Author: Orith Farago

Enriching the student experience

Across the institution’s health professional schools, a network of programs and people aims to ensure that students get the most from their education

Francisco G. Cigarroa, MD, senior executive vice president for health affairs and health system at UT Health San Antonio, has often expressed his belief that education is the greatest health initiative of all time.

This consequential statement is at the heart of the institution’s commitment to help shape the next generation of scientists and healthcare providers with great care, intention and purpose.

From opportunities for high school students to get a jump-start on becoming health professionals, to peer mentorships and career development initiatives, the university’s health professional schools provide programs to help students connect with others and get the resources and information they need to thrive during their educational journey.

Read on to learn how these programs undergird the student experience to build personal resilience and professional confidence — and encourage faculty to broaden their mentorship skills as well.

Peer mentoring program offers comfort, community for incoming graduate students

Ishita Tarnekar was a bit scared and overwhelmed as an international student starting her doctoral program at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 2024.

But not for long.

Thanks to the school’s Transition Peer Mentor Program for masters and doctoral students, she got her footing with guidance from her mentor, also an international student, on a variety of topics — from filling out documents to building her network and finding funded faculty looking for students to join their research lab.

Click here to read the full article.

Public Health Student Association nurtures connection across disciplines

As a member of the first Masters of Public Health (MPH) cohort at the recently named Kate Marmion School of Public Health, Luis Gutierrez wanted to be part of an organization that provides students a supportive, inclusive environment that encourages learning, professional development and networking opportunities in the field of public health.

This made Gutierrez the perfect candidate to helm the school’s Public Health Student Association. He also had a lot of previous experience holding executive roles as an undergraduate student at The University of Texas at San Antonio’s College of Science — from vice president and speaker of the house to treasurer and student leader.

With the support of the School of Public Health, Gutierrez hit the ground running.

Click here to read the full article.

Center of excellence helps dental students achieve and succeed

A center of excellence at the School of Dentistry is helping recruit dental students from underserved communities in South Texas and retain them with programs to bolster their educational success.

“As the only dental school located in South Texas, we help provide oral healthcare to the region through student clinical rotations and by training the professionals who will return and provide care to their communities,” said Juanita Lozano-Pineda, DDS, MPH, associate professor and the center’s director.

“That is where our focus has been through this center of excellence. We want to help recruit and retain these individuals through guidance and participation in programs we have in the School of Dentistry.”

Click here to read the full article.

Medical sciences bachelor’s program prepares students for graduate programs

Students seeking health professional careers can get a jumpstart on their academic pursuits through the School of Health Professions’ Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences (BSMS) program, part of the school’s Department of Health Sciences.

The bachelor’s program provides a rigorous science curriculum, clinical practicums and personalized support to help students prepare their applications to graduate medical, dental, physician assistant and other health science professional degree programs.

“We designed the curriculum to be very intensive and focused on medical sciences,” said Ahmad Galaleldeen, PhD, professor and program director of the Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences Program.

“We provide classes such as anatomy and physiology with a medical twist. We also added courses like clinical chemistry, patient assessment and a practicum in which students shadow physicians, physician assistants or providers in whichever profession and specialty they are interested in. We partner with providers here at UT Health San Antonio, at University Hospital and on the private side. Our students graduate from the program ready to submit their applications.”

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School of Nursing’s Student Success Center supports the ‘whole person’

The School of Nursing offers a holistic approach to helping students succeed, with academic assistance, psychosocial support and professional and student leadership development opportunities — all through the school’s Student Success Center.

This centralized hub gives students easy access to a wealth of resources — from peer mentoring, tutoring and academic workshops, to student wellness, nursing scholarships, student organizations, career readiness and more.

Since the center opened in 2014, the school has experienced an increase in student retention, student engagement and pass rates for the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, which reached 98% the year after the center was opened, said Vanessa Bográn Meling, EdD, MBA, associate dean of Admissions, Student Success and Engagement, and assistant research professor in the School of Nursing.

“We’re educating not just students’ minds, but the whole person, ensuring they have the support, confidence and skills to thrive,” Meling said.

Click here to read the full article.

Research Mentoring Academy provides faculty mentors opportunities to hone their skills

Anibal Diogenes, DDS, PhD, knows a thing or two about good mentorship.

After all, he has mentored dozens of students at the university and received the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) Mentor of the Year award in 2022.

“I’m a product of [strong mentorship] because I was trained here,” said Diogenes, professor and chair of the Department of Endodontics. “I know how important it is for somebody’s future.”

After being recognized as GSBS Mentor of the Year, Diogenes received automatic membership into the Research Mentoring Academy — an independent organization that supports junior and senior faculty researchers in order to facilitate and reinforce the importance of strong mentoring relationships. The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, in collaboration with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, launched the academy in 2018 to provide faculty members from across the university’s health professional schools an opportunity to hone their mentorship skills to give research trainees the best possible learning experience.

Recently, Diogenes took the helm as chair of the academy, now 11 faculty research members strong, and is looking to expand its reach by inviting faculty researchers from across UT San Antonio to join and continue to build on the university’s robust culture of mentorship.

Click here to read the full article.

by Orith Farago

Patient and surgeon on a journey together

A two-time cancer survivor becomes the first breast reconstruction surgery patient at UT Health San Antonio’s Multispecialty and Research Hospital

At age 72, Gertrude Garteiser faced a pivotal decision.

After undergoing a mastectomy, she had to decide if she wanted to have breast reconstruction surgery. It was a difficult choice. After all, this would mean another major surgery.

More than 25 years earlier, Garteiser had been diagnosed with cancer on her left breast and underwent a lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy and tamoxifen, a medication that blocks cancer cells from using estrogen to grow.

