The University of Texas Medical Branch launched its inaugural Doctor of Occupational Therapy cohort at the UT Education and Research Center at Laredo in Laredo, Texas, today. The program is the first hybrid occupational therapy program offered by a public university in Texas.

The Daily News reports on UTMB’s announcement of new leadership appointments in the John Sealy School of Medicine. Dr. Antonio Bianco was named senior vice president of health affairs and dean of JSSOM. Dr. Tom Blackwell was appointed vice dean of Graduate Medical Education and Clinical Affairs. The Daily News also reported that Dr. Vicente Resto is now senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Faculty Group Practice.

UTMB launched its inaugural Doctor of Occupational Therapy class at the University of Texas Education and Research Center at Laredo in Laredo on Thursday, reports the Daily News. The program is the first hybrid occupational therapy program offered by a public university in Texas.

“Hesitancy remains high, and people think they can deal with Covid now without it,” Dr. Janak Patel tells The New York Times. “But as you can tell, we have big waves, and we still have admissions and deaths.” The Times reported on FDA’s approval of new covid vaccines with new, tighter restrictions on who can get the shots. This news also reported in U.S. News & World Report, El Diario and Drugs.com, among others.

UTMB’s Dr. Michael Eagon spoke to Becker’s about recent initiatives that “have made significant contributions to value-driven healthcare.” “Collectively, these initiatives have strengthened our alignment with value-based care goals and improved the patient experience across the continuum,” Eagon told Becker’s.

UTMB’s Clear Lake Campus has received Level II Trauma Verification from The American College of Surgeons, meaning it is equipped to deliver comprehensive trauma care, including the definitive treatment of severely injured patients.

Dr. Jochen Reiser, president and CEO of UTMB Health, will take part in one of the keynote interviews during Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting in Chicago. “At its core, the meeting has become a space for executives to take stock — not just of industry trends, but of how their own leadership must evolve to meet the moment,” Becker’s said.

“Covid vaccines have been proven to be effective at preventing hospitalization and death,” write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in their latest Medical Discover News column. Covid continues to spread, with deadly results. “Estimates for 2024-25 are that there were up to 13.5 million people infected, and up to 43,000 deaths,” Herzog and Niesel write. “It is clear that Covid isn’t done with us yet.”

“UTMB Health successfully launched a new initiative that we refer to as Medicine 2.0,” Dr. Jochen Reiser tells Becker’s for an article on value-driven care. “Our model balances clinical excellence with financial sustainability, positioning UTMB as a market leader and destination center for specialized therapies such as gene therapy,” Reiser said.

“We salute the vision and efforts of the University of Texas Medical Branch in placing value on such an essential element of community healthcare,” writes Leonard Woosley, the publisher of the Galveston County Daily News. Woosley was commenting on the recent announcement of the new Sealy Heart and Vascular Institute.

“Homemade cooking has been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses like hypertension and high cholesterol,” writes Dr. Samuel Mathis for his column on the benefits of cooking at home.

Think about the one person you can call whether your child has a fever at 2 a.m., you need a wellness check before starting a new job, or you’re caring for an aging parent. That’s your family physician. They’re the medical professionals who know you by name, remember your history, and understand more than just your symptoms.

Dr. Ashok Chopra spoke to the Los Angeles Times about plague after a South Lake Tahoe resident was recently infected. While the plague can be treated with antibiotics, Chopra said if left untreated it can be fatal. “If the infection is overwhelming,” he said, “then the bacteria can spread fairly quickly into the bloodstream, and then it becomes very dangerous.”

UTMB Health has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers for 2025.

UTMB Health has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers for 2025. “To be honored by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers for a second consecutive year is a true testament to the people of UTMB Health,” Dr. Jochen Reiser, president of the medical branch and CEO of the UTMB Health System, said.

"For me, this is a lifetime work,” said UTMB’s Dr. Hani Jneid about the establishment of the Sealy Heart and Vascular Institute thanks to a $30 million grant from the Sealy & Smith Foundation. This news also reported in Becker’s Hospital Review, the Galveston County Daily News and the Houston Business Journal.

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is proud to announce two major advancements in cardiovascular health: the establishment of the Sealy Heart and Vascular Institute and the launch of a new Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. Together, these initiatives represent a bold and unified commitment to elevating cardiovascular care, research and education for the region and beyond.

Researchers are exploring a surprising new way to deliver vaccines — coating dental floss with vaccine ingredients, write Drs. Megan Berman and Ricard Rupp for their Vaccine Smarts column.

Dr. Victor S. Sierpina says he use to condescending when someone said walking was their primary exercise. But, Sierpina writes, new research is verifying the many health benefits of walking. “It is a simple, convenient, and affordable way to work on cardiovascular fitness, strength, balance, and flexibility in one package,” Sierpina writes.

A fungus named Candida auris is making its way across the U.S., write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in their latest Medical Discover News column. C. auris can cause a variety of infections, from relatively mild but itchy skin infections to severe bloodstream infections, they write.