Dental School receives $6.5 million in HRSA grants
The Department of Comprehensive Dentistry in the Dental School received more than $6.5 million in grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Professor Jeffrey Hicks, D.D.S., was awarded three grants totaling nearly $3.5 million. A five-year grant for more than $2.8 million will be used to expand the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program by increasing the number of residents from 10 to 15, and will recruit more residents from underrepresented groups. Two additional grants, each $299,500, will provide updated equipment for the AEGD program, and will be used to buy computer technology, digital radiology equipment and clinic equipment used to train undergraduate dental students.
David Cappelli, Ph.D., D.M.D., M.P.H.,associate professor and director of the Public Health Dental Residency Program, received The Texas Oral Health Workforce Grant, a grant of more than $1.5 million, for a three-year project in collaboration with the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, which will expand existing programs that provide preventive services to children in Bexar County. The program will integrate a case management approach to addressing the oral health needs of these children.
Dr. Cappelli and Jane E.M. Steffensen, M.P.H., CHES, also an associate professor, are co-principal investigators on a five-year grant totaling nearly $1.6 million that will enhance the dental public health pre-doctoral curriculum.
NIH awards $4 million to study fungal diagnostics and treatments
Thomas F. Patterson, M.D., chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and professor of medicine, received $4,015,552 from the National Institutes of Health for two five-year studies that focus on small-animal model development and utilization for target identification and testing of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for invasive aspergillosis and clinically related fungal diseases, and selected invasive fungal diseases.
"Fungal infections are a major cause of complications and mortality in immunosuppressed patients, including patients undergoing transplantation or receiving chemotherapy for cancer," Dr. Patterson said. "These studies are aimed at evaluating new agents and methods to improve the diagnosis and treatment of these infections."
$1.9 million CPRIT funds support cancer research
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) recently awarded $1.9 million to Health Science Center researchers. An $890,659 grant designed to expand the known benefits of exercise to more cancer survivors will kick off a research-based program of Stacey Young-McCaughan, R.N., Ph.D., at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center. Rong Li, Ph.D., a professor of molecular medicine at the CTRC, was awarded $741,446 for his work in understanding how the dense tissue in breast tumors contributes to estrogen production and tumor growth. A grant of $297,173 was presented to Deborah Parra-Medina, Ph.D., M.P.H., a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics in the Institute for Health Promotion Research, for a peer-education and outreach program encouraging use of the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer among Latina mothers and daughters living in Texas-Mexico border communities.
Monumental research
South Texas Research Facility facts:
- Location: 8403 Floyd Curl Drive
- Three stories
- 190,000 gross square feet of new research space
- More than 1,000 feet long
- Cost: $150 million
- Will accommodate up to 400 scientists, research administrators
and support staff - Will house the latest research technology and eco-friendly features,
including nearly 800 energy-saving solar panels - Architects: Rafael Viñoly
South Texas Research Facility set to open this fall
If you took the Statue of Liberty and stacked her three times from toe to torch, she wouldn’t equal the length of The University of Texas Health Science Center’s latest marvel - the South Texas Research Facility (STRF).
Even more impressive than the STRF’s size are the research discoveries that will take place within its walls once it’s completed this fall. Aging, cancer, neurosciences and regenerative medicine are among the core areas of research to be housed within the building.
New York City-based Rafael Viñoly Architects melded Big-Apple brilliance with Texas-size ingenuity when they envisioned this monumental masterpiece designed to foster interaction, innovation and collaboration among scientists. Here, research will evolve into therapies that university physicians, who literally work in clinics right across the street from the STRF, can use to immediately benefit patients.
"We stand on the threshold of a new era in research in which today’s discoveries will translate into tomorrow’s cures. The STRF is the catalyst for motivating and moving scientific breakthroughs to patients’ bedsides like never before. In our researchers, we have the brainpower. Now we have the building to match."- Brian Herman, Ph.D., vice president for research
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
SAVE THE DATE
Dedication of the
South Texas Research Facility
Oct. 13, 2011
Featured guest:
Alfred Gilman, M.D., Ph.D.
chief scientific officer of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (CPRIT)
and recipient of the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
New dean charts course to realize vision for School of Medicine
Francisco González-Scarano, M.D.
Dean of the Long School of Medicine and Vice President for Medical Affairs- Birthplace: Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Wife: Married 32 years to Barbara Turner, M.D., M.S.Ed.
