in Poison Information, whose abstract, 'Increasing Poison Center Case Reports of Male Enhancement Supplements in Texas' (Fernandez MC, Forrester MB) has been accepted by the Special Interest Group on Herbs & Dietary Supplements for presentation at the 2009 North American College of Clinical Toxicology Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX. More about South Texas Poison Center faculty and staff | South Texas Poison Center (6-16-09)

Is there a gun in your home? National Ask Day is Sunday June 21: Did you know that Nearly 1.7 million children in the U.S. under the age of 18 live in homes with firearms that are both loaded and unlocked. "They don't think it will happen to them. Car crashes, unintentional shootings, those are tragedies that involve other peoples' children," says Ronald M. Stewart, MD, Chief of Trauma and Interim Chair of the Department of Surgery.
View KENS-5 story | More about National ASK Day | More about Dr. Stewart | (6-16-09)

Congratulations to V. Seenu Reddy, MD, MBA, Cardiothoracic Surgery, who has been selected as one of the Advanced Clinical Education Skills (ACES) Top 20 Preceptors: ACES is the 2nd year medical student course that teaches the students the intricacies of the history and physical exam on patients with abnormalities. Award-winning preceptors were selected by the students for effort and dedication to teaching excellence. Students' comments were overwhelmingly positive, making choosing the Top 20 a difficult task — a compliment to the educators selected for the Top 20. | More about Dr. Reddy (6-16-09)

Society of International Humanitarian Surgeons Spring 2009 Newsletter: More news from our residency program graduate, Adam Kushner, MD, MPH, one of the founding members of the Society of International Humanitarian Surgeons (SIHS). SIHS is one of the fastest growing international groups concerned with saving lives in the developing world by improving surgical care. Read newsletter (pdf file) | Visit the SIHS website (6-10-09)

In the Summer 2009 Vanguard Newsletter (a supplement the HSC's Mission magazine): $25,000 grant from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation to Luis Angel, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Pulmonary Medicine, and Director of the UT Health Science Center lung transplantation program. The award is in support of the Barbara Melikan Lung Transplantation Research Fund. More about Dr. Angel | More about our heart and lung transplant program (6-3-09)

Researchers study trauma response using near-infrared rays: Texas researchers, including Department of Surgery Associate Professor Paula K. Shireman, MD, and General Surgery Resident Carlo Martinez, MD, MSCI, are using near-infrared light waves and a contrast agent to detect tiny leaks in rodents’ blood vessels, then track the blood as it pools in tissues. Vessel leaks and muscle damage can be measured, and can serve as markers of damage or muscle death. "In the IR-820 experiments, we are attempting to measure how much albumin leaves the vascular system and how robust the injured tissue’s capacity is to remove it," Dr. Shireman said. "We are looking to see if the vascular system is not leaky anymore and whether there is regeneration of muscle."
Read complete story in the HSC News | More about Dr. Shireman | More about Dr. Martinez (6-2-09)

Trauma centers want more of the Driver Responsibility Fund - Ronald Stewart, MD, Chief of Trauma, Interim Chair of the Department of Surgery and Medical Trauma Director of University Hospital, interviewed on KENS-5: Medical workers and hospital officials don’t want the legislature to use money collected in the Driver Responsibility Fund for trauma care to go toward balancing the state budget. The fund should be used for the care of seriously injured Texans. "It really is a fee on bad driving that pays for the consequences of bad driving," Stewart explained. "It’s dramatically increased the number of trauma centers and access to care in rural counties. And it’s increased access to care for the poor," Stewart said. Read KENS-5 story, view video | Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery | More about Dr. Stewart (5-21-09)

Outstanding Physician Award: Steve Wolf, MD, Vice Chair for Research for the Department of Surgery: More than 300 people filled the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio May 13 to honor individuals and organizations recognized as Health Care Heroes for 2009 by the San Antonio Business Journal. Dr. Steven Wolf was praised for his commitment to improving care for pediatric burn patients, for conducting research in tissue regeneration and encouraging students to improve the status quo. Read more in HSC News (5-19-09)

