UTMB Provost's Office

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice reminds us of the true cost of freedom and the enduring strength of their commitment to something greater than themselves. At @utmbhealth, we are humbled by their courage and forever grateful for their legacy.

The UTMB community is embracing wellness in exciting new ways — with the Academic Enterprise Office of Wellness leading the charge. Director Julie Griffith is working to create a culture of wellness that benefits all. Read more in this UTMB News spotlight: utmb.us/fxc

Congrats, Dr. Brandie D. Taylor, Assistant Professor of Research, Department of Ob/Gyn, @utmb_jssom. Her @utsystem Rising STARs award supports the UTMB Pregnancy Biobank, a critical resource that will help address the national crisis of maternal morbidity and mortality.

We join our @utmb_spph in celebrating a recent accolade for Dr. Cara Pennel! She has received the 2026 F. Marion Bishop Educator Award from @APTRupdate. Dr. Pennel is Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, and Associate Professor of @UTMBPopHealth. Congratulations!

Congratulations to the @utmbgsbs and @utmb_spph Class of 2026! Graduates of both schools make an impact helping diagnose, treat, and prevent disease; advancing understanding of complex health challenges; and improving quality of life and longevity. We are proud of you all!

Congratulations to Dr. Heather Stevenson-Lerner @DrHSLovesLiver on being named Director of the John Sealy Diagnostic Center! Her leadership, scientific expertise, and focus on innovation will further strengthen the Diagnostic Center’s impact. Read more: utmb.us/fvp

Researchers @utmbhealth have identified a key enzyme that helps protect chromosomes during DNA replication, an essential process that keeps our cells healthy and functioning properly. This discovery could inform how certain cancer drugs are developed. 🔗 utmb.us/fwc

.@utmb_jssom has announced Dr. Harsh Thaker as Chair of the Department of Pathology. Dr. Thaker, interim chair since July 2025, is a distinguished physician-scientist and academic leader with an extensive record of achievement. Read more: utmb.us/fvp Congratulations!

Today! We will celebrate our @utmbgsbs and @utmb_spph Class of 2026! We look forward to a wonderful celebration. Friday, May 15, 2 p.m. Levin Hall Auditorium, Galveston Campus Info for grads & guests, and livestream: GSBS: utmb.us/dwx SPPH: utmb.us/8ow

Congrats to our UTMB faculty recipients of @utsystem STARs Awards — including Dr. Aviva Aiden of @UtmbPediatrics Division of Neonatology and @bmb_utmb! Her dynamic research program, which centers on genome-scale methods, bridges basic and translational science.

We welcomed 100 future nurses to the SON! Our White Coat Ceremony marks the start of a journey rooted in compassion, resilience and purpose. We cannot wait to see the impact these students will make in healthcare. Photos to come! 🎥 Media Production: UTMB Media Production

The inaugural UTMB Research Summit, held last week, showcased innovative research from all areas of our institution. We are very proud to congratulate the top eight poster winners and the "Best of Day" awardee. Read about them: utmb.us/fvo

Yesterday we welcomed a new cohort of future nurse leaders! @utmbson held its Summer White Coat Ceremony, a rite of passage that welcomes students to healthcare practice and elevates the value of humanism as the core of healthcare. Congrats to all our new nursing students!

Congrats to our UTMB faculty recipients of @utsystem STARs Awards — including Dr. Vibhuti Gupta of @utmb_biostatds @utmb_spph. Through his DIVA-AI Lab, he integrates multimodal and multiscale biomedical data with the goal to build better decision-support tools. Well-deserved!

The work we do at UTMB – teaching, mentoring, caring, leading – asks something profound of us every day. This Mental Health Month, turn that care inward and have "More Good Days, Together" with the AE Office of Wellness. Learn about this month's events: utmb.us/frg

During National Nurses Week, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is announcing a $4 million gift from the Sealy & Smith Foundation to launch the ISLAND (Integrating Student Living to Advance Nursing Development) Promise. This transformational initiative will provide tuition assistance, housing support, and a direct pathway to employment at @utmbhealth for selected UTMB School of Nursing in Galveston (@utmbson) students, helping remove financial barriers while strengthening the future nursing workforce. The ISLAND Promise reflects a shared commitment to investing in nurses at every stage while addressing critical workforce needs in healthcare. It also serves as a powerful reminder that honoring nurses means investing in their future. Thank you to the Sealy & Smith Foundation for its enduring commitment to nursing excellence at UTMB, and to our nurses, whose compassion, expertise, and dedication make a difference every day. Read more: utmb.us/fu9 #WherePurposeMeetsPassion

Scenes from the UTMB Research Summit, day one! Investigators from across disciplines and career stages came together, united by a shared passion for advancing science and improving lives. We can't wait for day two! See the agenda: utmb.us/ftz

Congratulations, Dr. Holly West, Director of Education Mentoring Programs in our Office of Faculty Development. She was elected President-Elect of the @utsystem Kenneth I. Shine, MD, Academy of Health Science Education. She will serve as President starting in February 2027.

Research takes center stage this Thursday and Friday as UTMB hosts its inaugural Research Summit. Explore the theme "Advancing Discovery Across the Lifespan" through poster presentations, distinguished speakers, expert panels and more. Info & registration: utmb.us/ftz

UTMB is proud to be an institutional member of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health a global network of leading universities advancing education, research, and collaboration in global health. Click here to read more: utmb.us/ft4 #globalhealth