Then, in October 2024, Garteiser was diagnosed with an estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative invasive ductal carcinoma — a type of cancer that begins in the milk ducts. The diagnosis of positive hormone receptors meant that her cancer’s growth was fueled by hormones, and the negative HER2 designation meant that the cancer cells had no or low amounts of HER2 proteins, making them less aggressive.

“The way I found out [the cancer was back] was I felt like something had kicked me in the right breast like a donkey,” Garteiser said. “It was just hurting so bad, so I called and made an appointment at my primary care provider’s office. They had me come in right away and then sent me for a mammogram. But by then, the pain on my right side stopped. I didn’t have that kicked-in-the-chest feeling. I guess it was my body letting me know [something was wrong].”

The mammogram showed cancer recurrence in the left breast. Fortunately, the cancer was discovered early — at Stage 1 — and Garteiser underwent a successful mastectomy on her left breast in January.

Surgeon-patient chemistry matters

After her mastectomy, Garteiser met with several plastic surgeons to discuss breast reconstruction surgery options. Feeling that the chemistry was not quite right, she continued her search and met with Oriana Haran, MD, a double fellowship-trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio and assistant clinical professor in the Department of Surgery at The University of Texas at San Antonio’s academic health center.

Garteiser felt a rapport with Haran and scheduled a few more appointments to become more acquainted with the surgeon.

“I just felt comfortable with her,” Garteiser said.

Haran noted the importance for patients to take the time to decide whom they are comfortable with for elective surgery.

“While ‘elective’ means it can be scheduled in advance, it gives you the power of choice,” Haran said. “So, if you are making a choice to have reconstruction, you might as well choose who you’re having the reconstruction with. That’s a critical part of the process. The plastic surgeon is going to hold your hand, not only the day of surgery, but also after. So, you better feel comfortable in front of her or him, you better feel understood 100%. You need that chemistry to feel like you are free to say anything you want to say and not feel intimidated.”

Haran also noted how important it is to have a breast reconstruction surgeon as part of the multidisciplinary team for breast cancer patients, since many breast reconstruction surgeries are performed immediately after a lumpectomy or mastectomy. In Garteiser’s case, since reconstruction was not immediately performed, she could take her time to decide on a path forward.

Understanding surgery options

“Gertrude knew that we were talking about an important surgery,” Haran said. “She was struggling with contour, with symmetry, with her mastectomy scar. She came to me more than once, trying to understand if this was the right surgery for her, if she should proceed with a different procedure.”

Haran discussed the range of options with Garteiser.

“I always say that the options go from no reconstruction at all to reconstruction with [the patient’s] own tissue, which I have always believed offers the best natural result,” said Haran.

After reviewing Garteiser’s pre-operative CT angiogram — which uses X-rays and a contrast dye to create detailed images of the body’s blood vessels — Haran identified that her patient was a strong candidate for a superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap procedure. The imaging indicated that her vascular anatomy was suitable for this technique, a finding that would later be confirmed during the surgery itself.

In the SIEA flap procedure, tissue from the lower abdomen is used to reconstruct the breast. A significant advantage of this procedure is that it preserves the underlying abdominal muscles entirely because it relies on the superficial vascular system above the muscle layer, said Haran. This technique can lead to lower risk of abdominal wall weakness compared to other flap procedures.

Since Garteiser had two bouts with cancer and received radiation in the past, the skin on her chest wall needed to be replaced. Using abdominal tissues would be an ideal solution, as it provides both healthy skin to resurface the area and volume to recreate the breast while providing a durable, natural-looking result, explained Haran.

“It’s important to note that not every patient is a candidate for the SIEA flap, as the necessary superficial blood vessels must be of adequate size and quality,” Haran said. For this reason, the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap surgery — which relies on more consistent, deep blood vessels — is the most common and widely regarded gold standard for own-tissue-based breast reconstruction.

Although the SIEA and DIEP flap procedures offer a more natural and durable result, implants remain a viable option for many patients, said Haran. However, implants would not have been a suitable option for Garteiser since the skin on her chest wall was paper-thin after a lumpectomy, radiation and then a mastectomy.

“I constantly would feel my chest where the breast was gone,” Garteiser said. “[It felt] like I was touching my ribs almost, because that’s how much of the tissue was gone.”

Garteiser discussed the surgery with Haran and decided to move forward with the SIEA flap surgery. The surgery was scheduled for Aug. 8, 2025.

First-of-its-kind surgery at new hospital

Garteiser’s surgery marked the first breast reconstruction procedure performed at the UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital, which opened in December 2024. Among its many offerings, the hospital provides comprehensive patient care, advanced procedures and precision cancer therapies.

Haran herself was uniquely qualified for this procedure, having performed complex microsurgery reconstructions daily during her specialized fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Thorough by nature, Haran toured the hospital facility twice before the surgery since this would be her first time conducting surgery at this newer location.

“I went downstairs to the instrumentation and perioperative services department and made sure with the operational team that I was going to have everything [I needed],” Haran said. “I visited them and talked to the nurses.” Haran praised the hospital and its staff for their attention to detail.

“The professionalism and preparedness of everyone involved were absolutely vital to the success of this complex procedure,” said Haran. “Having a dedicated team — from instrumentation to nursing — makes all the difference.”

A multistep procedure

On the day Garteiser arrived with her son for her surgery, she was in good hands from start to finish.

