UTMB News Articles Back-to-school germs: Practical ways to reduce illness this school year July 24, 2026 • 9:24 a.m. by Carly Boers Back-to-school season brings new learning opportunities—and plenty of germs. Discover how small daily changes can help keep children healthier, minimize missed school days, and support a stronger start to the school year. Is it bad to eat cheese at night? July 24, 2026 • 8:56 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner Family Nurse Practitioner Alma Chavez answers this and nine of the other most-Googled health-related questions in Texas. McWhorter appointed as chair of the UT System Employee Advisory Council July 24, 2026 • 8:40 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner After serving on the UT System Employee Advisory Council’s Resources and Support Committee and as vice chair of the executive board, Will McWhorter now leads the systemwide employee advisory group. How AI is changing disease diagnosis and why physicians still matter July 23, 2026 • 10:26 a.m. by Katherine Adams Artificial intelligence is transforming medical diagnosis, but bioethicists at UTMB say technology should support, not replace, physicians. Beyond speed and accuracy, they say diagnosis is about trust, patient care, ethics, and protecting privacy. Back-to-school anxiety is common — here’s how parents can help July 22, 2026 • 12:52 p.m. by Carly Boers Back-to-school jitters are more common than many parents realize, and anxiety can show up in surprising ways. Learn how to recognize the signs, support your child through the transition, and help them build confidence for a successful school year. From basketball court to crisis and back: UTMB Health guides a young athlete’s healing journey July 22, 2026 • 8:53 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner and Tristen Kersh When an ordinary basketball play left 9-year-old Jonah with a hidden brain bleed, UTMB Health pediatric experts guided him from a frightening diagnosis to a full return to the sport he loves. Therapy dogs lend a healing paw in teen's recovery at UTMB Health July 21, 2026 • 8:43 a.m. by Katherine Adams Following two major spinal fusion revision surgeries, 16-year-old Lilly Tucker spent six weeks at UTMB Health recovering from temporary partial paralysis. During her rehabilitation, visits from dogs in the pet therapy program provided comfort, eased anxiety, and motivated her to walk farther and faster during physical therapy. Shifts in pain management focus on safer, nonopioid treatments July 20, 2026 • 2:35 p.m. by Katherine Adams Patients seeking pain treatment are increasingly asking about alternatives to opioids. Physicians at UTMB Health emphasize personalized care that targets the source of pain through procedures, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and psychological support. Weight loss is one battle. Keeping it off is another. July 17, 2026 • 8:33 a.m. by Katherine Adams Weight loss and weight maintenance are two different biological processes, according to UTMB endocrinologist Israa Ali, MD. While losing weight requires creating a calorie deficit, maintaining that loss requires overcoming the body’s natural responses, including a slower metabolism and increased hunger signals designed to restore lost weight. Water safety starts before you get in: Pool, beach, and swimsuit visibility tips for families July 16, 2026 • 2:51 p.m. by Kaitlin Brennan Before your next pool or beach day, learn how water watchers, life jackets, beach warning flags, rip current awareness, and swimsuit visibility can help families stay safer. Nishi named chief of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at UTMB July 15, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. by Katherine Adams Shawn Nishi, MD, has been appointed chief of the UTMB Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. A UTMB alumna and longtime faculty member, she aims to expand research, education, innovation, and access to specialized pulmonary care. UTMB to hold active shooter drill at Primary and Specialty Care, Town Center July 14, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. by Katherine Adams The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Police Department will conduct an active shooter drill on Saturday, July 18, at UTMB Health Primary and Specialty Care, Town Center in League City and will not affect patient services. UTMB animal research program receives recommendation for continued AAALAC accreditation July 13, 2026 • 9:47 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner The recommendation follows an extensive site visit in June that evaluated all aspects of the institution's animal research program, including veterinary care, facilities, safety programs, regulatory oversight, and research operations. For Galveston retiree, compassionate cancer care close to home is key to recovery July 10, 2026 • 8:58 a.m. by Leslie Sanderson After Charles Meyer's wife died, his grief was compounded by the diagnosis of