Congratulations to presenters at 2009 North American College of Clinical Toxicology: This annual conference provides an opportunity for physicians, pharmacists, nurses and scientists from around the world to participate in the sharing of information on a wide variety of toxicological issues. Hundreds of abstracts are submitted from researchers and poison centers around the world. Presenters / authors and abstract titles include:
• Cynthia L. Teter, PharmD; C. Lizette Villarreal, MA. 'The Impact of HIPAA on the Delivery of Poison Center Services'
• Ricardo Hernandez, MD; C. Lizette Villarreal, MA; Miguel C. Fernández, MD. 'Poison Center Data Identifies Increase in Energy Drink Consumption and Teens as Highest At-Risk Group'
• Miguel C. Fernández, MD; Alfredo Gonz·lez, RN. 'Ethiopian Mountain Viper Envenomation In South Texas'
• Darelle E. Hinson, RN; C. Lizette Villarreal, MA; Miguel C. Fernández, MD; Leslie M. DeHart, RN. 'The Impact of Nuisance Callers on Poison Center Services and Staff Efficacy'
• George M. Layton, MD; Miguel C. Fernández, MD; Mathias B. Forrester, BS. 'Increasing Poison Center Case Reports of Male Enhancement Supplements in Texas'
• Leslie M. DeHart, RN; Darelle E. Hinson, RN. 'Automation and the Hazard of Human Error Results in Unexpected Toxicity during Routine Blood Donation'
More about the South Texas Poison Center (5-19-09)

Cellular Healing: Steve Wolf, MD, Vice Chairman for Research, interviewed by Newsweek magazine - "Regenerative medicine experts are helping wounded vets regrow lost muscle tissue. Will fingers and limbs be next? In classical mythology, Prometheus was chained to a rock, where a vulture pecked out his liver every day. It would have been nothing short of a catastrophe, but, this being mythology, the organ grew back every night. In fact, liver tissue actually will regenerate, if less than half the organ is removed. (That's why transplants are possible from living donors.)" Article by Anne Underwood, Newsweek Web Exclusive, May 6, 2009 | Newsweek Health page, related articles | More about Dr. Wolf (5-12-09)

Thelma Hurd, MD, Surgical Oncology, recently presented at two national conferences:
'Breast Cancer in Hispanic Women in Texas: Where to from Here?', April 2009, Disparities in Cancer Care Symposium held during the 19th Annual meeting of the Society of Black Academic Surgeons, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
'Determinants of Cancer Screening Practices in an Urban Mexican Community,' April 2009, at the 100th American Association of Cancer Research in Denver, CO. This work was ranked among the top 3-4% of papers accepted for poster presentation and received the Highly Rated distinction. This distinction is shared by coauthors Dr. Thankum Sunil (UTSA), Dr. Virginia Mika (UHS), Dr. Frank Moore (UTSPH San Antonio Extension) and Dr. Larry Morningstar (UTHSCSA). (5-8-09)

On the occason of the UT Medical School at San Antonio's 40th Anniversary, the Department of Surgery is honored to recognize our founding faculty members: In 1965, J.B. Aust, MD, MS, PhD, was asked to be the first Chairman of the brand new Department of Surgery. On his acceptance, he brought with him six other surgeons from the University of Minnesota — Drs. Dave Root, Waid Rogers, Arthur McFee, Tony Cruz, Carlos Pestana, and Jim Story. Click here to view a Flash presentation about the history of the Department of Surgery and the School of Medicine. (5-5-09)