The surgery, which lasted about five hours, involved a precise sequence of steps. First, Garteiser’s chest site was prepared to receive the new tissue. Next, the abdominal tissue flap, based on its specific blood vessels, was carefully harvested. The most critical part of the procedure followed, where Haran used microsurgery to connect these tiny vessels to the blood vessels in the chest, restoring immediate circulation to the transferred tissue.

By using the blood vessels that lie above the abdominal muscles, no muscles were cut or disturbed, offering a quicker, more comfortable recovery, Haran said.

After the tissue was placed on the left side of Garteiser’s chest, Haran reduced the size of Garteiser’s right breast and lifted it to achieve symmetry, all in a single procedure. The surgery was successful, but Garteiser’s journey was not yet complete. According to Haran, patients typically need to stay in the hospital for three days after this kind of procedure to ensure the transferred tissue remains healthy and that the patient is mobile and managing pain effectively.

“When we feel that all of the above have been checked, we allow the patient to go home.” Haran said, adding that, in the past, a stay of five days or more was standard for this surgery.

“Now, with improved pain management protocols and enhanced recovery pathways, patients can go home sooner and often require fewer to no opioids. This is a best practice that more hospitals and surgeons are implementing in order to provide faster, improved recovery.”

Feeling good after an inspiring journey

Both Garteiser and her son are appreciative of the hospital care she received before and after surgery. And the surgery itself seemed to be “pretty flawless,” said Garteiser. “I’m very pleased with Dr. Haran and her staff.”

Haran is thankful as well. “I’m deeply grateful for the constant support of our Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, led by Dr. Anton Fries, for fostering an environment where these kinds of complex reconstructions can truly thrive.”

Now several months beyond her surgery, Garteiser said she’s doing well.

“I feel good,” she said. “And people keep telling me how good I look because I’m relaxing. I feel like it was the right decision.”

Haran is glad that her patient is feeling well.

“Once you are my patient, I feel a deep sense of responsibility through to the end. As surgeons, we can’t and shouldn’t make promises. Things can happen — from infections to anesthetic complications — that are beyond our control. But there is one thing I can truly promise: that I will do my very best to take the best possible care of you, and that my team will, too,” Haran said. “My goal is that you feel listened to and cared for. Even when patients go home, we make sure they’re doing okay. It’s all of those little things that make a difference.”

Haran said she’s glad to have played a role in Garteiser’s inspiring journey. In fact, when the patient and doctor recently met to take a photo together, the gratitude was evident in Garteiser’s eyes. It seemed as if they were longtime friends.

“Breast reconstruction is an add-on that I’m happy to be part of because I think it’s the happy end to the whole story,” Haran said. “I just feel blessed to be part of it.”

To learn more, read “Myth or fact: Breast reconstruction procedures.”

by Orith Farago

Myth or fact: Breast reconstruction procedures

Knowledge is paramount for patients considering breast reconstruction surgery

While up to 50% of cancer patients who have a mastectomy opt to undergo breast reconstruction surgery, a national survey on behalf of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that many women have not received “adequate information to evaluate how this surgery may impact them physically, financially and emotionally.”

Creating awareness is critical, said Oriana Haran, MD, a double fellowship-trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio and assistant clinical professor in the Department of Surgery at The University of Texas at San Antonio’s academic health center.

“I think it’s important for every woman out there struggling with [a new breast cancer diagnosis] to know that they’re not alone.” For some women, undergoing breast reconstruction surgery is about contour, gaining back your femininity and the sense of yourself, Haran said. “That has been proven to improve social wellness. Psychologically and physically, patients just feel better.”

Unfortunately, some women may not have adequate information about the types of breast reconstruction procedures available following the removal of the entire breast with a mastectomy or a portion of the breast tissue with a lumpectomy. In addition to being informed about the various procedures for breast reconstruction, feeling comfortable enough to discuss these options with one’s plastic and reconstructive surgeon is also important, as the surgeon can answer questions and dispel myths around breast reconstruction, Haran said.

Read on for her insights about what all women need to know about breast reconstruction.

1. Myth or fact? Implants are the only option for breast reconstruction.

Answer: Myth. Depending on their anatomy, women today have an array of options for breast reconstruction— from implants to autologous breast reconstruction using one’s own tissue to reconstruct one or both breasts.

The gold standard for breast reconstruction using a patient’s own tissue is the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap procedure. This surgery transfers a flap of abdominal tissue, along with its deep blood vessels, to the chest to provide both the skin and the volume needed to recreate the breast. This approach offers a durable, natural-looking outcome.

Also among the array of flap procedures using one’s own tissues for breast reconstruction is the superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap technique. This surgery provides the advantage of preserving the underlying abdominal muscles of the patient, since it relies on the superficial vascular system above the muscle layer for the tissue that is used to recreate the breast. This technique can lower the risk of weakness in the abdominal wall compared to other flap procedures. However, it’s important to note that a good candidate for this procedure is a patient with a suitable vascular anatomy.

2. Myth or fact? Undergoing breast reconstruction using one’s own tissues means that the patient will fully regain sensation to the reconstructed breast or breasts.

Answer: Myth. While some sensation may be regained when one’s own tissues are used for the reconstruction, the reconstructed breast will not fully regain normal sensation. There are techniques to address this, such as sensate flaps where we connect the nerves. However, this is not a standard part of the procedure for most patients, and the results are inconsistent. The return of sensation exists on a very broad spectrum and is rarely complete.

3. Myth or fact? Patients undergoing a mastectomy will not be able to have future mammograms or MRI breast cancer screenings.

Answer: Myth. Some women think that if they undergo breast reconstruction, that’s going to get in the way of later screening or followup, but that’s not true. Whether we use implants or your own tissue, we can still effectively screen the area. The breast tissue and chest wall behind the reconstruction remain visible with imaging.