ampullary cancer. Working with Dr. Raj Vaghjiani, a surgical oncologist at UTMB Health, Meyer completed immunotherapy and prehabilitation before undergoing the Whipple procedure, a complex surgery to remove the tumor and reconnect the digestive system. UTMB study of milder Ebola strain could hold the key to future treatments July 10, 2026 • 8:25 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner The Bombali strain caused classic Ebola symptoms in laboratory models, yet a full survival rate revealed how the body can fight back. By showing how a less lethal strain can be cleared without fatal organ failure, the findings offer a potential blueprint for future therapies. Creating a New, Hopeful Future at UTMB July 9, 2026 • 2:23 p.m. Source: April 21, 2026 by Story by Tyler Hicks, Photography by Jenn Duncan, Texas Monthly The institution's gene therapy work gives children like Knova a chance at a life that, until recently, wasn’t possible. Think you’re allergic to penicillin? You might not be. July 9, 2026 • 2:23 p.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner Many penicillin allergy labels begin in childhood and stay in the chart for years. UTMB Health specialists offer safe, simple testing that can confirm whether the allergy is real — and help you get the most effective treatment when you need it. Where the Heart Tells its Story at UTMB July 9, 2026 • 11:26 a.m. Source: February 24, 2026 by Story by Tyler Hicks, Photography by Jenn Duncan, Texas Monthly A new heart institute is redefining care by blending innovative AI tools with the simple power of listening. Gov. Abbott appoints UTMB Health nephrologist to Texas Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force July 9, 2026 • 11:16 a.m. by Katherine Adams Ajay Israni, MD, chief of the Division of Nephrology at UTMB, has been appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the state's Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force. If you're always 'fighting something off,' it might be time for an immune checkup July 9, 2026 • 10:25 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner Some infections are expected — especially in kids — but patterns of severe, persistent, or unusual illness deserve attention. UTMB Health experts provide gentle, thorough assessments to understand how your immune system is working and what steps can improve your family’s health. Search Categories Awards & Accolades Education Faculty/Staff News Health Care In The News Innovations News Releases Top News UTMB Research Contact Media Team UTMB Experts
Back-to-school germs: Practical ways to reduce illness this school year July 24, 2026 • 9:24 a.m. by Carly Boers Back-to-school season brings new learning opportunities—and plenty of germs. Discover how small daily changes can help keep children healthier, minimize missed school days, and support a stronger start to the school year.
Is it bad to eat cheese at night? July 24, 2026 • 8:56 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner Family Nurse Practitioner Alma Chavez answers this and nine of the other most-Googled health-related questions in Texas.
McWhorter appointed as chair of the UT System Employee Advisory Council July 24, 2026 • 8:40 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner After serving on the UT System Employee Advisory Council’s Resources and Support Committee and as vice chair of the executive board, Will McWhorter now leads the systemwide employee advisory group.
How AI is changing disease diagnosis and why physicians still matter July 23, 2026 • 10:26 a.m. by Katherine Adams Artificial intelligence is transforming medical diagnosis, but bioethicists at UTMB say technology should support, not replace, physicians. Beyond speed and accuracy, they say diagnosis is about trust, patient care, ethics, and protecting privacy.
Back-to-school anxiety is common — here’s how parents can help July 22, 2026 • 12:52 p.m. by Carly Boers Back-to-school jitters are more common than many parents realize, and anxiety can show up in surprising ways. Learn how to recognize the signs, support your child through the transition, and help them build confidence for a successful school year.
From basketball court to crisis and back: UTMB Health guides a young athlete’s healing journey July 22, 2026 • 8:53 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner and Tristen Kersh When an ordinary basketball play left 9-year-old Jonah with a hidden brain bleed, UTMB Health pediatric experts guided him from a frightening diagnosis to a full return to the sport he loves.
Therapy dogs lend a healing paw in teen's recovery at UTMB Health July 21, 2026 • 8:43 a.m. by Katherine Adams Following two major spinal fusion revision surgeries, 16-year-old Lilly Tucker spent six weeks at UTMB Health recovering from temporary partial paralysis. During her rehabilitation, visits from dogs in the pet therapy program provided comfort, eased anxiety, and motivated her to walk farther and faster during physical therapy.
