Jules Meadows endured years of debilitating, unexplained menstrual pain beginning at age 8, facing repeated dismissal from doctors before finally being diagnosed with Stage 4 endometriosis in her early 20s. After surgery and ongoing treatment, her symptoms have significantly improved, and she now advocates for awareness and earlier diagnosis of the often-overlooked condition.

“Healthcare is complex and matrixed, and it’s assumed that we deliver excellent care, but we need validation from our patients on whether we are hitting our mark,” says Stephanie Guzik, MBA, BSN, RN, CHRC, vice president of patient experience and patient services at the University of Texas Medical Branch. “Patient satisfaction surveys are an important barometer because they provide direct, unfiltered insights into the experiences and expectations of the patients, their family and communities we serve.”

Communities investing in recreation, fitness and wellness amenities increasingly attract visitors seeking outdoor experiences and health-oriented travel year round, Craig Kovacevich, UTMB associate vice president of Waiver Operations and Community Health Plans, told The Daily News. “What studies and results show in many communities is people make healthier choices,” Kovacevich said. “They often see the workforce becoming more stable and they often see the retention rate of employees going up.”

Scott C. Weaver, a network Center for Excellence director and chair in Human Infections and Immunity at the University of Texas Medical Branch, joins other experts to talk about how a past outbreak offers clues about how this virus behaves.

UTMB pediatric surgeon Dr. Bindi Naik‑Mathuria is leading a CDC‑funded, youth‑driven program to prevent firearm violence among middle school–aged children. The Rise Up! initiative engages young people as peer messengers to address community violence early.

Hormone replacement therapy can be life-changing for women navigating menopause, but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. UTMB expert Dr. Truong Nguyen explains how personalized care, risk assessment, and evolving guidance are helping women make informed choices about HRT.

"Go ahead, get dirty. Enjoy the clouds, the wind, the sun, the rain, the blooms and sprouts in the garden. If you don’t have space for one, maybe even a forlorn, struggling houseplant can use your love." - Dr. Victor S. Sierpina, member of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine, and a professor emeritus of Family Medicine at the The University of Texas Medical Branch.

Drs. Megan Berman, a professor of internal medicine, and Richard Rupp, a professor of pediatrics, at the University of Texas Medical Branch discuss how quickly progress can unravel and how difficult it is to regain control once an outbreak takes hold.

About 50 families returned to UTMB Health for the 20th annual Preemie Reunion Prom, celebrating the growth and resilience of children who once began life in the NICU under uncertain conditions. The emotional event reunited families with caregivers, highlighting lasting bonds and the life-changing impact of neonatal care.

Robert Cross, an associate professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch's department of microbiology and immunology, said there's virtually no risk of transmission on airplanes within the United States, but travelers heading to certain parts of South America where the Andes virus strain is endemic are at slightly more risk. But, he added, it's still a rare disease.

A $4 million gift from the Sealy & Smith Foundation to UTMB is launching the ISLAND Promise, a program that covers tuition, housing, and living support for nursing students while creating a direct pathway into high-need roles at UTMB Health. In exchange for a two-year work commitment after graduation, the initiative aims to reduce financial barriers, expand access to nursing education and strengthen the long-term workforce pipeline.

“As reimbursement pressure continues to mount, healthcare’ future will be defined less by volume and more by quality, value and patient experience,” said Jochen Reiser.

Virologists have long assumed “that the virus just is not very efficiently transmitted human to human, because the small outbreaks that have occurred in the past have always involved either family members or health care workers who have prolonged, very close contact with infected patients,” says Scott Weaver, a professor of human infections and immunity at the University of Texas Medical Branch and director of the Global Virus Network Center of Excellence.

“This incident is not indicative of a widespread travel risk, but it is a clear example of how zoonotic viruses that come from wildlife exposure can surface in confined or connected settings,” said Scott C. Weaver, a network Center for Excellence director and chair in Human Infections and Immunity at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Both the UTMB Health Clear Lake Hospital Campus and League City Hospital Campus received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, the highest rating for patient safety in the nation.

Sports physicals don’t have to be a last‑minute scramble. Learn when to schedule, what to expect, and how a simple visit can help keep your child safe, confident, and ready for the season ahead.

Weight loss success isn’t built in a clinic, or an operating room, alone. Drs. Samreen, Stark, and primary care leader Angela Raimer explain why a strong primary care relationship is the foundation of safe, sustainable weight loss—before, during, and long after treatment.

A multidisciplinary team from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) recently traveled to Verona, Wisconsin, to share their specialty pharmacy innovations with health systems from across the country at Epic’s Expert Group Meetings (XGM).

"This incident is not indicative of a widespread travel risk, but it is a clear example of how zoonotic viruses that come from wildlife exposure can surface in confined or connected settings," said Scott C. Weaver, PhD, director of the Institute for Human Infections & Immunity at UTMB.

Five nurses and one nursing student from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) have been recognized in the Houston Chronicle’s “Salute to Nurses,” an annual awards program that honors the contributions of nurses across the Greater Houston healthcare community.