Media Spotlight

During March 2006, 117 media placements about The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston reached a potential audience of 27.5 million people. The following is a sample of those media placements.

A new, high-tech mobile health clinic will soon be serving Texas residents in need, KHOU-TV’s “11 News At Noon” and “11 News at Ten,” March 2, plus “11 News Early A.M. Edition,” March 3.

After surgeon C. Y. Joseph Chang creates an external ear canal to correct a birth defect, nine-year-old Lea Campbell finally gets to hear how loud the world really can be, KHOU-TV’s “11 News at Ten,” March 2.

Despite claims that children can be taught to do it at a startlingly early age, Dr. Barbara Foorman explains what is a typical reading age for children and offers at-home teaching tips, KPRC-TV’s “Local 2 News at Ten,” March 2.

A “Prescriptions for Health” item announces the March 11 Brain Awareness Week forum, Houston Chronicle “Health/Medicine” Page, March 2. In a related story Drs. John H. Byrne and Joshua Breier discuss why the forum’s speakers will tackle “Memory” as a topic, Houston Chronicle “Environment/Science” Page, March 7.

Clinical trial participant Janie Allison is enthusiastic about the quality-of-life benefits of Dr. Joan M. C. Bull’s use of thermal therapy for her type of cancer, KHOU-TV’s “11 News at Five,” March 7, and “11 News Saturday Morning,” March 11.

En español, fourth-year medical students Merari Zavala and Martha Suarez share with Telemundo the excitement of Match Day, as they learn where they will do their residencies, KTMD-TV’s “Noticiero 47” at 5 and 10 p.m., March 16. Their classmate, Maria De Los Angeles Sandoval, is interviewed en español for a Univision report, KXLN-TV’s “Noticias 45 at 5 PM,” March 19.

Drs. James T.Willerson and Richard Andrassy participate in a front page story on why the “kinder and gentler” option of minimally invasive surgery is the wave of the future – also, Dr. Erik Wilson talks about new uses of robotics in bariatrics surgery, Houston Chronicle, March 19.

A Page One story announces results from a study in which Dr. Eric Boerwinkle participated, identifying a mutated gene that is found to lower “bad cholesterol” in some lucky people, Houston Chronicle, March 23.

UT Medical School dietician Christie E. Givens-Bowden makes changes in a boy’s eating habits that reduce need for hypertension medications, Houston Chronicle “Health/Medicine” Page, March 23.

As Dr.Ward Casscells drills his family at home on cardiac-event first aid, he joins Dr. Arlo Weltge in affirming that at-home defibrillators could easily help save a life, KHOU-TV’s “11 News at Five,” March 28, and “11 News At Noon,” March 29.

Dr. Samer S. Fakhri discusses how he uses a rigid nasal telescope to search for troublesome polyps – an ailment to which Houston’s heavy allergy season can lead, Houston Chronicle “Health/Medicine” Page, March 30.

Dr. Susan Landry is listed as a “Best Advisor” on the topic of fatherhood and children, the national Best Life Magazine, April issue.