- Children: Genevieve, 29, Stephanie, 26, and Lisa, 22
- Education: B.A. in Economics (Cum Laude) Yale University, New Haven, Conn., 1971 M.D., Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill., 1975
- Medical and research specialization: Currently funded by the National Institutes of Health for research on the neurotropism of viruses such as HIV and La Crosse. Author of more than 160 original papers, chapters and reviews in the area of central nervous system inflammation, encephalitis and HIV/AIDS.
Born in the small city of Ponce, on the south central coast of Puerto Rico, Dr. González-Scarano said that upon arriving in San Antonio he found the abundance of Hispanic culture very attractive. "Spanish was my first language. I immediately loved this city, and the chance to be bilingual again is a nice bonus."
When asked about his impression of the Long School of Medicine, Dr. González-Scarano reveals his admiration for the faculty and excitement for the job ahead. He has big plans fueled by his vision for a school that is pre-eminent among all medical schools in the nation.
"This school is a diamond in the rough. It’s relatively young, sizeable and well endowed, backed by a large and prosperous state. We truly have it all - a great faculty, a strong student body and a growing city in a very pleasant and attractive part of the country."
González-Scarano credits the leadership of his predecessor William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, with the work accomplished in the Long School of Medicine. Dr. Henrich was dean of the school until his appointment as president of the UT Health Science Center in 2009.
"Dr. Henrich and the faculty have set the stage for activating our potential. With the Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC) and the South Texas Research Facility (STRF), and the vision for a stand-alone children’s hospital in San Antonio, the stage is set. We have the potential to be the premier medical institution in the region. We already have the biggest reach."
The new dean said he looks forward to advances that will be achieved throughout South Texas.
"I am truly excited about the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) in Harlingen and our mission of community service," he said. "Because the RAHC is located in the most medically underserved region of the country, it serves as a vehicle to maximize our community and education missions."
He notes that his job is not without challenges.
"When people think of UT Health San Antonio, we want them to think of the best doctors in the best facility, where the patient experience is the most outstanding. We have to reorganize some things, hone our focus and work to discover how we can get there from here."
Dr. González-Scarano knows his responsibilities as dean will permeate his schedule, but is determined to continue practicing medicine. In his previous role as chairof the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he treated patients in the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic.
"The most difficult part of my departure from Philadelphia was leaving my patients," he said. He’d followed some patients for 20 years or more. "It’s hard not to consider them family. Leaving them was difficult."
But, together with his new family of patients, students, faculty and colleagues at the UT Health Science Center, Dr. González-Scarano said he looks forward to new and greater achievements in San Antonio and South Texas. "The future is practically unlimited."
Article adapted by Natalie Gutierrez for Mission magazine. Original article by Ray Hoese for FUTURE magazine.
Skin solutions
T Medicine San Antonio expands skin care services
Offering new services in an expanded and customized clinic space, dermatologists at the UT Health Science Center can serve more patients than ever before.
The dermatologists of UT Health San Antonio moved last summer into a newly renovated space at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center. The new clinic features its own surgical center, comfortable waiting areas and, most importantly, more clinical rooms for accommodating patients.
"We can see even more patients," said Sandra Osswald, M.D., chief of the Health Science Center’s Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. "And we are providing more specialty services for them."
Division faculty members have a wide range of interests, allowing them to treat most patients. Offerings include:
- Experienced medical and surgical dermatologists who treat common and uncommon skin conditions including skin cancers, benign lesions and tumors, acne, psoriasis, rosacea and blistering disorders.
- Fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon Bahar Firoz, M.D., M.P.H.
- Board-certified pediatric dermatologist John Browning, M.D., FAAD, FAAH, who completed residencies in both pediatrics and dermatology, followed by a pediatric dermatology fellowship.
- Robert Gilson, M.D., a member of the American Contact Dermatitis Society, who conducts patch testing to pinpoint causes of dermatitis.
- Phototherapy for light-responsive diseases including psoriasis and eczema.
- A wide range of cosmetic procedures.
To make an appointment, call 210-450-9840 or visit UTHealthPhysicians.org.
Saving face
After a routine dermatologist visit found several suspicious lesions on his face and head, Phil Holcomb had a decision to make.
He could have opted for standard surgical excision, which takes cancerous cells along with a surrounding margin of healthy skin to ensure the cancer is gone. This can cause scarring, which many patients find particularly unwelcome on their faces.
But Sandra Osswald, M.D., Holcomb’s dermatologist and chief of the UT Health Science Center’s Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, offered an alternative: Mohs micrographic surgery, a precise technique that can remove skin cancers while causing as little damage as possible to healthy tissue.
