STAR Awards celebrate service

Longevity, leadership, and teamwork were ample causes for celebration at the 2009 STAR Awards luncheon and ceremony hosted by and for members of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Feb. 19.

Jeanice Theriot, chair of the University Classified Staff Council; Dr. Larry Kaiser, president of UT Health Science Center at Houston; Kevin Dillon, executive vice president and chief operating and financial officer; and Eric Fernette, vice president and chief human resources officer, presided over the ceremony, each expressing their gratitude for the service, commitment, and talent of the individuals who were being honored at the annual awards luncheon.

Michael J. Jimenez Leadership in Action Award

Darla Brown, director of Communications at the UT Medical School, is this year’s recipient of the Michael J. Jimenez Leadership in Action Award. She was roundly nominated by her team for her supportive style, open-door policy, two-way communication, and “concern for her team, which always comes first,” Roy Prichard, fellow Communications teammate, said of his boss. “Everyone sees what Darla does for the team and because of the team. Everyone appreciates her.”

“This was an overwhelming, completely unexpected surprise. But I work with an awesome group that deserves the credit for everything we accomplish,” Brown said.

“One of the main criteria for this award was two-way internal communication in our school, something that had been lacking until Darla showed what value their group could bring,” said UT Medical School Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo. “She allowed us to hear and see what we couldn’t see before.”

This award honors the memory of the late Mike Jimenez, former vice president and chief human resources officer, and reflects the ethics of a man who made an indelible mark on the university in four short years.

“It’s amazing, really,” said his widow, Patti Jimenez, “how much I worried at first that people would forget him. He loved working here; he was so humbled by the people he got to work with. And, it turns out, he was as admired by them.”

“Many of us had the great privilege of working with Mike, who demonstrated compassion and commitment to excellence. He mentored others, and he led by example,” said Dillon, who gave out the awards, “and this award goes to someone who emulates these wonderful qualities of Mike’s.”

Dillon read several excerpts from team nomination letters for Brown, noting one letter in particular that stated, “I have worked with Darla before and now drive a hundred miles a day to work for her. Her leadership and friendship make the drive easy and make me look forward to arriving at work.”

STAR Team Award

Sabrina Midkiff, vice president and Chief Governmental Relations Officer, is the leader of the winning team of this year’s STAR Team Award.

“Frankly, I’m shocked to have them all in one room during a legislative session,” Dillon commented as he announced their award.

Other members of the team are Scott Barnett, Scott Forbes, Patricia Hendrix, and Pam Kennedy.

Hendrix, senior executive assistant for Governmental Relations, said that Midkiff is “the best boss I’ve ever worked for” and that all members of the team are treated as a team.

“We all watch out for each other, and we all get in there and do the job together,” Forbes, director of Government Relations, echoed.

STAR Team Awardees are self-nominated and chosen from university departments or teams that best meet the criteria set forth by the UT Counseling and WorkLife Services awards committee. As with the Jimenez award, there is a $5,000 prize for the team to use to enhance and advance its department.

The Office of Governmental Relations team is the university’s liaison to federal, state, and local government. The staff also educates Houston about the university and broader higher education healthcare initiatives, “and Dr. Kaiser gives some of his highest praise to Sabrina and her team for their tremendous efforts to get our story out across the state and nation,” Dillon said. These efforts included more than 200 tours, site visits, and official functions with legislators and elected officials just since the end of the last legislative session.

“It’s certainly been a tough 2008-09 Texas legislative session that’s ongoing, and Dr. Kaiser and I have spent a lot of time in Austin with Sabrina and her colleagues. We can tell you firsthand what a great job they do. They’ve been preparing the ground for us so that legislators and their staff can hear our message more clearly,” Dillon said, and added, “They really do exceptional work for all of us, while spending a lot of time away from their friends and family, and I think we really owe them our gratitude. Thanks for modeling teamwork and excellence in productivity and fun.”

STAR Awards for Longevity

This year’s longevity awards featured some of the pioneers of the health science center, including Dr. Herbert DuPont, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at the UT School of Public Health; Dr. Jack Waymire, professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy; and former Dean John Ribble, among others (listed below).

