For many years, aspirin was referred to as the “Wonder Drug” for its multiple medicinal applications, write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in their latest column. Aspirin has been used since at least 400 BC and scientists continue to find new uses for this wonder drug.

Fireworks can cause life changing injuries. Learn the dos and don'ts from UTMB Health Trauma Services to keep you and your family safe.

At the University of Texas Medical Branch, Sheryl Bucsanyi serves as the dedicated Pediatric Hospital Teacher, making sure young patients stay connected to learning during their hospital stay.

The University of Texas Medical Branch appointed Dr. Salim Hayek as Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in the John Sealy School of Medicine, effective July 1.

UTMB’s Dr. Gregory Gray was included in this story on bird flu. "It's not like in the movies," Gray says of bird flu infecting humans. "It's going to take continual spillover events for it to get a foothold."

Saffron, one of the most expensive spices in the world, has multiple health benefits, writes Dr. Samuel Mathis. Saffron comes with antioxidant properties, can affect mood and has been shown to help with weight loss.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, may sound like a disease from the past, but it is making a comeback and adults are often the ones passing it on, write Drs. Megan Berman and Richard Rupp.

Dr. Clare McNerlin and Dr. Daniel Kaganov, two inaugural emergency medicine/aerospace medicine residents at UTMB, write about UTMB’s program and the fields of aerospace and emergency medicine. “Although emergency and aerospace medicine are practiced in different settings, both share a commitment to saving lives through rapid, effective care in high-pressure situations,” they write.

Michael Eagon, Senior Pharmacy Manager of Ambulatory Pharmacy at UTMB, and Nathan Vo, Senior Pharmacy Manager of Revenue Integrity at UTMB, spoke to Becker’s about what UTMB has done to expand access to care. “[UTMB] has adopted a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy to effectively expand access to care,” they said.

“Access to care is an institutional priority,” Dr. Jochen Reiser, president and CEO of UTMB Health, tells Becker’s. Becker’s asked C-suite executives from hospitals and health systems across the U.S. to share how their system has been expanding their access to care.

Raise a glass to your health. Beer has some health benefits when ingested in moderation, writes Dr. Samuel Mathis. Studies show that beer may help reduce cognitive decline, that it could be beneficial to our bones and one study even found that men who have had a previous heart attack were less likely to die of heart disease if they occasionally had beer.

Scientists from Canada, the U.S., Australia and Argentina have spent six years trying to understand more about celiac disease, write Drs. Norbert Herzog and David Niesel in their latest column. If untreated, celiac disease could lead to intestinal damage, diabetes, osteoporosis and autoimmune disorders.

A major new study led by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch suggests that standard treatment for hypothyroidism may not fully protect patients from long-term risks such as dementia and premature death—even when thyroid-stimulating hormone levels are within the normal range.

Becker’s also quoted Dr. Jochen Reiser in a separate story on access to care. “In addition to hiring more providers, we have refined the functionality of Fast Pass in our Epic appointment system to make better use of the automated wait list for patients,” Reiser said.

In a guest column for the Daily News, Dr. Jochen Reiser, president of UTMB and CEO of the UTMB Health System, wrote about the recently ended 89th Legislative Session in Austin and some of UTMB’s legislative wins. “At the University of Texas Medical Branch, we are thankful for these investments, both for the legislature’s vote of confidence for our Healthy Aging and Technology Initiative within our institution, and the broader establishment of the research institute, to fund competitive and thoughtful grants, for the betterment of all Texans,” Reiser writes.

Juneteenth holds a profound place in Texas and American history. For many across UTMB Health, the holiday is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a reflection of heritage, a reminder of progress, and a connection to the community that continues to shape our institution.

The University of Texas Medical Branch has been ranked among the top 100 hospitals for cardiac care in the United States as listed in the 2025 edition of Newsweek/Statista’s America’s Best Specialized Hospitals.

Dr. Salim Hayek has always been driven by a fundamental understanding: not everyone has equal access to health and safety, and those who can make a difference have a responsibility to act.

“This distinction reflects the exceptional dedication of our multidisciplinary teams and our unwavering commitment to clinical excellence, innovation and patient-centered care,” UTMB’s Dr. Hani Jneid tells the Daily News. UTMB was ranked among the top 100 U.S. hospitals for cardiac care in the 2025 edition of Newsweek/Statista’s America’s Best Specialized Hospitals.

“Receiving the Marilyn G. Farquhar Lifetime Research Achievement Award is an immense honor — one that symbolizes the decades of work by my team to advance our understanding of podocyte biology and kidney disease,” said Dr. Jochen Reiser president of UTMB and CEO of the UTMB Health System upon receiving the prestigious award.