Congratulations and thank you to Wayne H. Schwesinger, MD, Professor and Chief of Endoscopy, and Kenneth R. Sirinek, MD, PhD, Professor and Chief, Division of General and Laparoendoscopic Surgery: In July 1974, Dr. Schwesinger began his career with the School of Medicine, and Dr. Sirinek joined our faculty in May 1979. The Department is grateful for their continued academic and clinical excellent, and for their dedication to the training of tomorrow's surgeons. More about Dr. Schwesinger | More about Dr. Sirinek | Division of General and Laparoendoscopic Surgery (5-4-09) ,p> Congratulations to Miguel Fernández, MD, Associate Professor and Medical Director of the South Texas Poison Center, who has been appointed as the National Hispanic Medical Association representative to a two-year term on the Governing Council of the Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC) of the American Medical Association (AMA). The AMA-MAC provides a national forum for advocacy on minority health issues and professional concerns of minority physicians and medical students. More about the AMA-MAC | More about Dr. Fernández (4-27-09)

With help from valiant volunteers, Steven Wolf, MD, Vice Chairman for Research, is proving that with a little help from 'pixie dust,' limbs and lives might be saved: More than 1200 returning warriors had injuries resulting in amputations, and statistics show that more than half of all limb amputations each year in the U.S. are caused by diabetes and its complications. Dr. Wolf is working with several high-profile U.S. researchers in the field of tissue regeneration, using a substance derived from pig bladders that has the potential to regrow human tissue. Read Spring 2009 MISSION article (4-23-09)

Miguel Fernández, MD, Medical Director of the South Texas Poison Center, interviewed by KWEX-TV for A Su Salud on the subject of Poisons in the home: We all have many common items in our homes that we don't think of as poisons. Dr. Fernández discussed how families can identify some of these common household poisons (cosmetics, charcoal, soaps, plants, etc.) and how to protect their children from ingesting these items. South Texas Poison Center website | More about Dr. Fernández (4-23-09)

Steven Wolf, MD, receives San Antonio Business Journal's Health Care Heroes Outstanding Physician Award: Dr. Wolf, Vice Chairman for Research, Professor of Surgery, Betty and Bob Kelso Distinguished Chair in Burn and Trauma Surgery, Chief of Clinical Research at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research, and Director, University Hospital Pediatric Burn Program, was awarded San Antonio Business Journal's Outstanding Physician award on April 10, 2009. Dr. Wolf was one of six HSC faculty members, including interim president William L. Henrich, MD, who received Health Care Heroes awards. Inside UTHSCSA | HSC News | More about Dr. Wolf (4-21-09)

Miguel Fernández, MD, Medical Director of the South Texas Poison Center, spoke on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Poison Control Program (Health Services Administration) at the 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Pharmacists Association in San Antonio. The topic of Dr. Fernández's was 'Improving Patient Safety: Success Stories of the Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative and the Poison Centers Role in Patient Safety.' (4-14-09)

Howard Wang, MD, Interim Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and 2008 National Endowment Grant Award Winner, interviewed by Plastic Surgery News - Exploring the promise of stem cells for reconstruction: With his research team (David Sahar, MD, and Stacy Stephenson, MD, Plastic Surgery Residents), Dr. Wang is investigating neovascularization of bony constructs using adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs). The goal is to generate tissue in vitro from a donor site and, ultimately, be able to implant this bony construct back into the patient for reconstruction. Ultimately, Dr. Wang hopes that this research will lead to new reconstruction options for patients. Read article | More about Dr. Wang | More about Drs. Sahar and Stephenson (4-8-09)

Ronald M. Stewart, MD, Surgery Interim Chairman (photo right), and Kent Van Sickle, MD, Assistant Professor, General and Laparoendoscopic Surgery, visit local schools on National Doctors' Day: On March 30, 2009, Dr. Stewart and Dr. Van Sickle spoke to future doctors Southside High School and Stevens High School, each telling their personal story of how and why they became physicians. Students received a 'FUTURE DOCTOR' t-shirt to mark the experience. Read more in the April 2009 SOM News | HSC News, 07 April 2009 (4-6-09)

