UTMBPresident

I’m excited to announce a new opportunity for medical students in Galveston and Houston—expanding what it means to lead in the future of medicine. Students at @utmb_jssom and @UTHealthHouston can earn a MD/MBA dual degree from @UTexasMcCombs with just one additional year of training. The integrated curriculum equips students to deliver exceptional care while leading and transforming health care organizations. To learn more about the program, visit: utmb.us/ff6

I am thrilled to share that Dr. Brent Masel has received the NABIS Legends Award—one of the organization’s highest honors. A well-deserved recognition of a remarkable career. We are proud to have Dr. Masel at @utmbhealth, where he continues to champion brain injury research and leave a lasting impact. Read more: utmb.us/feq

On March 21, I’ll join leaders from research, clinical care, policy, and community organizations at the @UCLAHealth Brain Health Summit. I’ll be presenting “Bigger is Better: Texas Brain Economy Goes West”, exploring how brain capital development and cross-sector collaboration can strengthen resilience and advance brain health innovation. To find out more: utmb.us/fdm

Grateful for the opportunity to join our UTMB Student Government Association Executive Board and Senate for lunch today. Our conversation reinforced just how vital our students are in shaping and elevating UTMB’s values, championing our refreshed visual identity, and advancing new opportunities across our schools and throughout the Galveston community. Their commitment and perspective continue to inspire the work ahead.

Thank you to @HBJ_Jishnu and the @HOUBizJournal for meeting with me recently to learn more about @UTMBHealth. We discussed my vision for this exceptional organization, the future of brain health and the brain economy, and the importance of ensuring our research remains deeply connected to the communities we serve.

Congratulations to our cardiovascular (@utmbcardiology) imaging teams at @utmbhealth. Our program has earned the HeartFlow CT Quality Award from @HeartFlow, placing us in the top 12% of institutions worldwide for coronary CT imaging accuracy. Learn more about our coronary imaging services here: utmb.us/fca

This evening marked an exciting step forward for Galveston. Community leaders and residents came together for the Blue Zones Project event to learn how this initiative could help shape a healthier future for our city. We appreciated hearing from @BlueZones Dan Buettner Jr., Chief Development Officer and Lisle Wescott, SVP of Transformation along with a panel of leaders representing key pillars of our community. Their insight and commitment make this work even more meaningful. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation. The energy in the room made it clear that Galveston is ready for what’s ahead.

I’d like to invite you to join us tomorrow (March 5) as we launch the Blue Zones Project in Galveston. This initiative is focused on improving well-being, resilience, and economic vitality by shaping environments where healthier choices are easier. I’ll be joined by community leaders and @UTMBhealth faculty, students, and employees to share more about what this project could mean for Galveston. I hope you’ll join us. Learn more: utmb.us/fbq

At @utmbhealth, the patient experience is defined by the compassion and commitment of our people. I’m proud to recognize the teams who consistently go above and beyond in caring for our patients and communities. The Compassion in Practice Award — an evolution of our long-standing Always Award honors units that exemplify excellence through compassionate care. Each quarter, one inpatient and one ambulatory unit are recognized for demonstrating what it truly means to put patients first. Please join me in congratulating this quarter’s recipients: ⭐ Jennie Sealy 11B Neuro/Neurosurgery Team (Inpatient) ⭐ UHC Infectious Disease Team (Ambulatory) Thank you for the extraordinary care you provide each day. Your dedication reflects the very best of UTMB Health and strengthens the trust our communities place in us. Read more: utmb.us/fb3

Today at the ACHE 2026 Congress (@ACHEConnect), I led a discussion examining the Brain Economy and its growing impact on health care and our broader society as a whole. I focused on actionable frameworks and practical tools to strengthen workforce well-being, advance brain capital and power sustainable economic growth. The future of health care and economic competitiveness will depend on how well we invest in brain capital.

I’m proud to congratulate Dr. Gulshan Sharma on being named to @BeckersHR 2026 list of Top Hospital and Health System CMOs. This well‑deserved recognition reflects Dr. Sharma’s unwavering commitment to quality, patient safety and clinical excellence across our institution. His leadership continues to strengthen our mission and advance the health of the communities we serve. Please join me in celebrating this outstanding achievement and the impact Dr. Sharma makes every day. utmb.us/fax

Last week, @utsystem Board of Regents approved our agreement with @BlueZones. This initiative reflects our deep commitment to improving the health and well‑being of every community we serve. I invite you to join us on Thursday, March 5, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Levin Hall on the Galveston campus as we share more about this transformative effort and the opportunity it represents for our region. I hope to see many of you there as we continue building a healthier future together. For additional event details, please visit utmb.us/f9y

I look forward to joining a panel of impressive colleagues at this year’s ACHE Congress (@ACHEConnect) on Healthcare Leadership. Our panel focused on Healthcare Leadership in the Brain Economy will examine how health systems can foster essential “brain skills,” invest in workforce well‑being, and strengthen regional economic growth through brain‑capital development. Excited to join this important conversation on the future of health care.

A recent editorial authored by Dr. Hani Jneid (@docHJ), Director of the Sealy Heart & Vascular Institute at UTMB Health (@utmbcardiology), examined stroke prevention strategies during transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI). Dr. Jneid's analysis of cerebral embolic protection devices (CEPDs) offers important insight into how we evaluate emerging technologies and ensure that every intervention truly benefits our patients. His work reflects our commitment to evidence-based cardiovascular care and to advancing research that directly impacts the individuals and families we serve. At UTMB, our patients benefit not only from innovative procedures, but from physician-scientists like Dr. Jneid who are shaping the future of heart care. Click🔗 for more: utmb.us/f90

At UTMB, we are committed to advancing discoveries that improve lives today and shape a healthier future for generations to come. The new Moody Longevity Trial reflects that mission at its core — exploring whether an existing, FDA‑approved medication can slow biological aging and enhance quality of life for older adults. This groundbreaking work exemplifies our leadership in geroscience and our dedication to helping people live longer, stronger, and with greater vitality. I am deeply proud of our researchers and grateful for the Moody Endowment’s support as we open new doors in the science of healthy aging. Read more about this new trial at: utmb.us/f81

Today at our League City campus, we gathered for a town hall that brought together employees, leadership and staff around an exciting milestone for our future. Following action by the @utsystem Board of Regents yesterday, we are moving forward with a $300 million expansion of our League City hospital campus. This multi-phase expansion will enhance our ability to serve one of the fastest-growing communities in our region, with advancements in diagnostics and imaging, an expanded emergency care center, and additional clinical capacity to meet increasing demand. The excitement in the room was evident, reflected in thoughtful questions and a shared moment of celebration. Growth like this reflects our commitment to evolve alongside the communities we serve. We are investing in the future of health care in League City and across the Gulf Coast. utmb.us/f7r

Today marks a significant milestone for UTMB and the community we are proud to serve. This morning, the @utsystem Board of Regents approved an agreement between UTMB and @BlueZones, officially bringing the Blue Zones Project to Galveston. This approval reflects our longstanding commitment to advancing health and vitality in the communities we serve. The Blue Zones Project is a research-informed population health initiative designed to help communities improve well-being and support longer, healthier lives. With this action, UTMB will launch a multi-year initiative focused on meaningful, sustainable impact across Galveston. To read more about what this means for our community, visit: utmb.us/f7j