Media Spotlight

During December 2004, 206 media placements about The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston reached a potential audience of nearly 40 million people. The following is a sample of those media placements.

Dr. Douglas Adler explains how a metal stent helps pancreatic cancer patients resume normal diets, KHOU-TV, Dec. 1.

Alison D. Gernand, UT School of Public Health (SPH) senior research assistant, encourages moms to breast-feed but recommends vitamin D supplements for newborns, Houston Chronicle "Health & Medicine" Page story, Dec. 2.

Drs. James T.Willerson, Ferid Murad and Rick Wetsel describe how, despite being handicapped by federal limits on stem cell research, the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases is "the state's leading player in the field," Houston Chronicle front page story, Dec. 5.

The SPH's Dr. Mary desVignes-Kendrick is honored by the Committee on the Status of Women as the year's Distinguished Professional Woman, Houston Chronicle, Dec. 5, and a "Faces in the Crowd" feature story in the Chronicle's "This Week"/Zone 17, Dec. 16.

Dr. James W. Wheless explains that Vegas Nerve Stimulation therapy offers a new solution when medication fails in treating epilepsy seizures, KPRC-TV, Dec. 9.

Dr. Arnold Schecter from the SPH's Dallas Regional Campus talks about dioxin poisoning and the medical prognosis for Ukraine presidential candidate Victor Yushchenko, NBC's "The Today Show," Dec. 14.

In the Memorial Hermann sleep clinic, Dr. Richard Castriotta says that a new drug (Lunesta) could be better than Ambien at easing insomnia for many patients, KHWB-TV, Dec. 16.

Dr. Lucho Rossman tells about eliminating fibroid growths by using a new procedure that can spare the uterus, KTRK-TV, aired twice, Dec. 17 and Dec. 18.

Dr. John Reveille gives advice on what to do about Pfizer linking the arthritis medication Celebrex to extra heart risk, KTRK-TV's "Eyewitness News" at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., Dec. 17; also live on the PBS national program, "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," Dec. 17.

Drs. James T.Willerson and Rick Wetsel discuss how the UT Health Science Center is successfully grappling with restrictive government policies on stem-cell research, Wall Street Journal, Dec. 24.

Dr. Robert Emery gives advice on fireworks safety and warns against injuries that can occur in careless New Year's Eve celebrating, KHWB-TV, Dec. 30.

Dr. Ron Peters and young patients in a Riverside General Hospital rehab program talk about the highly addictive "Purple Stuff" teen drug craze, KHOU-TV "Up Close" segment, Dec. 30.