Benjy F. Brooks Award, John P. McGovern Award: Dr. Pedro Mancias

On pace to sweep the Medical School’s teaching awards, Dr. Pedro Mancias is the winner of both the Benjy F. Brooks Teaching Award and the John P. McGovern Award this year.

The John P. McGovern Award, made possible by an endowment from the McGovern Foundation, is given annually to the outstanding clinical faculty member as chosen by the senior class.

Established in 1991 by the Alumni Association, the Benjy Brooks award is presented by the alumni of the Medical School to recognize individuals “who complement and enhance the education program by serving as role models for students.” It is named in honor of Dr. Benjy Brooks, the first board-certified woman pediatric surgeon in the United States, who joined the Medical School’s faculty in 1973 and remained active in the life of the Medical School until her death in 1998.

“I was extremely humbled to have been chosen from so many great teachers and clinical faculty at our esteemed institution,” Mancias said.

Mancias said he aims to teach by example.

“I like the students to see the passion that I have for what I do,” he said. “I am just so thankful for the many mentors, teachers, colleagues, and students who I have had the privilege to be around. Wherever there is a teacher, a student will be near; moreover, wherever there is a student, a teacher is always there.”

Mancias, associate professor of pediatrics, joined the Medical School in 1996. He is a ’88 graduate of the Medical School and completed two years of pediatric training at the University of Arkansas Medical School in Little Rock. He finished his pediatric neurology residency and fellowship in pediatric electromyography and neuromuscular disorders at the UT Medical School at Houston.

His research interests include congenital neuropathies, congenital neuromuscular disorders, and acquired neuropathies. He received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award last year.

Previous recipients of the McGovern award include Octavio Pinell, M.D., 2006, 2004, 2001, 1999, 1997, 1995; Alberto Puig, M.D., Ph.D., 2007, 2005; Frank Arnett, M.D., 2003, 2000; Eugene Toy, M.D., 2008, 2002; Edward Yeomans, M.D., 1998; John F. Donnelly, M.D., 1996, 1993, 1990; James T. Willerson, M.D., 1994; John M. Passmore, M.D., 1992; Herbert L. DuPont, M.D., 1991.

Former recipients of the Benjy F. Brooks Teaching Award include Walter M. Kirkendall, M.D., 1991; William S. Fields, M.D., 1992; James T. Willerson, M.D., 1994; Harold T. Pruessner, M.D., 1995; Herbert L. DuPont, M.D., 1997; Larry D. Scott, M.D., 1999; Herbert L. Fred, M.D., 1999; Becky L. McGraw-Wall, M.D., 2000; Terry K. Satterwhite, M.D., 2001; Cheves M. Smythe, M.D., 2002; Ian Butler, M.D., 2003; and Francisco Fuentes, M.D., 2004.

— Darla Brown, Office of Communications, Medical School

Calling all alumni: Second annual phone-a-thon set

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate in a Medical School phone-a-thon to help raise money for scholarships. Sponsored by the Offices of Development and Alumni Relations, calling is scheduled from 6–8:30 p.m., July 20–23 in MSB B.100.

The phone campaign is targeting all alumni — those who have already given will be thanked, and those who have not will be asked to do so. Last year was a great success — 87 pledges were secured for scholarships — and this year is expected to be even more successful.

To reserve your calling spot and dinner, please e-mail Leslie Dick, or call her at 713.500.5065.

UT human subjects research community earns accreditation status

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston joined 12 other organizations in earning accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) June 18.

AAHRPP is a non-profit organization that works with organizations that conduct human research to raise the level of protection for research participants. AAHRPP accredits organizations that can demonstrate they provide participant safeguards that surpass the threshold of state and federal requirements.

The AAHRPP seal identifies an organization as a gold standard for human research subject safety.

“The award of this accreditation is a tribute to the dedication of our researchers, institutional officials, members of our Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (CPHS), to the ethical and responsible conduct of all aspects of our human research programs,” said Dr. Peter Davies, executive vice president of research.

Dr. Larry Kaiser, president of the health science center, considered the accreditation further validation of the overall excellence of the UT human subjects protection program.

“The safety of those who volunteer as subjects for research studies always is the primary consideration in the minds of our researchers,” he said. “I am extremely proud that this national accrediting organization known for its rigorous standards has recognized the outstanding program that is in place at our institution and the incredible work on the part of Sujatha Sridhar, Cynthia Edmonds, Robert Nobles, and a number of others, that went into making this program a model for the rest of the country. In addition, the success of this application reflects the dedication that Dr. Anne Dougherty, executive chair of the CPHS, and her colleagues on the IRB bring to ensure that we have a very strong IRB focused on the ethical aspects of human subjects research.”

“The accreditation process took over two years of concerted effort from numerous individuals at the health science center,” said Sridhar, director of the Clinical Trials Resource Center. “Through this rigorous accreditation process, we have demonstrated that we have extensive safeguards at every level of our human subjects research operation and that we adhere to the highest standards for human subjects research.”

Nine guiding principles serve as the framework for the AAHRPP “seal of approval”; they include participant protection and ethical treatment and address conflicts of interest, community outreach, and education.

Organizations that strive for this accreditation must demonstrate that superior ethical standards, safety, and efficient systems for monitoring safety thread through the entire research operation. Davies also highlighted the contributions of the staff of the Committee on the Protection of Human Subjects and cited the exemplary principles and practices of the research program that existed before the two-year accreditation process began.

“The most important aspect of this accreditation is not the application, per se, but the fact that we have an accreditable program — not just an accreditable program, but an outstanding program for the protection of human research subjects,” Davies commented.

Davies added that at the end of their site visit to the health science center campus, the AAHRPP visitors “commented specifically on the quality of our program and the extent to which our researchers and the IRB members and staff worked together collaboratively to ensure the protections provided to all who participated in our research programs.”

— Karen K. Kaplan, Office of Institutional Advancement, Institutional Communications

Nominations open for Searle awards

The University of Texas Health Science Center is invited to nominate one candidate for the 2010 Searle Scholars Program. Applicants for year 2010 awards will be expected to be pursuing independent research careers in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and related areas in chemistry, medicine, and the biological sciences.

Candidates should have begun their first appointment at the assistant professor level on or after July 1, 2008, and therefore be in their first or second year. This appointment must be a tenure-track position and must be in an academic department. Normally 15 grants of $100,000 per year for three years will be made; funding for the second and third years will be contingent upon the submission of acceptable progress reports.

All nominations will be made, on behalf of candidates, by the dean or department chair. Nominations should be submitted electronically to the UTHSC-H Scientific Review Committee and should include a letter of nomination, the CV of the candidate, and a brief (not to exceed one page) summary of his/her research proposal. All nominations must be received by the Office of Research by Aug. 1.

For more details, contact Denelle L. Gordon, administrative coordinator, Office of the EVP for Research, extension 3078.

Recreation Center celebrates 25th anniversary

The UT Recreation Center will celebrate its 25th anniversary with an open house and member appreciation day 5:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., July 22, for all UT and TMC faculty, staff, and students.

Activities will include facility tours, group fitness classes, music and fun by the pool, water games, inner tube relays, and spin the wheel to win giveaways throughout the day. The main events will take place from 3:30–6:30 p.m., when hamburgers, hotdogs, and veggie burgers will be served on the pool patio. Bring your institutional ID and feel free to use the facilities or just stop by for the festivities.

For more information, call 713.500.8420.

Construction is in the air

 

Location & Contact

6431 Fannin Street,
Houston, Texas 77030

PO Box 20708,
Houston, Texas 77225

713.500.4472

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