After years of losing and regaining weight, Lynda Patrick turned to UTMB Health for help. Working with the weight management team, she underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2024 and has since lost more than 130 pounds, dramatically improving her health.

When an ordinary basketball play left 9-year-old Jonah with a hidden brain bleed, UTMB Health pediatric experts guided him from a frightening diagnosis to a full return to the sport he loves.

Following two major spinal fusion revision surgeries, 16-year-old Lilly Tucker spent six weeks at UTMB Health recovering from temporary partial paralysis. During her rehabilitation, visits from dogs in the pet therapy program provided comfort, eased anxiety, and motivated her to walk farther and faster during physical therapy.

Patients seeking pain treatment are increasingly asking about alternatives to opioids. Physicians at UTMB Health emphasize personalized care that targets the source of pain through procedures, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and psychological support.

Weight loss and weight maintenance are two different biological processes, according to UTMB endocrinologist Israa Ali, MD. While losing weight requires creating a calorie deficit, maintaining that loss requires overcoming the body’s natural responses, including a slower metabolism and increased hunger signals designed to restore lost weight.

Shawn Nishi, MD, has been appointed chief of the UTMB Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. A UTMB alumna and longtime faculty member, she aims to expand research, education, innovation, and access to specialized pulmonary care.

After Charles Meyer's wife died, his grief was compounded by the diagnosis of ampullary cancer. Working with Dr. Raj Vaghjiani, a surgical oncologist at UTMB Health, Meyer completed immunotherapy and prehabilitation before undergoing the Whipple procedure, a complex surgery to remove the tumor and reconnect the digestive system.

By redesigning how cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is managed and streamlining the clinical workflow, average scan times dropped by 35.1% over seven months — from 94.7 minutes down to 61.4 minutes at UTMB Health.

At UTMB Health, algorithms are used to advance patient care in high-demand specialties, including nephrology, endocrinology, infectious disease, and rheumatology, helping determine which patients should be prioritized. The UTMB ITS core innovation team codevelops and implements these projects.

Fireworks can cause serious burn injuries in seconds. The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) Blocker Burn Unit encourages simple safety steps and recommends attending professional displays to reduce risk.

UTMB is leading the next generation of agricultural biosecurity by combining artificial intelligence with laboratory science to detect biological threats faster, protect producers, safeguard the food supply, and strengthen national security.

Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD, president of The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and CEO of the UTMB Health System, has been selected as one of the Houston Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs in recognition of his leadership and strategic vision.

Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disease that affects women far more often than men, causing the skin and, in some cases, internal organs to harden as excess collagen builds up. During Scleroderma Awareness Month, a UTMB Health expert highlights the importance of early diagnosis, self-advocacy, and emerging treatments, including CAR-T therapy, which offer hope for improved outcomes.

The Patient Experience team at UTMB Health is honoring two teams with the Compassion in Practice Award, which celebrates one inpatient team and one ambulatory team whose efforts help shape positive experiences for patients and families across the health system.

Dr. Miguel Cabada recommends cruise travelers plan ahead with vaccines, insurance, medications, handwashing, and an awareness of health risks at each destination.

Men’s Health Month highlights the importance of prevention, yet many men still delay routine care, allowing silent conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity-related diseases to go undetected until serious complications arise.

At The University of Texas Medical Branch, a 24/7 Access Center and specialized maritime team coordinates global care for cruise ships and Antarctic stations, supporting providers with expert consults.

The high-impact summit will convene more than 600 senior executives, innovators, researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to explore one of the most significant opportunities of our time: building a thriving global brain economy.

Primary care physicians say regular checkups and age-appropriate screenings are essential at every stage of life, helping patients identify risks early and make informed decisions about their health. Alicia Monroe, MD, with the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at UTMB Health, said preventive care should evolve over time.

From advanced biocontainment care to regional training, UTMB is strengthening readiness to protect patients, healthcare workers, and communities from emerging infectious threats.

Choosing the right level of care — primary care, urgent care or the emergency room — can save time, improve outcomes, and reduce costs. Madhumita Banga, MD, stresses that having a primary care provider and staying current with preventive care can help catch issues early and guide patients to the appropriate care when problems arise.

Blaine Pogue suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a gym workout in Dickinson, and a rapid “chain of survival" — including bystander CPR, EMS response, and emergency care at UTMB Health — kept him alive after 34 minutes without a pulse. Despite low odds of survival, swift defibrillation, continuous resuscitation, and advanced hospital treatment restored his heartbeat, allowing him to recover.

Jules Meadows endured years of debilitating, unexplained menstrual pain beginning at age 8, facing repeated dismissal from doctors before finally being diagnosed with Stage 4 endometriosis in her early 20s. After surgery and ongoing treatment, her symptoms have significantly improved, and she now advocates for awareness and earlier diagnosis of the often-overlooked condition.

Hormone replacement therapy can be life-changing for women navigating menopause, but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. UTMB expert Dr. Truong Nguyen explains how personalized care, risk assessment, and evolving guidance are helping women make informed choices about HRT.

About 50 families returned to UTMB Health for the 20th annual Preemie Reunion Prom, celebrating the growth and resilience of children who once began life in the NICU under uncertain conditions. The emotional event reunited families with caregivers, highlighting lasting bonds and the life-changing impact of neonatal care.

A $4 million gift from the Sealy & Smith Foundation to UTMB is launching the ISLAND Promise, a program that covers tuition, housing, and living support for nursing students while creating a direct pathway into high-need roles at UTMB Health. In exchange for a two-year work commitment after graduation, the initiative aims to reduce financial barriers, expand access to nursing education and strengthen the long-term workforce pipeline.

Five nurses and one nursing student from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) have been recognized in the Houston Chronicle’s “Salute to Nurses,” an annual awards program that honors the contributions of nurses across the Greater Houston healthcare community.

On April 10, the gathering by the Tree of Life at Jennie Sealy Hospital drew not only casual onlookers, but people whose lives had been irrevocably changed. Each leaf on the Tree of Life is an engraved nameplate that represents the ultimate act of generosity: organ donation.

A neonatologist and a NICU transport nurse share a calling rooted in urgency, precision, and deep compassion, caring for the most fragile newborns while guiding families through moments of uncertainty, hope, and sometimes grief.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that can cause severe menstrual pain, pelvic discomfort, and fatigue, yet often goes undiagnosed for years. Learn the symptoms, causes, and treatment options to help improve quality of life.