Miguel Fernández, MD, Medical Director of the South Texas Poison Center, interviewed about Texas Legislature House Bill 23, regarding meth lab disclosure: This bill would add a meth lab disclosure requirement to leases. "We have a saying in toxicology that there is nothing that is not a poison," Dr. Fernández said. "It's the dose that makes the poison. And this really is pertinent to this scenario." HB 23 adds to current law regarding disclosures to homebuyers, with a further requirement for landlords to inform renters before a lease is signed that the property had been used as a methamphetamine lab. Unlike asbestos or lead contamination in a home, the effects of methamphetamine contamination may vary widely. Read story in Express-News | More about Dr. Fernández (4-3-09)

Soldiers of fortitude - HSC Mission Magazine, Spring 2009: With the help of a few brave wounded warriors, Steve Wolf, MD, Vice Chairman for Research, Department of Surgery, is helping to put the pieces back together for those who have lost limbs, whether as a result of war or disease. Through regenerative medicine research and the development of an extracellular matrix, Dr. Wolf and his associates here, at BAMC, and at other institutions are helping the wounded to re-grow missing limbs. More about Dr. Wolf (3-26-09)

Economic stress has effect on heart and overall health: Cardiothoracic surgeons V. Seenu Reddy, MD, MBA, and Daniel T. DeArmond, MD, are interviewed by the San Antonio Express-News regarding the impact of a depressed economy on the health and healthcare of South Texas pulmonary and cardiac patients. Both the intensity of stress and the effect of stress on our bodies are potentially harmful for some post-surgical patients. Read Express-News story | More about Dr. Reddy | More about Dr. DeArmond | Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (3-19-09)

Congratulations to South Texas Poison Center Assistant Director Lizette Villarreal, and Director, Miguel Fernández, MD, on their successful submission for presentation of two abstracts: 'Addressing health care disparities in delivering poison center services to Spanish speakers in Texas,' has been accepted for poster presentation to the 3rd Annual Health Disparities Conference in New Orleans, LA, March 2009. Their abstract 'Regional poison center hourly call-taker staffing and call volume' has been accepted for poster presentation at the 29th International Congress of the European Association of Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicologists in Stockholm, Sweden, in May 2009. More about Lizette Villarreal | More about Dr. Fernandez | South Texas Poison Center (3-12-09)

$25,000 awarded to Renata Bastos, MD, Assistant Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery: Dr. Bastos has been awarded a South Texas Technology Management grant for her proposal, 'Inflatable Aortic Shunt.' Her award will support a multi-institutional collaborative project and will fund design, construction and testing of a prototype shunt for use in aortic surgery. Read HSC News story | More about Dr. Bastos (2-25-09)

Congratulations to Basil A. Pruitt, Jr., MD, Trauma, who has been selected to hold the Dr. Ferdinand O. Herff Chair in Surgery. Dr. Pruitt is an internationally recognized trauma surgeon, with extensive specialized research and experience in burn injuries. More about Dr. Pruitt | Learn more about the Herff family - digital book - 'The Doctors Herff: A Three-Generation Memoir' (2-25-08)

Minimally invasive heart surgery reaping maximum benefits: With traditional open-heart surgery, the sternum is split and a bypass machine is used while the cardiothoracic surgeon operates on the stopped heart. Minimally invasive heart surgery is performed through small incisions, typically between the patient's ribs. V. Seenu Reddy, MD, MBA, Cardiothoracic Surgery, recently was interviewed by MySA.com regarding the techniques and benefits of minimally invasive heart surgery. Read complete story on MySA.com | SA Express News Video | More about Dr. Reddy | Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (2-23-09)

Vascular Surgery begins specialty clinical services at UT Medicine Westover Hills: Beginning in March, the Division of Vascular Surgery will begin providing clinical services at our new facility in Westover Hills. Dr. Matthew Sideman, Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery, will see patients on Wednesday mornings. Please call 567-5715 for appointments, referrals, or for additional information. More about Dr. Sideman | Division of Vascular Surgery (2-19-09)