Holcomb had four basal cell carcinomas removed using Mohs surgery and was pleased with the results. "Mohs is a very delicate surgery. It’s designed to leave minimal scarring, if any at all," he said.
The UT Health Science Center is home to one of just a handful of fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons in San Antonio. Bahar Firoz, M.D., M.P.H., director of Mohs and laser surgery, gained advanced knowledge of the procedure during a year-long postdoctoral fellowship and is a member of the American College of Mohs Surgery.
At the new dermatology clinic, Dr. Firoz - who performed Holcomb’s surgeries - has a comfortable space for her Mohs patients, along with an adjoining laboratory for analyzing tissue and a dedicated staff that includes a histologist, a nurse and a medical assistant.
Before her fellowship, Dr. Firoz saw many patients with noticeable facial scarring from earlier excisions that had taken large margins of healthy skin. She was drawn to Mohs surgery by "the beauty of knowing a tumor was completely gone while being trained to reconstruct an area well."
Dr. Firoz, who also performs standard surgical excisions, does not use Mohs surgery in every case, and in some instances it is not covered by insurance. But it typically is covered and particularly useful in certain situations - among them, skin cancers of the head, neck, hands and feet; large tumors; and in patients with weakened immune systems.
Besides the obvious cosmetic benefits of excising less skin, Mohs has the highest five-year cure rate for skin cancers: 99 percent for previously untreated basal cell cancers, compared with 95 percent for standard surgical excision. For recurrent skin cancer, Mohs cure rate is especially good: 93 percent, compared with 80 percent for standard surgical excision.
During the outpatient procedure, Dr. Firoz removes visible cancer along with a very small margin - perhaps 1 millimeter - of healthy skin. While the patient waits, the tissue is examined under a microscope. The analysis takes about an hour; if it finds evidence of remaining cancer, Dr. Firoz removes a little more tissue until the cancer is gone.
Dr. Firoz encourages Mohs patients to bring a book, snacks or whatever else they need in case they’re at the clinic for an extended period of time, but she usually has patients out by lunchtime.
That was the case for Holcomb. "It’s not a bad experience. Nobody likes to have surgery, but they make it as agreeable as possible."
To make an appointment with a UT Medicine dermatologist, call 210-450-9840 or visit UTHealthPhysicians.org.
Keeping up appearances
Regular visits to the dermatologist are not only important to keeping skin healthy but also can help it look its best. The dermatology clinic at the UT Health Science Center offers a comprehensive range of cosmetic procedures, all performed by medical doctors.
The first step is scheduling a cosmetic consultation with Jennifer Krejci-Manwaring, M.D., or Bahar Firoz, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professors at the UT Health Science Center. "I like working with patients to figure out exactly what it is they’re trying to change," Dr. Krejci-Manwaring said.
Dr. Firoz agreed: "It’s fun because I can help people look their best. We offer more natural options for patients, and I think for a lot of people that’s the look they’re going for."
One popular procedure is Botox, which is used to decrease fine lines and wrinkles, particularly in the upper face and around eyes. Facial fillers like Radiesse, Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane can improve deeper wrinkles or add volume to cheeks, jawlines or other areas. A gaunt appearance from age, medications or illness, such as HIV, can be addressed with Sculptra.
The clinic has a Fraxel laser, which is used for rejuvenation, melasma and scars from acne and other causes. Other lasers are brought in once a month to treat rosacea, vascular growths, birthmarks and for hair removal. The dermatologists also perform leg vein treatments, and Dr. Firoz performs surgical cosmetic procedures such as eyelid surgeries and liposuction.
Cosmetic procedures "come with the field of dermatology," Dr. Krejci-Manwaring said. "I enjoy providing overall dermatology care."
To make an appointment with a UT Medicine dermatologist, call 210-450-9840 or visit UTHealthPhysicians.org.
Unparalleled partnership
CHRISTUS’ generosity and collaboration with UT Health Science Center put children and families first in South Texas
March 2011by Natalie GutierrezNaveen Mittal, M.D., holds many titles - professor, division chief and medical director. But the one title that makes him smile the most is "uncle."
"We call him Uncle Mittal," said Joanna Federico, mother of 3-year-old Andrea Federico, of El Paso. "He’s like family. Not only is he the best physician and surgeon, he is the most dedicated and caring."
Federico’s daughter, Andrea, was born with Biliary Atresia, a rare and life-threatening condition in which the bile duct between the liver and the small intestine is blocked. Andrea’s illness required liver transplant surgery, which was not available in her hometown of El Paso. On Nov. 1, 2009, Andrea underwent a pediatric liver transplant at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital in San Antonio. Dr. Mittal provided specialized medical care before and after the transplant. The procedure was the first of its kind to take place at CHRISTUS.