As he prepared to hand out the awards, Fernette noted the irony that he was the presiding “senior” person, though he had been here only four months. “So, I’m relatively new to the organization, but it is a privilege to stand in front of this room with the opportunity to call people up here for their awards,” he said.

Fernette lauded “the intellectual gifts” the awardees have given to the institution. “We see the buildings, but the reality is, without the contributions from all of you in this room over the past 35 years, this institution wouldn’t be what it is today.”

• 35-year STAR Award
• 30-year STAR Award
• 25-year STAR Award
• 20-year STAR Award
• 15-year STAR Award
• 10-year STAR Award
• 5-year STAR Award

The STAR Awards luncheon is hosted by the Office of Human Resources, and the two special awards, STAR Team awards and the Michael J. Jimenez awards, are selected by UT Counseling and WorkLife Services. The two cash prizes for these awards are administered by the President’s Office.

-K. Kaplan

President addresses Medical School at first Town Hall

Collaboration, the Legislature, and the present and future of the Medical School were all topics addressed by President Larry Kaiser during his first in a series of Town Hall meetings held at the Medical School Feb. 26.

The third-floor lecture hall was nearly full, and after introductory comments, the meeting turned into a true discussion, with President Kaiser fielding numerous questions from the audience.

Addressing the legislative session, President Kaiser said the mood in Austin has improved over the last few months. “Texas is one of six states in the country with a surplus, and people are interested in coming to Texas,” he said.

"Budget issues are affecting private as well as state institutions," he said, “but there is great opportunity in Texas despite the tough times."

Testifying before House and Senate committees and subcommittees, President Kaiser said his focus is on formula funding and the special-item requests from the Health Science Center.

Closer to home, President Kaiser spoke of the importance of the relationships with our clinical partners, Memorial Hermann and the Harris County Hospital District. “Much of our success is dependent upon these relationships,” he said.

Improving collaboration among the Health Science Center schools is both a short-term and long-term goal for President Kaiser. “We are establishing centers that reach across the school, such as the Center on Aging, and we are building closer relationships between the schools,” he stated.

As far as a vision for research priorities, President Kaiser advised, “We can’t be expert in everything, but we are defining areas of excellence, such as the neurosciences, cardiovascular, imaging, and informatics.”

-D. Brown

Resident duty-hour violations subject of Faculty Senate

Dr. Patricia Butler, associate dean for educational programs, outlined the problems and solutions to resident duty-hour violations at the February meeting of the Faculty Senate.

The problem was brought to light as the result of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) resident survey, an ACGME site visit, and an Office of Educational Programs’ survey of residents.

“The biggest issues that were found were residents not staying within the 80-hour workweek and residents working in excess of 30 continuous hours,” Butler said.

The complexity and increasing numbers of patients, non-patient care activities, continuity of care, and intimidation are all reasons cited for the resident violations.

“We need a culture shift,” Butler said, adding that the plan to curb these infractions includes the standardization of attending rounds, the recruitment of hospitalists to take on patient-care duties, various “float” models, and increasing the numbers of residents.

Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo said that 15-20 hospitalists will be recruited at Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center to take the load off of internal medicine, surgery, trauma, and orthopaedics, and to increase efficiencies.

On another topic, Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Jamie McCarthy said that the issue of transparency in faculty compensation still needs attention.

“We need more clear information from the department chairs about the distribution of faculty incentives,” he said. “Many of you may not have known that incentives were distributed in your departments.”

The Senate’s compensation committee will meet in March to review the process of the distribution of faculty incentives and make recommendations on improving the transparency of the process.

The Faculty Senate will meet next at 4:30 p.m., March 19 in MSB 2.103.

-D. Brown

Zambra appointed AVP revenue cycle management

Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo and Kevin Dillon, executive vice president, chief operating and financial officer, have announced that Jorge Zambra, director of management operations for the departments of pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology, has been promoted to the position of assistant vice president, revenue cycle management.

In this capacity, Zambra will be responsible for the overall management of the Medical School’s clinical faculty revenue cycle and all of its component parts.

“Our institutional success is closely linked to the efficiency and effectiveness of these revenue processes,” Dillon said.

