Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Master Clinical Teaching Award: Dr. Francisco Fuentes

Dr. Francisco Fuentes, professor of internal medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, is the recipient of the 2009 Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Master Clinical Teaching Award.

Established in 2001 and made possible by a gift from the DuPonts, the award recognizes and preserves the essence and quality of the master clinical teacher, reflecting the Medical School’s top priority of quality clinical medical education.

“I am very honored and humbled to receive the DuPont award and recognize the brilliance, devotion and inspiration of my teaching mentors, and especially Dr. Kirkendall and Dr. DuPont,” Fuentes said.

Fuentes is the director of the Cardiology Fellowship Program and holder of the Theodore & Maureen O’Driscoll-Levy Professorship in Cardiology Research. His free annual Preventive Cardiology Forum has benefited health professionals and the general public for nearly two decades.

A native of Spain, Fuentes received his medical degree from the University of Valencia. Fluent in multiple languages, he completed internship and residency training in both Spain and the United States, including a residency in internal medicine at Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey and fellowship training at Baylor College of Medicine.

Since joining the UT Medical School faculty in 1978, Fuentes has received the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award numerous times and has long been recognized by students and faculty as a physician role model for outstanding patient care, student teaching, and professional mentorship.

“I am grateful to The University of Texas, colleagues, and staff for allowing me the privilege to educate the young and aspiring future leaders in medicine for the last 30 years,” he said. “The young women and men that we train are our more important legacy. We pass to them the torch of medicine, science, and humanism with generosity of spirit, compassion, enthusiasm, and optimism.”

In 2000, he served as national president for the American Society for Preventive Cardiology — one of many professional organizations he actively supports and serves. His honors and awards include a long list of local, state, and national recognition, including the 2002 Gold Medal by Murcia Regional Government from the President of Murcia.

Previous recipients of the award are Cheves Smythe, M.D., 2008; Eugene Toy, M.D., 2007; John Sparks, M.D., 2006; Victor Lavis, M.D., 2005: Philip Orlander, M.D., 2004; Ian Butler, M.D., 2003; Patrick Brosnan, M.D., 2002; and Frank Arnett, M.D., 2001.

— Darla Brown, Office of Communications, Medical School

Higgins named chief of cardiology at LBJ

Dr. John Higgins, assistant professor of medicine, is now chief of cardiology at the Harris County Hospital District’s Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital.

“I’m delighted that Dr. Higgins has joined LBJ General Hospital as chief of cardiology. He intends to focus on improving cardiac quality core measures and patient satisfaction, while reducing the burden of cardiac disease in our patient population and bringing evidence-based practice to the hospital,” said Dr. Steve Brown, professor of medicine and chief of staff at LBJ General Hospital. “Additionally, he is collaborating with the Harris County Hospital District staff and Dr. Mike Bungo to implement cardiac CT imaging, an advanced modality that will be new to LBJ.”

Higgins’ goals include utilizing a new 64-slice cardiac CT (computed tomography) scanner and expanding the nuclear cardiology and echocardiography department. In the future, Higgins said he would also like to establish a cardiac catheterization lab at LBJ hospital.

“Dr. Higgins’ focus on improved cardiovascular patient care is unsurpassed,” said Dr. David McPherson, chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. “He will bring a new level of heart treatment to the patients coming into Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital.”

Higgins received his medical degree from the University of Queensland, Australia. He completed his residency at the University of Missouri-Columbia and his fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Higgins is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and internal medicine and received a master’s of philosophy from the University of Cambridge, England. He is also a clinical exercise specialist and certified personal trainer.

Before joining the Medical School in 2007, he was an instructor in the Department of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Higgins has authored or co-authored 22 papers and is the principal investigator of the Houston Early Age Risk Testing and Screening Study (HEARTS), a program to reduce sudden cardiac death in sixth-grade Houston school children.

In his spare time, Higgins is also an avid marathon runner. He has run in the Chevron Houston Marathon and the San Francisco Marathon, to name two.

— Melissa McDonald, Office of Institutional Advancement, Media Relations

Tung named 2008 Outstanding Physician Consultant

Dr. Poyee Pansy Tung, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine, has received the TIRR Memorial Hermann Active Medical Staff’s 2008 Outstanding Consultant Award.

Dr. Carol Bodenheimer, medical staff president, presented Tung with a plaque as a token of the Active Medical Staff’s appreciation of the consultant’s ongoing support and outstanding contributions to patient care at the group’s April meeting. Tung routinely provides cardiology consultations and interpretations for EKGs and Doppler studies.

Tung joined the Medical Staff in 2007 and joined the Medical School in 2006. She received her medical degree from the University of California at Los Angeles, School of Medicine. She completed her internship, residency program, and Level III echocardiography training at the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed her Clinical Cardiology Fellowship training at Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, Calif. She is board certified in internal medicine, electrocardiography, cardiovascular disease, and nuclear cardiology.

Tung’s clinical interests include non-invasive cardiac imaging, adult congenital heart disease, and preventive cardiology.

— Susan Stanley, TIRR Memorial Hermann

Estrera receives 2009 Distinguished Surgeon honors

Dr. Anthony Estrera, medical director of the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute-Texas Medical Center and associate professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, received Distinguished Surgeon honors from the Greater Houston chapter of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN).

AORN is the professional organization of perioperative registered nurses whose mission is to support registered nurses in achieving optimal outcomes for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures.

Each year AORN recognizes and honors three surgeons and an anesthesiologist in the greater Houston area who have made significant contributions in the areas of patient care and the health care industry.

“The honor is really a tribute to everyone I work with, including other physicians, nurses, and operating room staff members, and I was happy to accept it,” Estrera said. “The work environment at Memorial Hermann and the people I am privileged to work with every day allow me to do what I love, and for that I am very grateful.”

After graduating from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Estrera completed a surgical internship and residency training in general and cardiothoracic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.

— Caryn Gebhard, Internal Communications, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center

Pediatric ENT CME course set

The Medical School’s Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery is presenting a continuing medical education course focused on pediatric care next month.

Two of the department’s faculty members will be presenting. Dr. Amber Luong, assistant professor, will address “CT Imaging in Children: What are the data?” Dr. Soham Roy, associate professor, will present “Medical and Surgical management of Pediatric Rhinosinusitis.”

Continuing Medical Education credit is offered for the lectures, which will be held 8–10 a.m., Saturday, July 18, in MSB B.100.

To attend, please RSVP to Angelica Coronado.

Learning for life