Shifts in pain management focus on safer, nonopioid treatments July 20, 2026 • 2:35 p.m. by Katherine Adams Patients seeking pain treatment are increasingly asking about alternatives to opioids. Physicians at UTMB Health emphasize personalized care that targets the source of pain through procedures, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and psychological support.
Weight loss is one battle. Keeping it off is another. July 17, 2026 • 8:33 a.m. by Katherine Adams Weight loss and weight maintenance are two different biological processes, according to UTMB endocrinologist Israa Ali, MD. While losing weight requires creating a calorie deficit, maintaining that loss requires overcoming the body’s natural responses, including a slower metabolism and increased hunger signals designed to restore lost weight.
Water safety starts before you get in: Pool, beach, and swimsuit visibility tips for families July 16, 2026 • 2:51 p.m. by Kaitlin Brennan Before your next pool or beach day, learn how water watchers, life jackets, beach warning flags, rip current awareness, and swimsuit visibility can help families stay safer.
Nishi named chief of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at UTMB July 15, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. by Katherine Adams Shawn Nishi, MD, has been appointed chief of the UTMB Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. A UTMB alumna and longtime faculty member, she aims to expand research, education, innovation, and access to specialized pulmonary care.
UTMB to hold active shooter drill at Primary and Specialty Care, Town Center July 14, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. by Katherine Adams The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Police Department will conduct an active shooter drill on Saturday, July 18, at UTMB Health Primary and Specialty Care, Town Center in League City and will not affect patient services.
UTMB animal research program receives recommendation for continued AAALAC accreditation July 13, 2026 • 9:47 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner The recommendation follows an extensive site visit in June that evaluated all aspects of the institution's animal research program, including veterinary care, facilities, safety programs, regulatory oversight, and research operations.
For Galveston retiree, compassionate cancer care close to home is key to recovery July 10, 2026 • 8:58 a.m. by Leslie Sanderson After Charles Meyer's wife died, his grief was compounded by the diagnosis of ampullary cancer. Working with Dr. Raj Vaghjiani, a surgical oncologist at UTMB Health, Meyer completed immunotherapy and prehabilitation before undergoing the Whipple procedure, a complex surgery to remove the tumor and reconnect the digestive system.
UTMB study of milder Ebola strain could hold the key to future treatments July 10, 2026 • 8:25 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner The Bombali strain caused classic Ebola symptoms in laboratory models, yet a full survival rate revealed how the body can fight back. By showing how a less lethal strain can be cleared without fatal organ failure, the findings offer a potential blueprint for future therapies.
Creating a New, Hopeful Future at UTMB July 9, 2026 • 2:23 p.m. Source: April 21, 2026 by Story by Tyler Hicks, Photography by Jenn Duncan, Texas Monthly The institution's gene therapy work gives children like Knova a chance at a life that, until recently, wasn’t possible.
Think you’re allergic to penicillin? You might not be. July 9, 2026 • 2:23 p.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner Many penicillin allergy labels begin in childhood and stay in the chart for years. UTMB Health specialists offer safe, simple testing that can confirm whether the allergy is real — and help you get the most effective treatment when you need it.
Where the Heart Tells its Story at UTMB July 9, 2026 • 11:26 a.m. Source: February 24, 2026 by Story by Tyler Hicks, Photography by Jenn Duncan, Texas Monthly A new heart institute is redefining care by blending innovative AI tools with the simple power of listening.
Gov. Abbott appoints UTMB Health nephrologist to Texas Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force July 9, 2026 • 11:16 a.m. by Katherine Adams Ajay Israni, MD, chief of the Division of Nephrology at UTMB, has been appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the state's Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force.
If you're always 'fighting something off,' it might be time for an immune checkup July 9, 2026 • 10:25 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner Some infections are expected — especially in kids — but patterns of severe, persistent, or unusual illness deserve attention. UTMB Health experts provide gentle, thorough assessments to understand how your immune system is working and what steps can improve your family’s health.