New heart surgery promises shorter hospital stay: Seenu V. Reddy, MD, MBA, performs first-time minimally invasive heart surgery at Christus Santa Rosa. "This is a relatively newer technique," said Dr. Reddy. Instead of opening the patient's chest, a small incision is made in the groin. Wires and catheters are inserted through the incision, and will be used to insert a stent. Because this procedure is significantly less invasive than traditional heart surgery, it is especially useful for older patients who might not be in the best of health. Read story on WOAI | View WOAI Video | More about Dr. Reddy | Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (2-10-09)

Glenn A. Halff, MD, appointed Acting Dean of the School of Medicine: Dr. Halff is currently a Professor of Surgery, Director of the Transplant Center, and Chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery. As Director of the Transplant Center, Dr. Halff leads a team of dedicated and talented physicians, nurses and staff. Under his leadership, the liver transplant team has grown to the largest in the nation. He has also served as Interim Chair of the Department of Surgery, and is highly respected by the School, our faculty, and our clinical partners, and will be an effective leader for the School of Medicine. Read HSC News article (1-21-09)

Jeffrey McNeil, MD, USAF, Cardiothoracic Surgery, researching synthetic blood products: In an effort to improve surgical outcomes, the Air Force Surgeon General, Wilford Hall Medical Center, and the UT Health Science Center San Antonio are collaborating in an ongoing research project at the Health Science Center's Research Imaging Center. Their research is testing whether a synthetic oxygen-saturated blood product can help the brain and other organs during major heart surgery, possibly providing a protective boost for patients who may be at risk for stroke or other internal injury. Read Express-News article | More about Dr. McNeil (1-15-09)

The Department of Surgery is deeply saddened to announce the death of Michael Sanchez, MD, Interim Chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine, who died Sunday January 11, 2009, when struck by a motor vehicle while jogging. Dr. Sanchez joined our Emergency Medicine Faculty in 2006, and was selected as interim chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine in August 2008. In that role, Dr. Sanchez was a tireless leader and a dynamic force engaged in revitalizing the University Hospital Emergency Center and the UT Health Science Center's Division of Emergency Medicine. Mike was a beloved figure, a passionate worker, a great clinician and a wonderful teacher. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. A memorial service was held in San Antonio on Wednesday, January, 14, 2009. Funeral and burial services were held on January 15, 2009, in New Mexico. Read more | University Health System press release (1-12-09)

William L. Henrich appointed Interim President of UT Health Science Center San Antonio: The UT System has announced the appointment of William L. Henrich, Dean of the School of Medicine, as Interim President of UTHSCSA. Henrich will serve as interim president while the search is underway for a permanent successor to Francisco G. Cigarroa, MD, who has been named Chancellor of the UT System. Dr. Henrich also serves as vice president for medical affairs for the School of Medicine. | Read UT System Announcement (1-12-09)

Congratulations to Francisco Cigarroa, MD, UT Health Science Center President and Professor, Transplant Surgery, on his appointment as Chancellor of the University of Texas System. A member of the prestigious Institute of Medicine, Cigarroa is a recognized pediatric transplant surgeon and researcher. He joined the health science center faculty in 1995, where prior to his appointment as president he was director of pediatric surgery and director of abdominal transplant surgery. He serves on the medical staffs at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital and University Hospital, among others. Read UT System News Release (1-9-09)

Congratulations to Kent Van Sickle, MD, General Surgery, director of the Johnson Center for Surgical Innovation, who has been selected as the President-Elect of the statewide Texas Association of Surgical Skills Laboratories (TASSL). As one of the founding members of TASSL, Dr. Van Sickle is strongly supportive of their mission to enhance surgical education and simulation-based training through collaboration and research. Learn more about TASSL | More about Dr. Van Sickle | Johnson Center for Surgical Innovation (1-09-09)

