News Briefs

Clinical Trials Resource Coordinator

Catharine “Catey” Carter, a registered nurse and experienced clinical trials coordinator, has joined the Office of Research as clinical trials resource coordinator for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “Catey’s assignment is to work with investigators and their staff to assist them in developing their budgets and administrative information for clinical trials,” said Peter J. Davies, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president for research.

Carter is making visits to clinical research investigators, coordinators and department administrators to introduce them to the program and to gain an understanding of their needs for support. In addition, the Research Office is developing uniform processes for identifying the costs associated with clinical trials and mechanisms to ensure the appropriate billing of research-related expenses.

Clinical researchers interested in support for their programs may contact Catharine.V.Carter@uth.tmc.edu or (713) 500-3524.

Interim Head of Dental Faculty Practice Plan

Thomas A. Servos, D.D.S., assistant professor and vice chairman of diagnostic sciences, has been named interim executive director of the Faculty Practice Plan at The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston.

Servos graduated from the UT Dental School at San Antonio in 1983. Upon returning to Houston, he worked for a large group practice before going into his own practice, where he maintained a large and successful patient base.

As interim director of the practice plan, Servos is responsible for assisting with the development of the plan’s administration, operations and facility. Once the plan’s board of directors is
established, a search will be conducted for a permanent director.

Director of Surgical and Clinical Skills Center

Eric Reichman, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed director of the Surgical and Clinical Skills Center (SCSC), UT Medical School at Houston Dean Stanley G. Schultz, M.D., has announced. “Dr. Reichman’s initial priority will be to guide the facilities planning; he will then turn to curriculum development,” Schultz said. “He will also foster research in the center.”

Schultz appointed Brent King, M.D., chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, to chair the advisory committee formed to ensure school-wide input and participation in the development of the center.

Before he joined the Medical School, Reichman was director of the Surgical Techniques and Skills Laboratory in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Cook County Hospital and at Rush Medical College. He also has co-authored a wellrespected textbook, Emergency Medicine Procedures.

At the Medical School, in addition to his clinical activity in the Memorial Hermann emergency department, Reichman directs the emergency medicine residency program and is involved in teaching skills to undergraduate medical students. As SCSC director, he reports to Patricia Butler, M.D., associate dean for educational programs.

Assistant Dean for Educational Programs

Philip Orlander, M.D., professor and director, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, has been appointed assistant dean for educational programs at the UT Medical School.

Orlander has done “an exemplary job” as long-term chair of the Medical School Curriculum Committee, said Patricia Butler, M.D., associate dean for educational programs. More than 11 years ago, Orlander and his colleagues started working with the standardized patient concept, applying it to the Medical School curriculum for instruction and evaluation. Last year a standardized patient examination was incorporated into the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination Step 2.

Orlander, also vice chair for education in the Department of Internal Medicine, received the 2001 Award for Humanism in Medicine, and last year’s Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Master Clinical Teaching Award. He has received the Dean’s Teaching Award multiple times.