Fire extinguisher know-how saves MSB office

Friday, June 1 started off like any other morning for Gary Dommell, who arrived to work early that morning at the Medical School.

“I was sitting at my desk when the fire alarm came on at 6:40 a.m. When I called the UT guard’s desk, he told me there was a lady who smelled smoke outside her room. I met her and the security guard at the room on the third floor,” he recalled.

Dommell, who is with maintenance in facilities, is also an area safety liaison – he was quick to react to the situation.

“We felt the door to make sure it wasn’t hot before opening it. I saw the fire on the floor inside, and went to get the extinguisher and put it out,” he explained.

The cause of the fire was an oscillating fan that had been left on overnight.

“Had the office completely burned up, we would have experienced $100,000 in physical losses – not to mention the invaluable research losses. We are thankful to Gary for operating the extinguisher the way he was trained,” said Dr. Bob Emery, assistant vice president of safety, health, environmental and risk management, who presented Dommell with a $40 gift certificate to the UT Bookstore.

“I’ve been here 19 years, and I respond to everything from leaks to any emergencies that come up – it’s just part of my job. We all clicked and did what we had to do,” Dommell said.


-D. Brown

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Bungo steps down from vice dean role

Interim Dean Jerry Wolinsky announced that Dr. Michael Bungo, vice dean for clinical affairs, has decided to step down from this role to return to his first love: teaching and clinical care in cardiology. He will return full time to his position of professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology.

Then Dean Max Buja recruited Bungo in 2002 to serve as chief of staff of LBJ General Hospital. Former Dean Stanley Schultz expanded his role in medical administration in the Medical School in 2006.

“Dr. Bungo has served the school with insight and commitment. I will continue to seek his counsel as he pursues his interests in cardiology and aerospace medicine,” Wolinsky said.

One of Bungo’s main projects and responsibilities was medical billing compliance. Dr. Brent King, interim chief operating officer, remains the Designated Responsible Party for health care billing compliance for the institution, which includes coordination of compliance activities at the Medical School


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New Mental Health Clinic in the UT Professional Building

Faculty physicians of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences now offer diagnostic, psychotherapeutic, and medication management services for children, adolescents, and adults experiencing mental health disorders in new clinic space at the UT Professional Building (UTPB), 6410 Fannin St., Suite 1520.

Clinical services provided:

• Patient assessment within 48 hours of referral
• Individual psychotherapy
• Group therapy
• Psychological testing
• Medication management
• Appropriate referrals, if required
  

Dr. Pedro Ruiz, professor of psychiatry and vice chair for clinical affairs, provides oversight of the clinical operation of the mental health services at the Mental Sciences Institute (MSI) and the UTPB. Ruiz has extensive experience in clinical psychiatry and is the past president (2006-07) of the American Psychiatric Association.

Insurance coverage or full payment is required at the time of service. If insurance coverage is not provided, patients will receive receipts so they may file the paperwork to apply for out-of-network benefits with their insurance providers.

For appointment information, call the UTPB clinic, 713.500.5880, or visit http://med.uth.tmc.edu/departments/psychiatry/.


-P. Lewis

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