UTMB Provost's Office

Happy Halloween! Our UTMB community celebrated down on the island with sweet treats and a spooky hallway. Thank you to our @SHPUTMB, @utmbson, @UTMBStudentLife, and UTMB Student Services for hosting fun events for our student community this week. Have a safe holiday weekend!

Achieving the rank of professor is a crowning achievement of a career in academia. In FY26, UTMB appointed or promoted 17 new professors, and we had the pleasure of celebrating with many of them at last night's Professors' Dinner. Congratulations to all our new professors!

A landmark day! UTMB and community partners gathered yesterday to celebrate the new @utmb_spph Department of Aerospace and Exploration Medicine! Dr. J.D. Polk, NASA's Chief Health and Medical Officer, presented an inspiring lecture before the official department ribbon-cutting.

Congratulations to Dr. Mohanad Albayyaa, Assistant Professor of Research in @utmbcardiology, @utmb_jssom! He was recently appointed to the @PublicHealth Education Board. Board members review, guide, and advocate for public health education. Outstanding, Dr. Albayyaa!

Congrats to Layne Pruitt, @UTMBGSBS Microbiology & Immunology doctoral student, on a new two-year National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases predoctoral research fellowship grant: "Harnessing germinal center hypoxia to develop an effective HIV vaccine.” Terrific!

We were delighted to host this month’s Afternoon Tea featuring Dr. Gracie Vargas, @utmb_jssom Translational Neuroscience. Thank you to those who joined us! Faculty members, join us for the next Afternoon Tea on Nov. 12 with Dr. Ramkumar Menon: utmb.us/eyr

Yesterday at New Faculty Orientation, faculty members came to network with peers, meet institutional leaders, and gain a deeper understanding of the resources and partnerships that drive our missions forward. Thanks to all who attended! We're excited for the impact you'll make.

Congratulations, Dr. Christopher S. Massey (@utmb_jssom M&I) on a new two-year National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases exploratory research grant: "Assembly of B. pseudomallei proteins to virus-like particles as a vaccine platform against melioidosis." Great work!

We are proud to celebrate our new endowment holders! Congratulations to Dr. Neil Mehta on his appointment as holder of the Sheridan Lorenz Distinguished Professorship in Aging and Health. He is Associate Dean for Research, Professor, and Inaugural Chair, @utmb_spph Epidemiology.

Congratulations to Dr. Miguel Cabada on his promotion to Professor of Research, @UTMBDOM, Division of Infectious Diseases, @utmb_jssom! This promotion honors his excellence in research, patient care and teaching to advance understanding and treatment of tropical diseases.

UTMB community, the Moody Medical Library team wants to hear from you. The library is conducting a survey through Monday, 11/2. The library will donate $5 to the UTMB student food pantry, the Picnic Basket, for every completed survey. Take survey: utmb.us/gsj

We are celebrating the new Department of Aerospace and Exploration Medicine in the @utmb_spph! On 10/27 the Provost's Lecture series welcomes Dr. J.D. Polk, NASA Chief Health & Medical Officer. Ribbon-cutting and reception to follow his talk. Learn more: utmb.us/gq1

Congratulations to Dr. Jeong Hoon Jang, Assistant Professor, @utmb_biostatds, @utmb_spph. He was awarded a new two-year research grant from the @NIDCR_NIH for "Modeling Causal Mediation by Dental Care and Risk Prediction of Jaw Osteonecrosis in Bisphosphonate Users." Great work!

Congratulations, Dr. Gene Olinger on this fantastic opportunity with the @FulbrightPrgrm! Read more from @utmbnews about Dr. Olinger's award and the education and training he will provide in Dublin, Ireland. utmb.edu/news/article/utmb-n…

We are proud to celebrate our new endowment holders! Congratulations to Dr. Lemuel Aigbivbalu on his appointment as holder of the UTMB Endowed Professorship in Pediatrics Honoring Dr. C. Joan Richardson. Dr. Aigbivbalu is a Professor of Clinical Practice, @utmb_jssom Pediatrics.

Congrats to Blake Neil, @UTMBGSBS Microbiology & Immunology doctoral student, on a new two-year National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases predoctoral research fellowship grant: "Bacterial histamine production as a novel mechanism of host immune evasion.” Great work!

We are pleased to announce Dr. Ramkumar Menon's appointment as inaugural Director of the UTMB Center for Reproductive Health. The center will advance our commitment to becoming a national leader in reproductive health research and innovation. Read more: utmb.us/gqx

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bartosz Szczesny on his promotion to Professor, Tenure Track, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences at the @utmb_jssom! This promotion recognizes his impacts on healthcare through research, education, and service. Well deserved!

Congratulations to Dr. Suresh K. Bhavnani, Professor, Department of Biostatistics & Data Science, @utmb_spph! He leadership within research and innovation landed him as a Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI). Outstanding, Dr. Bhavnani!