4. Myth or fact? Women having a mastectomy cannot breastfeed after undergoing breast reconstruction surgery.

Answer: Fact. The ability to breastfeed is lost following a mastectomy, regardless of whether reconstruction is performed. A mastectomy involves the removal of the breast tissue, which includes the glandular structures and milk ducts necessary for lactation. While reconstruction creates a new breast mound, it cannot restore the functional system for producing milk. Therefore, breastfeeding from that breast is not possible.

5. Myth or fact? Health insurance does not cover breast reconstruction procedures after having a mastectomy or lumpectomy.

Answer: Myth. Breast reconstruction is not considered cosmetic in this context. Under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act, most group health insurance plans that cover mastectomies are required to also cover all stages of breast reconstruction, a provision that also applies to lumpectomies in some cases for symmetry procedures.

Read about the two-time cancer survivor who became the first breast reconstruction surgery patient at UT Health San Antonio’s Multispecialty and Research Hospital.

by Orith Farago

Gratitude abounds during Burial of Ashes

University, community and family members gave thanks to body donors during annual interment ceremony

When Michelle Clyne was little, her father, Henry “Hank” Clyne, had her convinced that he hunted dinosaurs. When she’d draw pictures of his grand adventures, her teacher would say what a great imagination she had.

To the Chicago resident who flew to San Antonio to attend UT Health San Antonio’s Burial of Ashes ceremony to inter the cremated remains of those who gave their bodies for student education and to pay tribute to the donors, the event provided a special opportunity to honor her father’s memory.

“I was not expecting to be this emotional, since it was three years ago that he passed, but this was the closest to a funeral that I was able to experience,” Clyne said.

Clyne, along with her sister, Jenni Stewart, and brother, David Clyne, recalled the beautiful details that made their father who he was. His great mustache. His love of broccoli cheddar soup. His compassion for animals. His sweet, gentle demeanor. His love of science and teaching.

“I’m a teacher, and he used to come to my classroom to teach how the planets rotate around the sun,” Stewart recalled. “And he did it for us kids when we were little with a flashlight and a basketball.”

The Clynes were among about 150 people who attended the interment ceremony at UT Health San Antonio’s Memorial Park on April 29. Attendees included donor family members and the university’s faculty, staff and students, who expressed their gratitude for the donors’ important contributions toward educating students.

Honoring donors’ generous, selfless contributions

The ceremony began with music, including an instrumental quartet composed of first-year medical students from the university’s Music and Medicine group, followed by a vocal performance by graduate students from The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Vocal Music Department and department chair John Nix, and rounded out with a rendition of “Amazing Grace” by internationally recognized bagpiper Robert Chalk. Chalk has participated in the event since 2004. He served as the supervisor of anatomical services for UT Health San Antonio’s Body Donation Program before moving to the University of the Incarnate Word’s School of Osteopathic Medicine as director of UIW’s Willed Body Program.

While Sandesh Puri, a first-year medical student and a member of the Music and Medicine group, did not perform during the event, he felt compelled to attend to pay tribute to the donors.

“I really wanted to come to this event to pay my respects and share and show my gratitude for all the families that have given us the opportunity to learn,” Puri said.

Omid B. Rahimi, PhD, professor and director of the Human Anatomy Program at UT Health San Antonio’s Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, welcomed the attendees and expressed appreciation to the donors’ family members.

“This ceremony reflects our profound gratitude and respect for all the participants in our body donation program and conveys our appreciation for the compassion and support of their family and friends, regardless of occupation, social standing, age, health or ailment,” Rahimi said. “Each donor’s remarkable gift equally contributes in shaping the well-being of future generations.”

Following Rahimi’s introduction, Lily Q. Dong, PhD, professor and chair, Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, and Sadie A. Trammell Velasquez, MD, FACP, associate professor of medicine and assistant dean for the preclinical curriculum in the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education, paid tribute to the donors along with seven representatives from classes that have studied anatomy in the past year.

Students express their heartfelt gratitude

First-year occupational therapy student and class president Catherine Buley eloquently recalled her reverence for the donors.

“Before we ever stepped into the lab, our professor reminded us that these bodies were to be treated with the utmost respect,” Buley said. “I expected to feel overwhelmed, maybe even cry, but when I finally entered the lab and saw the donor we would be learning from, what I felt instead was a deep sense of humility and compassion. Over the semester, that feeling only grew. This person became more than a learning tool. They became a kind of silent teacher, almost like a companion. In every layer we studied, they shared something of themselves with us.”

Buley shared that for her and her classmates, the body donors not only deepened their understanding of the human form, but also taught them how to apply their class experience to the complexities of real people.

“In occupational therapy, we don’t just treat injuries or limitations, we treat people and we help them return to the things that make life meaningful like dressing, cooking, holding a grandchild, returning to work,” Buley said. “These donors reminded us that every body holds a lifetime of these moments. They helped us understand not only how bodies move, but why it matters that they do.”

“To the families here today, you gave not only the gift of a body to science, but the gift of trust to us as learners.” — Catherine Buley, first-year occupational therapy student

First-year dental student and class president Kate McNeill said the donors provided a gift that would contribute to her classmates’ futures by becoming their very first teachers in the study of anatomy.

“One student shared a sentiment that a lot of us related to on how they imagined who their donor might have been, what their favorite food was, what their laughter sounded like, and what memories they held dear,” McNeill said. “It reminded us constantly that the individuals had full, rich lives. … These thoughts shaped the way we approach each lesson, not with detachment, but with a growing sense of connection and empathy. There were times we found ourselves offering a quiet thanks before beginning our work or pausing for a silent moment at the end of a long day — gestures of gratitude that became part of our routine, just as essential as any scientific method. These small rituals helped us to stay grounded in the humanity of what we were experiencing, even as we learned the technical skills that would carry us forward into our future professions.”

