News Briefs

Therapy after Stroke

Researchers in the Department of Neurosurgery at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston are studying a new type of therapy for people who have speech and language difficulties after a stroke. Constraint Induced Language Therapy is an intensive therapy for people with aphasia, a condition in which patients with brain injury have difficulty producing and/or comprehending language.

Barbra Novak, Ph.D., one of the study’s coordinators, said eligible participants must have suffered a left-hemisphere stroke at least 10 months ago and have difficulty speaking. They also must be right-handed and speak English as their primary language. Andrew C. Papanicolaou, Ph.D., professor and director of the Medical School’s Division of Clinical Neurosciences, is the principal investigator.

Participants will be compensated and parking will be paid. For more information, call 713-797-7587 or 713-797-7586.

Nurse Examiners Approve

The Texas Board of Nurse Examiners voted to continue full approval status for The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston.

“Thanks to all of you who sustain our good record and reputation, and a special thanks to those who prepare the Annual Report to the board,” said School of Nursing Dean Patricia L. Starck, D.S.N. The annual report was prepared by the Office of the Executive Associate Dean, Christine Brosnan, Dr.P.H., interim.

ADA Rewards for Katrina Efforts

The massive efforts on the part of The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston to care for the urgent dental needs of the victims of Hurricane Katrina were rewarded by the American Dental Association with a grant for $73,000.

In the fall of 2005 more than 500 Hurricane Katrina evacuees were seen by Dental Branch faculty, students and residents. Approximately 400 were seen in the dental van, which was included in a full-scale health clinic operated by the UT Health Science Center at Houston inside the George R. Brown Convention Center. Through partnering with the Greater Houston Dental Society, the Dental Branch operated the van eight hours each day for 14 days, providing urgent dental care free to the evacuees.

The grant helped to defray the costs for most of the supplies used, allowed an increase in inventory of surgical instruments on the dental van, and expanded the hours of the Urgent Care Clinic in the fall semester to accommodate additional patients referred from the van.

Houston A+ Challenge

For the second consecutive year, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston participated in Houston Partnership’s Houston A+ Challenge. The program is designed to connect high school teachers with business professionals in order for teachers to develop student learning experiences that are more relevant to the workplace.

The Houston Partnership funded stipends for three teachers on behalf of the health science center. Human Resources and Environmental Health and Safety hosted teachers for several days in June.

Sierra Leone Minister

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston hosted Her Excellency Mrs. Abator Medwin Thomas, Minister of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone at a June reception. The event provided an opportunity to explore collaborations in combating HIV/ AIDS and infant mortality.

While in Houston, the minister was hosted by Saving Lives Through Alternate Options, a nonprofit community-based agency serving African Americans, and Hispanics and people from the Caribbean area.