"After Andrea’s surgery, Dr. Mittal was at her bedside early in the morning and late into the evening. He really cares about her well-being." Federico added that Dr. Mittal continues to play a major role in her daughter’s ongoing care and treatment.
Dr. Mayes, who holds the Sister Angela Clare Moran Distinguished Chair, said the endowments have allowed the UT Health Science Center to recruit and retain some of the world’s top experts in a wide range of pediatric health care specialties and subspecialties, and to establish a partnership with the children’s hospital that is unparalleled in San Antonio’s history.
"We are grateful to CHRISTUS, its foundation and administrators for their generosity and vision," Dr. Mayes said. "The endowments and the collaboration with the hospital have resulted in the development of new programs of excellence in all of our missions of clinical care, education, research and community service. By creating an academic children’s hospital partnership, we have been able to expand care to children throughout the city and South Texas and at the same time, prepare the next generation of health care providers, our medical students, residents and fellows, who participate in training programs with our faculty at the hospital."
Dr. Mayes said the Whalen endowment allowed the Long School of Medicine to recruit Dr. Mittal from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas in 2009.
"Pediatric liver transplants were not available in our community for several years," Dr. Mayes said. "Dr. Mittal immediately reinvigorated our pediatric gastroenterology program and developed the pediatric liver transplant program in conjunction with our already successful University Transplant Center, our Department of Pediatrics and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital." The University Transplant Center is a partnership of University Health System and the UT Health Science Center.
Dr. Mayes said this achievement is just one example of the many successes the partnership with CHRISTUS is yielding.
Dr. Mittal is professor and chief of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology and medical director of the CHRISTUS Transplant Institute. He has expanded the pediatric liver transplant program to include five faculty physicians from the UT Health Science Center’s Divisions of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology and one from the Division of Adult Gastroenterology. The team has performed 11 pediatric liver transplants at CHRISTUS since the program’s inception.
In addition to liver transplant surgery, the team provides diagnostics and treatment for a wide array of complex diseases involving the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic systems, such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, acute and chronic liver disease, pancreatic disorders and nutrition problems.
Dr. Mittal said the collaboration between the UT Health Science Center and CHRISTUS enhances the lives of South Texas children and their families. "I am thrilled to be working in an environment where the partnership between a university and hospital offers patients top-notch health care providers, first-class facilities and equipment as well as the support of hospital and university administrators and the entire community," Dr. Mittal said.
"All of these aspects allow us to help many children and their families. We can provide care close to home so South Texas families can stay together. They don’t have to travel out of state or be separated by long expanses of time. It allows us to reach children with more immediate care so that they have the best chance for survival. There are so many ways this collaboration proves to be vital and valuable."
Fan Chen, mother of 5-year-old Faith Zhao, of El Paso, agrees. Her daughter, Faith, was born with Sclerosing Cholangitis, a disease in which the bile ducts become inflamed and scarred, leading to liver damage and eventually liver failure. On Nov. 11, 2009, Faith became CHRISTUS’ second pediatric liver transplant patient. Dr. Mittal and his transplant team guided her care.
"Dr. Mittal and his team are excellent," Chen said. "They reassured me and kept me informed throughout the entire operation. Just one week after the procedure, Faith was walking around her hospital room. It was incredible and promising to see her recovering so quickly."
Chen said the transplant team took the time to educate her about the care Faith would need post surgery. "They taught me everything I needed to know about the medications my daughter would need and put me in touch with the parents of other transplant patients so we could provide encouragement and support for one another."
Chen said her daughter continues to grow stronger and healthier every day. "Faith started out needing 10 different medications. Now she needs only two of those. She’s even taking Karate classes, which she loves. She’s having fun and can do a lot of things any 5-year-old can do. I’m so happy and thankful to Dr. Mittal, his team and CHRISTUS for helping my daughter thrive."
Our culture of excellence
For more than 50 years, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has nurtured a culture of excellence in all of its missions. Among its most important priorities - educating the next generation of health care professionals.
About 27,000 students from the Long School of Medicine, Dental School, School of Nursing, School of Health Professions and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences have graduated to become the faces we trust in clinics, hospital emergency rooms, surgical suites, laboratories and health science centers throughout Texas and the world.
At the root of this success are outstanding faculty, facilities, resources and technology. Together, they are planting the seeds for discovery, service and commitment to humanity.