First-year medical student and class president Aadil Rehan thanked the families and expressed his gratitude for the donors, who by giving their bodies to the study of medicine, have provided the next generation of doctors an “irreplaceable component” of their education.

“Whenever I have doubted myself, I remember that our donors chose to believe in us so strongly that they dedicated their bodies to our betterment, and in turn, the betterment of so many in the future,” Rehan said. “In that sense, even after biological life ends and the physical body fades, those who pass on remain with us through their memory, their actions, their legacy. … And while our time with the donors was brief, they have irrevocably shaped us on our path to becoming physicians. Every life that we touch will be a testament to the opportunity our donors gave us. … Perhaps our greatest teachers are those whose voices we will never get to hear.”

For Elizabeth Arnold, a second-year medical student at UIW’s School of Osteopathic Medicine, the opportunity to see the families of the donors and express her gratitude was special. She was among the students to provide remarks at the event, as UT Health San Antonio’s Body Donation Program provides body donors for study at UIW.

“I think it just really drives home the humanity aspect of our professions, getting to meet the people who lived with and resided beside their [loved ones their] entire life, and we are now able to learn from that person,” Arnold said. “So, just being able to have a ceremony where we get to see the family members is very important.”

Following the speakers, family members solemnly walked past the gravesites marking the donations of previous years and placed a red flower or a handful of dirt to pay their respects.

Embracing treasured memories

For Theresa Smith, attending the ceremony sparked memories of her big brother, Andrew Hildebrand, who left for Germany to serve in the U.S. Air Force when she was a child.

“We had gone to the airport [to see him off and the memory] is very vivid,” she recalled. “I was four or five years old.”

She smiled warmly as she recalled her brother, who she described as a quiet, generous soul who always thought of others.

Smith’s brother, William Hildebrand, said their brother Andrew — the second oldest of nine kids — was an airplane mechanic in the Air Force and worked as a mechanic for most of his life.

“For the last years of his life, he was helping me with doing carpentry work,” Hildebrand said. So, you know, we got to know each other really well.”

The two siblings said they appreciated the opportunity to attend the interment ceremony, as it provided an opportunity for them to recall fond memories of their brother.

“This [ceremony] gives you a place to remember him,” Hildebrand said.

Members of the Clyne family also appreciated the opportunity to receive closure and hear how donors served as teachers for students in so many respects.

Joanne Clyne, wife of donor Hank Clyne, said that given her husband’s love for teaching, she was glad to see that, as a donor, he continued to teach.

When Joanne Clyne recalled speaking with Rebecca Cantu — the university’s program project coordinator with the Body Donation Program office — she remembered Cantu saying, “Mr. Clyne is still teaching the students,” and Clyne replied, “How perfect. Yeah, that would be Hank.”

by Orith Farago

Myth or fact: How healthy are the drinks we consume?

While much of our dietary focus goes into what we eat, it’s just as important to be mindful of what we drink

A July 2023 report by USA Facts noted that Americans have more than 500 beverage choices, according to estimates by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The report also shared data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey revealing that, between 2017 and 2020, water accounted for 50% of overall beverage consumption, with tap water slightly edging out bottled. The next popular beverages consumed were coffee (14%), soft drinks (10%), milk (7%) and tea (7%). And on any given day during that period, Americans also drank about 4 fluid ounces of alcohol.

While much of our dietary focus goes into what we eat, it’s just as important to be mindful of what we drink, according to Christiane Meireles, PhD, RD, LD, clinical associate professor, School of Nursing, and co-founder, Green Wellness Program: Plants-2-Plate. Read on for her insights about everyday beverages that distinguish myths from facts.

1. Myth or fact? Water is the healthiest beverage.

Answer: Fact. The human body is about 60% water, with about 7% in the muscles and 10% in fat cells. This means that people need to consume liquid throughout the day to keep the body hydrated. The amount of water needed varies by age, gender and how much fat tissue one has. Water is truly the only beverage the body needs, and it doesn’t have to be a boring drink. Water can be made fun with fruit or herb infusions. To jazz up a seemingly dull glass of water, consider squeezing one or more fruits into the glass, perhaps a lemon, lime, orange, berries, pineapple or a mixture of these. Herbs like mint or rosemary are also great additions. Consider combining herbs with different fruits to create a refreshing drink. For those who like carbonation, consider making or buying carbonated water with or without fruit for a fizzy option.

2. Myth or fact? Lack of thirst means you are not dehydrated.

Answer: Myth. Thirst is not always a reliable indicator for dehydration, especially in older adults who may not experience the thirst sensation as readily. That’s why it’s important to stay alert and be mindful of the possible symptoms of dehydration. These include dry mouth, headaches, fatigue and darker, more concentrated urine.

3. Myth or fact? Drinking too much water can be unsafe.

Answer: Mostly myth. Water is the healthiest beverage and should be the number one choice of beverages. Drinking too much water is rarely a problem for healthy people. However, something to be mindful of is water toxicity or intoxication, a potentially deadly condition in which one drinks too much water that the body can’t get rid of — about 3 to 4 liters over one to three hours. While this condition is rare, it can result in the blood becoming diluted, causing hyponatremia, a condition in which the sodium level in the blood dips too much. Symptoms include nausea, confusion, seizures and massive spasms, especially if one has been exposed to extreme heat or prolonged, strenuous exercise. Those suffering from this condition should seek medical attention promptly.