Congratulations to Surgery Administrator, Michelle Price, PhD, who has been selected as one of San Antonio Business Journal's '40 Under 40 Rising Stars' for 2008. This award honors young people in San Antonio who are making a difference in the business world and the community.
Read story in San Antonio Business Journal | More about Dr. Price (12-09-08)

Congratulations to Luis Angel, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Pulmonary Medicine on his award of $25,000 for lung transplant research from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Menlo Park, California, for the Barbara Melikan Lung Transplantation Research Fund. More about Dr. Angel (12-8-08)

Congratulations to V. Seenu Reddy, MD, MBA, FACS, Cardiothoracic Surgery, who has been awarded a $40,000 University Research Council grant for his ongoing research project, 'IL-18 expression in human cardiovascular tissue and its role in left ventricular hypertrophy.' Dr. Reddy and his research team have previously demonstrated in a mouse model that IL18 stimulates cardiomyocytes in a manner that is consistent with cellular hypertrophy, and that IL-18 is highly up-regulated in heart tissue biopsies of patients with pressure overload, simultaneously with increased accumulation of collagen. If IL-18 could be identified as an important factor in the hypertrophic changes that occur in patients with aortic stenosis, then pharmacological interventions could be sought, including cases where there is too little space for valve replacement. More about Dr. Reddy (12-4-08)

Congratulations to Daniel T. DeArmond, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgery, who has been awarded a $40k University Research Council grant for his ongoing research project, 'Differentiating between organ rejection and infection in a rat model of lung transplantation using PET scanning.' Treatment of organ rejection and infection require very different therapeutic paths - infection is treated by increasing host immune response to the infectious agents, and organ rejection is treated with immunosuppressants. Determining whether the illness is due to infection or organ rejection will allow physicians to be able to provide timely and appropriate treatment for their critically ill transplant patients. More about Dr. DeArmond (12-3-08)

Two year old Chinese boy alive thanks to new San Antonio charity: Pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons repair hole in child's heart - "He had a very formidable defect," says John Calhoon, MD, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery. "There was a blockage of blood flow to his lungs and a hole in his heart." The surgery was done last week, and now, Jian is back up and playing like a normal child. More about Dr. Calhoon | Read story on WOAI.com | More about HeartGift San Antonio (11-20-08)

Congratulations to Surgery's TopDocs, listed in the November 2008 Scene in SA Magazine: This year's Top Doctors edition of Scene in SA Monthly includes Drs. Luis Angel, John Calhoon, AJ Carpenter, Barry Cofer, Deborah L. Mueller, Scott Johnson, Ed Sako, Wayne Schwesinger, Kenneth R. Sirinek, Boulos Toursarkissian, Peter Wang. Read more (11-14-08)

Use of robotic surgery expanded to early-stage lung cancer: In mid-October, Daniel DeArmond, M.D., assistant professor of surgery, removed the lobe of a patient’s lung by making small incisions in the chest and inserting miniature instruments that he maneuvered remotely, using handles and pedals from a console six feet away. Read HSC News article | More about Dr. DeArmond | Learn more about the da Vinci® system | Physician Referrals: 210-358-4579 (11-4-0)

UT Medicine opens San Antonio Westover Hills Clinic: Our newest clinic opened Oct 20 in the rapidly-growing Westover Hills area of San Antonio. Specialty areas available will include vascular and general surgery, as well as cardiology, pulmonary medicine, gastroenterology, and family medicine. The clinic is located on Highway 151 between Wiseman and Westover Hills Boulevard. Read HSC News article (10-29-08)

