News Contacts

Meredith Raine – Director of Media Relations
E-mail: Meredith.Raine@uth.tmc.edu

In every area of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – from the classrooms to the laboratories to the clinics – experts are discovering ways to treat, cure and prevent today’s most common diseases. Meredith, who supervises media relations activities at the university, can assist reporters with news in any of the university’s schools, centers or clinics. Meredith has been a member of the university’s Media Relations since January 2001 and has been honored with CASE awards in medical writing. Prior to that, she had a successful career as a newspaper reporter, winning writing awards from the Texas Medical Association, National Kidney Foundation and the American Cancer Society, among others.

Rob Cahill – Senior Media Relations Specialist
E-mail: Robert.Cahill@uth.tmc.edu

Rob is your contact for news about medical genetics and biomedical science, translational research, nanotechnology, health informatics, stem cell research and discoveries in basic science. Before joining the Media Relations Team at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Rob was a public service coordinator for the University of Houston, an account executive for a communications firm and a public affairs specialist at Christus-St. Joseph Hospital. He started his career as a newspaper reporter, working at the San Antonio Light and Laredo News. He holds a M.A. in Communications and was twice named Communicator of the Year by the Houston Press Club, among several other professional awards.

Deborah Mann Lake – Media Relations Specialist
E-mail: Deborah.M.Lake@uth.tmc.edu

Deborah is your media relations contact for stories on groundbreaking research, clinical care and education at The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. She also leads publicity efforts for news relating to neurology, geriatrics, psychiatry and behavioral sciences. Deborah spent two decades writing for Texas newspapers including The Houston Post and has received two Texas Associated Press Awards and two Aldo Awards. From 1999-2004, Deborah was feature story writer for the Houston Chronicle’s weekly “Health/Medicine” page. She is the winner of a 2003 Anson Jones, M.D., Award from the Texas Medical Association.

Melissa McDonald – Senior Media Relations Specialist
E-mail: Melissa.E.McDonald@uth.tmc.edu

Melissa is your first point of contact for news relating to internal medicine, pediatrics, pediatric surgery, the Children’s Learning Institute and women’s services. She coordinates interviews with faculty members in those fields who can provide you with information on the latest clinical and scientific breakthroughs. Melissa’s background is in television.  For two years, she was a medical producer and associate producer at KPRC-TV Local 2 News (NBC-Houston). From 1999-2003, Melissa worked at KPLC-TV (NBC-Lake Charles, La.), where she was a videographer and producer. She has earned three Louisiana Associated Press awards, including one for breaking news coverage of Hurricane Lili, and a 2007 CASE award for healthcare writing on the HPV vaccine.

Jade Waddy – Media Relations Assistant
E-mail: Jade.Waddy@uth.tmc.edu

Jade is your first point of contact for news at The University of Texas School of Public Health and its five regional campuses in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Brownsville and El Paso. Jade is a recent graduate of Hampton University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations. She gained vast experience in public affairs, marketing and promotions during her four years as an intern scholar at the Emma L. Bowen Foundation for Minority Interests in Media.

Sheila Amiot – Executive Assistant
E-mail: Sheila.Amiot@uth.tmc.edu

Sheila Amiot serves as Executive Assistant in the Office of Institutional Advancement. She uses management experience gained during many years in business administration to coordinate executives’ schedules and to meet the exacting demands of their positions. Sheila has been a valued part of the office for 8 years and her variety of expertise is called upon by all areas of the department, including Media Relations.