4. Myth or fact? Caffeine dehydrates you.

Answer: Myth. For a long time, it was thought that caffeine could lead to dehydration, but according to recent research, moderate daily caffeine consumption — 250 to 300 milligrams will not cause dehydration. In the short term, it can increase diuresis, or increased urine production by the kidneys, but not dehydration. For context, a cup of brewed coffee can contain about 90 milligrams of caffeine, depending on the strength of the brew. Other factors, like the coffee’s concentration or consuming five or six cups a day, may have a dehydrating effect.

5. Myth or fact? Sports drinks keep you better hydrated than water.

Answer: Myth. In most cases, water is all that is needed for replenishment. In cases of more strenuous exercise, like running a marathon, runners would benefit from a drink that can replenish electrolytes and restore the minerals that are lost through sweat. If one is exercising at the gym for 45 minutes to an hour, for example, water should be fine. Sports drinks should not be consumed daily, but only occasionally. When it comes to kids, sugar and sodium in a sports drink is something that may be problematic. Sports drinks contain large amounts of sodium and are not a good option for kids as a source of replenishment, increasing the risk of high blood pressure.

6. Myth or fact? Alcohol is associated with increased cancer risk.

Answer: Fact. Because no amount of alcohol is considered safe, consuming alcohol is a health risk. Therefore, drinking less is better than drinking more. According to some studies, drinking alcohol in moderation may increase one’s overall risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease, and even death. Those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or under the age of 21 should not drink alcohol. For men, the number one type of deadly cancer associated with alcohol is liver cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In men, alcohol consumption can increase cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, prostate, colon and rectum. For women, who generally absorb more alcohol and take longer to process it than men, the risk of breast cancer increases with any amount of alcohol. In addition, women who drink excessively have a higher risk of damage to the heart muscle at lower levels of alcohol use and over fewer years than men, according to the CDC.

7. Myth or fact? Juicing is healthier than eating whole fruit.

Answer: Myth. During the juicing process, fiber and bioactive compounds are lost, and calories are often gained since it typically takes more than one fruit to make an 8-ounce drink. Eating whole fruit results in ingesting fewer calories and provides the fiber that is lost when the fruit is juiced. Also, the absorption of sugars from juice as opposed to whole fruit can be so fast that it can spike blood sugar right away, whereas a whole fruit with more fiber takes time to digest, keeping one’s blood sugar at a steadier rate.

True, false or somewhere in between?

Read more in our myth-or-fact series of conversations with UT Health San Antonio faculty and care providers to test your knowledge about specific health concerns:

• Diet and exercise habits that aid weight loss
• Common assumptions about health
• Ear health and how ears work
• How to protect your eyes
• How to maintain good oral health
• What you can do to boost brain function

by Orith Farago

Vulture club celebrates unofficial campus mascots

Watching the nestlings grow and take flight brings joy to amateur birders across the university

Tucked away in a secluded courtyard on the second floor of the Dental School Building, two parent vultures have returned to raise their newest brood.

The parents may not realize it, but over the years, they’ve drawn much attention from captivated members of the university community, eliciting smiles and uniting colleagues interested in the well-being of the close-knit family.

In fact, the vultures have become such an attraction, they spurred the creation of an informal vulture club in past years, bringing staff together for excursions to check on the vulture family’s progress.

It started with a coffee run

What began as an almost daily break to get coffee turned into a gathering of friends with a common hobby: observing the black vultures as they attentively raised their newest brood.

“Our colleague, she was very creative and she loved [the black vultures],” recalled vulture club member Christopher Espinoza, director of admissions, School of Nursing. “She liked Starbucks a lot, so we went [there] probably every day. That’s how it kind of started. On the walk is when we would stop and see them.”

The colleague suggested that the group of six give the unofficial campus mascots backstories and names.

“The parents were named Vendetta and Fabian and had a backstory that they met during Fiesta,” said vulture club member Natalia Arandia, associate budget analyst, Department of Emergency Medicine. They also called the garden area where the vultures nested Rancho Ojo de Buitre — loosely translated to “Eye of the Vulture Ranch” — and named the 2021 babies Beto and Mari.

The backstories helped the club members feel especially connected to their feathered friends.

“For me, coming up with the whole backstory made it more interesting because then it felt like they were part of the family,” Espinoza said.

For Arandia, being a member of the vulture club was a bonding experience as a new employee in 2021.

“I think that helped for us to become [closer and] more of a group,” Arandia said.

Next came a party

The group was so invested in the vulture family they held a baby shower for the brood in 2021. Sitting at the small table in the courtyard, far enough away so as not to disturb the new family, club members brought cupcakes and donuts to celebrate.

The vulture club was most active in 2021 and 2022. As time passed, some members moved on from the university. Those remaining on campus visit the vultures periodically and continue to delight in seeing the transformation of the nestlings each year.

“Even when they’re babies and you see their feathers start to change and you see them walking around and then trying to fly, [it’s] just cool to see them growing up really before our eyes,” Espinoza said.

Having that shared experience provided not only a sense of belonging within the club, but also a special respect for the black vultures.

“Watching the family gives you a whole different idea about vultures,” Arandia said.

Watch this video of the black vulture parent feeding its young in 2021.

Watch this video of one of the nestlings honing its flying technique.

by Orith Farago

They’re back! Black vultures return to raise their young

Vulture culture: Naming contest for baby vultures announced

During the height of winter, two black-feathered, semi-yearly residents made their way back to their familiar haunt, a secluded corner of a courtyard on the Long Campus at UT Health San Antonio.