In his new role, Zambra will lead the evaluation of the current state of the revenue cycle, develop and implement necessary changes, and establish and monitor performance metrics. He will work closely with the clinical departments’ chairs and directors of management operations, UT Physicians, UTHSC-H leadership, McKesson (the primary outsource billing and collections vendor), and others who play significant roles in these clinical revenue processes. He also will help to optimize the use of technology to automate workflows, reduce the cost of collections, and enhance revenue.

“I feel confident that Jorge and his team will bring positive changes in this important initiative. Our group practice will greatly benefit from this new structure in partnership with McKesson,” Dean Colasurdo said.

Zambra received his bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Chile and his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Houston. He has been with the Medical School for almost 25 years and has held positions of ever-greater responsibility in several Medical School clinical departments. He also has been actively involved in revenue cycle activities for his departments and across the entire practice plan.

UT Physicians offices expand, move

Hyperbaric Medicine, Wound Healing, and Lymphedema Management Services

Hyperbaric Medicine, Wound Healing, and Lymphedema Management Services are now offered at the UT Professional Building. The UT Physicians Hyperbaric Medicine, Wound Healing clinic has expanded to better serve UT patients.

Services include:
• Consultations for leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, lymphedema, and varicose veins with or without leg ulcers
• Treatment of symptomatic varicose veins with radiofrequency ablation
• Transcutaneous oximetry for non-invasive assessment of peripheral arterial disease
• Skin perfusion pressure for non-invasive assessment of peripheral arterial disease
• Ultrasonic debridement of wounds, Punch biopsy for non-healing wound assessment
• Coordination of home health nurse or physical therapist rendered wound treatment modalities
• Nurse-only bandage changes (following physician consultation) in clinic for patients who do not qualify for home health

For more information and appointments, call 832.325.7214 or the Nurse Line at 832.325.7286. Clinicians may direct inquiries to Dr. Latisha Smith, associate professor of internal medicine/hyperbarics.

Family Medicine

Family Medicine has moved to Suite 170 of the UT Professional Building. Please note that the clinic's phone number, 832.325.6500, remains the same. For more information, visit UT Family Medicine.

Otorhinolaryngology

Otorhinolaryngology has moved to Suite 2700 of the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza. Please note that the clinic's phone number has changed to 713.486.5000. For more information, visit UT Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery or The Department of Otorhinolaryngology.

UT Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery

UT Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery has moved to Suite 2850 of the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza. Please note that the clinic's phone number has changed to 713.486.5100. For more information, visit UT Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery.

Dean’s Lectures set for March 11, 25

Dr. Marshall Nirenberg, chief of the Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics of The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health, will visit the Medical School as part of the Dean’s Lectures 4 p.m., March 11 in MSB 3.001 to discuss the “Assembly of a Nervous System: The Initial Strategy.”

Nirenberg is best known for “breaking the genetic code” in 1961, an achievement which earned him the Nobel Prize. He later discovered the entire code for all 20 amino acids. A career National Institutes of Health researcher, Nirenberg’s work continues in the field of molecular genetics.

Dr. David Russell, the McDermott Distinguished Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, will also visit the Medical School this month. He will deliver the Dean’s Lecture “An Unexpected Link Between Cholesterol Metabolism and Learning” at 4 p.m., March 25 in MSB 3.001.

Russell’s research focuses on the metabolism of cholesterol, which is eliminated from the body by being converted to bile acids involving 15 enzymatic reactions. Prior to Russell’s discovery, none of the genes encoding the enzymes had been isolated. Russell identified the genes for six of the enzymes and determined that mutations in three of them cause fatal liver disease in children.

CSW annual awards ceremony, reception set for March 19

The UT Health Science Center at Houston will honor the 2009 winners of the Distinguished Professional Woman Award and the President’s Award for Mentoring Women for Faculty, A&P, and Classified Staff 5 – 7 p.m., Thursday, March 19, at the Institute for Molecular Medicine.

This year's Distinguished Professional Woman Award goes to Dr. Cheryl Perry, regional dean of the UT School of Public Health, Austin Regional Campus and the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living. Announcement of the other awardees will follow in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit the Committee on the Status of Women.

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PO Box 20708,
Houston, Texas 77225

713.500.4472