News Briefs

UT Physicians Get New Phone Numbers

UT Physicians clinics in The University of Texas Health Science Center Professional Building, 6410 Fannin, formerly the Hermann Professional Building, have new phone numbers. For assistance, call 1-888-4UT-DOCS (1-888-488-3627).

Speaking of Women's Health

Don Meade, director of business development for UT Physicians, greeted more than 300 visitors to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston's booth at the Speaking of Women's Health conference coordinated in Houston by KUHT-TV. The Office of Public Affairs and UT Physicians distributed information about HealthLeader, the university's on-line health news service, and the physicians' practice.

John Byrne, Ph.D., the June and Virgil Waggoner Distinguished Professor and associate dean for research at the UT Medical School at Houston, spoke to a packed house on "Remembering Until You Choose to Forget." Karen Schneider, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Medical School, discussed "Staying Strong and Vital."

Center Certified

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has awarded Disease Specific Certification to the Center for Vascular Neurology at Memorial Hermann Hospital (formerly called the Stroke Center) as a result of the Nov. 15 on-site review. The center is directed by James Grotta, M.D., holder of the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Distinguished Chair at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. The center is the first JCAHOapproved center in Houston and second in the state of Texas.

Congressman Visits

S.Ward Casscells, M.D., vice president for biotechnology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, welcomed U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio, to a visit of some health science center research areas housed in the Texas Heart Institute. The tour ended with a briefing on the health science center's handling of bioterrorism, homeland security,West Nile virus, trauma training and other public health issues.

Corporate Challenge

A team of faculty and staff members from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston joined some 4,000 runners in the 2004 JPMorgan Corporate Challenge, a 3.5- mile race in downtown Houston. "With night sky, downtown lights, family, friends and co-workers cheering us on, it was awesome," said team captain Dustin Childers from the Office of Public Affairs.

Phil Conway, president of JPMorgan Houston and member of the health science center's Development Board, invited the university to participate.

Pfizer Visiting Professorship

The Division of Urology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston hosted Gamal M. Ghoneim, M.D., head, Section of Female Urology, Voiding Dysfunction and Reconstruction at the Cleveland Clinic Florida. The Dec. 1-3 visit was supported by a $7,500 Pfizer Visiting Professorship grant. Ghoneim's hosts were Mike L. Ritchey, M.D., holder of the C. R. Bard Inc./Edward J. McGuire, M.D., Distinguished Chair in Urology, and John C. Hairston, M.D., assistant professor of urology.

The purpose of the Pfizer Visiting Professorships program is to increase opportunities for scientific exchange and education at medical schools and teaching hospitals.