There, on the second floor across from the Dental Hygiene Office, the mother laid two whitish eggs and has dutifully taken turns with her mate to incubate the precious bundles to ensure their safety and viability.

“Since they are cooperative breeders, and they take turns, it would be very hard to be a single parent if you were a black vulture,” said Patsy Inglet, education and community engagement chair, Bexar Audubon South Central Texas, a chapter affiliate of the National Audubon Society. As one parent is incubating, the other finds food to bring back to their mate, Inglet added.

The eggs — which typically take about 38 days to incubate, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology — will likely hatch within the next few weeks. Once they hatch, the nesting period will last 70–98 days, according to the Cornell Lab.

Last year, the babies hatched in April, drawing many onlookers to the courtyard windows to get a firsthand view of the parents rearing their latest brood.

Contest to name our baby vultures

Visiting the vulture family has become a tradition for many members of the university community.

In fact, some created an informal vulture club whose members visited the vulture family in past years and provided them interesting backstories and fun names.

In this spirit, a contest will get underway shortly to name the two baby vultures that will soon be welcomed into the world.

Look for a future announcement in This Week showing the new hatchlings and asking for your creative names for the baby birds. The top names will be identified in This Week for a final vote to determine the two winning names. The winner will have their name included in this newsletter and receive a lunch for two at the Panorama Buffet, a fine-dining experience at the Long Campus Academic Learning and Teaching Center (ALTC) with panoramic views of the campus and beyond. In the meantime, what have you chosen to name the vulture parents? If you have named the vulture parents in past years, let us know those names and how they came about by sending an email to communications@uthscsa.edu.

Devoted to each other and their offspring 

As monogamous birds, black vultures are devoted to their mates and their offspring, whom they feed for up to eight months after fledging, or developing their feathers, according to Cornell Lab.

Formerly on the protected species list, the black vultures have been on campus since 2020, said Jeffrey Patterson, MBA, executive director, Facilities Management and Operations. “Although we could relocate them, in Facilities Management, we’ve jokingly referred to them as the unofficial mascots of UT Health San Antonio. They’ve been returning for so long and bring so many people around campus happiness, we’ve elected to leave them alone for the time being.”

Since 2020, the loving vulture couple has raised an estimated 10 nestlings in the quiet universe they’ve carved out for themselves.

“[Black vultures are] great parents,” said Josef San Miguel, director of aviculture at the San Antonio Zoo. San Miguel should know. Black vultures are plentiful at the zoo, where he’s seen their devotion firsthand.

“[The nestlings are] very dependent, but it builds a very strong family group,” he said.

As omnivores, black vultures frequently dine on carrion, or animal carcasses, such as feral hogs, poultry, cattle, donkeys, raccoons, coyotes, opossums, striped skunks and armadillos. They will also catch small fish in shallow water or feed on floating carrion, according to the Cornell Lab.

“They can eat things that would kill other organisms,” Inglet said. “They have a very strong acid in their stomach. They can survive anthrax and botulism and other bacterial diseases that would kill other creatures.”

“Anything they ingest is going to turn into liquid, and so they regurgitate to the baby,” San Miguel said, adding that meat is their primary food of choice.

“They eat just about anything,” San Miguel said, adding that they even like popcorn and hot dogs.

San Antonio: A sought-out destination for black vultures

Black vultures are bountiful in San Antonio, likely because of the city’s moderate temperatures.

In fact, they live at the zoo throughout the year, San Miguel said.

“They love our giraffe area,” he said. “There’s a beautiful area — I call it Club Med — and they just love hanging around. They bathe all day. I mean, it’s just like a resort for them. There’s food, the sun and that beautiful pool out there [that] the giraffes share.”

They especially seem to enjoy the springtime, San Miguel said.

While it’s hard to determine if they migrate from San Antonio during the later part of the year, San Miguel said some seem to migrate further south, toward the coast.

Where’s the respect?

As members of the Cathartidae family, a group of seven species of New World vultures found in the Americas, black vultures are estimated to number in the millions, according to the Hawk Mountain Global Raptor Conservation.

Their role as nature’s cleanup crew is especially vital for the ecosystem.

“They’re kind of the Rodney Dangerfield of the bird world,” Inglet said. “They don’t get enough respect for what they do. They help clean up the environment of carcasses. We’d be knee-deep in dead things if the vultures were not active. The faster you take a carcass off the landscape, the less chance [diseases] spread.”

Despite some misconceptions, black vultures are quiet and go about the business of keeping the ecosystem clean.

“They don’t make a lot of noise,” San Miguel said. “They do play and you can see them enjoying themselves out here at our zoo at any given time. They don’t go after people for any reason. They’re just here doing a service and doing their thing every day.”

The baby vultures are here!

And the winning baby vulture names are…

The university community has spoken!

With more than 250 votes submitted, the top baby vulture names are... Rigor and Mortis.

Congratulations to the first person to submit the winning names, Robert Burns, MD candidate, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. He will receive a lunch for two at the Panorama Buffet — a fine-dining experience at the Long Campus Academic Learning and Teaching Center — and a UT Health San Antonio-branded backpack.

The first runner-up — who submitted the names Rigor and Mortis after Robert Burns — is student Brianna Martinez. Frances Maldonado, CCRP, from the Department of Pediatrics, was the second runner-up with the second-most popular names — Floyd (Curl) and Louis (Pasteur). Both will receive a UT Health San Antonio-branded computer bag and Bluetooth speaker.