Dan DeArmond, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgery, explains precision robotic lung cancer surgery options: Patients whose lung cancer has been caught very early now have a minimally invasive surgical option at Christus Santa Rosa Northwest — da Vinci® robotic surgery. Using the da Vinci robotic system, Dr. DeArmond is able to perform lung tissue resections with minimal incisions, greatly reducing the patient's recovery and in-patient days. "If this tool can help us to move that frontier forward, then it's an advantage to patients," says Dr. DeArmond. This surgery is not for all lung cancer patients, but for those whose disease has been caught soon enough, long-term survival rates are a very encouraging 80%. More about Dr. DeArmond | Learn more about the da Vinci® system | Physician Referrals: 210-358-4579 (10-16-08)

Congratulations to Michael Sanchez, MD, Interim Chief of Emergency Medicine, and his divisional faculty and staff, who have successfully recruited two dynamic physicians: Cristina Salmon, MD, will join our faculty as an assistant professor on December 1, 2008. Claire E. Escamilla, MD, FACEP, will also join our faculty as an assistant professor on December 1, 2008. Please visit our New Faculty and Staff welcome page for more information on our new faculty. (10-07-08)

Congratulations to Thelma C. Hurd, MD, Associate Professor and Director, Breast Surgery Program, who has recently been awarded two research grants. The first, from the National Cancer Institute (August 2008-2010, $369,994) is for her project titled 'Improved Cancer Screening: Life Skills Training in South Texas Hispanic Communities'. This project will be studying the effect of life skills training on breast and cervical cancer screening health behaviors among Mexican women in Laredo, Eagle Pass and Corpus Christi. The second grant has been awarded by the National Institutes of Health (May 2008-May 2013, $26,332,750). Dr. Hurd serves as co-investigator with the Community Engagement Core for the project titled 'Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science: A Partnership to Improve Health (U54),' implementing a Community Outreach, Participation, and Engagement (COPE) program to promote community-academic research partnerships in South Texas. More about Dr. Hurd (10-3-08)

Congratulations to Howard T. Wang, MD, Interim Chief, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, who has been awarded a $49,911 grant by the National Endowment for Plastic Surgery and the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation for Dr. Wang's research project, "Neovascularization of bony construct using adipose tissue-derived stem cells". The National Endowment was established to fund meritorious projects in the field of plastic surgery, focusing on issues of immediate need and great promise. More about Dr. Wang (10-1-08)

V. Seenu Reddy, MD, MBA, Cardiothoracic Surgery, uses laser surgery to relieve otherwise untreatable chest pain: Many patients with chronic, life-limiting chest pain will be able to benefit from a procedure called sole therapy transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR). In San Antonio, the procedure is available only at University Hospital. Dr. Reddy is director of thoracic aortic surgery for the UT Health Science Center San Antonio Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Read more | More about Dr. Reddy
View animation video demonstrating the TMR procedure (video will open in a new browser window) | Animation video graciously provided by Cardiogenesis (9-30-08)

Kenneth R. Sirinek, MD, PhD, Chief of General and Laparoendoscopic Surgery, is very pleased to announce the successful recruitment of four strong academic general surgeons: Michelle K. Savu, MD, FACS, bariatric surgery; Alfredo A. Santillan,, MD, MPH, surgical oncology; S. Sameer Mohiuddin, DO, endocrine surgery; and Alicia Logue, MD, currently a fellow in our minimally invasive surgery program. Please visit our New Faculty and Staff welcome page for more information on our new faculty. (9-26-08)

Boulos Toursarkissian, MD, Chief of Vascular Surgery, and the Department of Surgery Chair's Office are extremely pleased to announce the recruitment of two new faculty members for vascular surgery: Matthew J. Sideman, MD, and Georges E. Al-Khoury, MD. Please visit our New Faculty and Staff welcome page to learn more about our new faculty. (9-26-08)

Friday, 21 Nov 2008 - Shattered Dreams 10th Anniversary Reunion: To celebrate the program;s 10 year anniversary, the Texas Statewide Shattered Dreams Coalition would like past student participants, teachers, program coordinators, planning team members, and original program collaborators to attend a reunion celebration on Friday, November 21, 2008 at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Auditorium. More information (9-24-08)

News archive | Top of page