Watch this Honorable Mentions video to see other popular names that were submitted. Thank you to all who participated by submitting names, taking photos and voting!

by Orith Farago

Myth or fact: Diet and exercise habits that aid weight loss

As a new year comes into focus, weight loss and good health are often high on the list of goals for many

According to a recent Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/Morning Consult survey, nearly half of U.S. adults are planning to start a new diet as one of their 2025 resolutions. Of those surveyed, 40% plan to reduce calories, 26% aim to follow a low-carbohydrate diet and 25% intend to start a low-fat diet.

While it’s promising that many are motivated to do better for their health and well-being, weight loss is complex with many biological, social and behavioral factors involved. That’s why it’s key for those embarking on a weight-loss endeavor to distinguish between myths and facts.

Read on to learn how losing weight can be nuanced rather than cut-and-dried, with insights provided by Marzieh Salehi, MD, professor of medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes.

1. Myth or fact? Skipping breakfast hinders weight loss.

Answer: Veering toward myth. There are instances when skipping breakfast can create a pattern of skipping lunch and eating three times the calories in the evening, which is counterproductive. There are also studies suggesting that when skipping breakfast is associated with lower daily calorie consumption and healthier food intake, this can help with weight loss.

2. Myth or fact? All calories are the same whether from carbs, protein or fats.

Answer: Myth. There is merit to the notion that not all calories are the same, but studies have shown that at the same level of calories, the quality of food matters and it’s not just about calories in and out. People who eat higher-quality calories from foods high in protein, nuts, legumes, fiber-rich foods, whole grains and foods with healthier fat have been shown to be better off than those eating lower-quality foods, because higher-quality foods can change appetite and satiety via various biological factors.

3. Myth or fact? Cardio workouts are best for weight loss.

Answer: It depends. In general, cardio or aerobic exercise by itself may not induce weight loss. Recently, it has been shown that physical activities such as high-intensity training and a combination of aerobic exercise with isometric exercise — along with a high-quality diet and lower-calorie intake — may be more efficient in improving fat and lean body mass. High-intensity training is high bursts of any physical activity for 45 seconds to three minutes, repeated with cooling-down intervals as short as 10 minutes. Isometric exercises — like planks, wall squats and glute bridges — place tension on muscles without moving nearby joints. The bottom line is that the quality of one’s nutrient intake and the quality of exercises undertaken are key, as not all exercises can provide the same results.

4. Myth or fact? Slow weight loss is better and helps keep weight off.

Answer: Myth. It’s not the duration of the weight loss but the quality of the weight loss and the type of actions taken to achieve that loss. There was a randomized trial in which weight loss was induced in both a short and longer timeframe. The result was that the duration of time to lose weight didn’t seem to matter in regaining body weight. However, it should be noted that a huge rate of weight loss in a short amount of time may put some people at risk of some complications such as gallbladder disorder. Also, healthy food and water intake are necessary for safe, rapid weight loss, so those considering fast weight loss may want to consult with their physicians about their plans.

5. Myth or fact? Body mass index, or BMI, is a good metric to determine if weight loss is needed.

Answer: Myth. While BMI is one metric that is broadly used in clinical and research settings, it’s important to look at other metrics to get a broader picture. BMI ­— the ratio of one’s body weight over the body surface area — has served researchers well over time. But this metric doesn’t differentiate between lean mass, fat mass and bone mass. So, if someone has a larger bone mass, they may have the same body mass index as someone with more fat mass. For example, I’m currently conducting a National Institutes of Health-funded clinical trial to investigate the causes of diabetes and obesity in individuals with spinal cord injury and potential mitigatory effects of semaglutide. This medication is used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity. While people with spinal cord injury have a much lower body mass index, they have a much higher fat mass compared to able-bodied people, and they are at much higher risk of cardiometabolic complications because of that. The bottom line is that in individuals with BMI less than 40, other metrics — such as waist circumference or the ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference — are needed in addition to BMI to evaluate the extent of fat mass.

6. Myth or fact? Weight and metabolism are hereditary.

Answer: Veers toward fact. There’s no question that genetic factors matter in weight loss, but there are other important dynamics to consider like behavior carried from one generation to another. It’s well-accepted that generation-to-generation transfer of inherited characteristics can include behavioral and biological factors like food insecurity and childhood trauma. Within one generation, early childhood events can have an effect later in life with manifestations like obesity, dementia and cognitive abnormalities.

7. Myth or fact? Having an early cutoff time for eating aids weight loss.

Answer: Veers toward fact. There is a lot of research focusing on how circadian rhythm may improve the balance between one calorie in and one calorie out. Researchers have compared people who eat normally from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to people who eat from noon to 8 p.m. and it seems that having the earlier cut-off time is a bit more effective in short-term weight loss. In the clinical setting, when dealing with some glucose abnormality and diabetes control, doctors have noticed that patients who eat late have a much worse outcome in terms of glucose control. So, there may be merit to having an earlier cutoff time.

8. Myth or fact? Fasting helps the rate of weight loss.

Answer: Veers toward fact. There is merit to intermittent fasting for short-term weight loss, but how that translates into a long-term effect is still unknown. Depending on one’s goal, having a short-term intervention and then tying that with a mindful process for a much longer period may be durable. But as of now, all that is known is that fasting techniques such as intermittent fasting may have some short-term benefit.

Final thoughts: According to Salehi, before embarking on a new diet or exercise routine, consult with your physician to discuss any ongoing health issues and the best course of action to lose weight in a healthy way.

True, false or somewhere in between?

Read more in our myth-or-fact series of conversations with UT Health San Antonio faculty and care providers to test your knowledge about specific health concerns:

• Common assumptions about health
• Ear health and how ears work
• How to protect your eyes
• How to maintain good oral health
• What you can do to boost brain function

by Orith Farago