2023 Awards Celebration
& Member Appreciation Reception
January 31, 2024
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2023 President's Cabinet Award Winners | |
The President’s Cabinet (PC) celebrated 26 UTMB faculty, staff and students at a special Mardi-Gras themed awards celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Levin Hall. Ten awards, totaling more than $220,000, were given for projects that identify and address pressing health needs in our community. UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, PC Chair Tom Perich and Immediate Past PC Chair Fred Raschke honored the award recipients by presenting them with special certificates. After the awards presentation, guests were led to a colorful carnival reception by a second-line parade featuring a horn section and costumed revelers adorned with beads. | |
Further Expansion of
Eye Care at St. Vincent’s
| From left, UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, Awardee Dr. You Zhou, and PC leadership Fred Raschke and Tom Perich. Not pictured Drs. Rhys Ishihara and Ardalan Sharifi. | Supports the acquisition of additional diagnostic tools to open more exam lanes and add screening equipment to support growing patient volume. | |  |
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Geriatric Resilience:
Engage and Treat (GREAT)
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From left, UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, Awardees Victoria Spiciarich. Mariam Mufti, and PC leadership
Fred Raschke and Tom Perich.
| Formation of an 8-week closed cohort, multimodal therapeutic group of 12 geriatric adults with a goal to decrease social isolation and loneliness and increase community engagement. | | |
Implementing a Community-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening and Preventive Program | From left, UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, Awardees
Julian Quiceno, Nathaniel Giles, and PC leadership
Fred Raschke and Tom Perich. | Establishment of a new colorectal cancer screening program at St. Vincent’s Clinic in Galveston. | | |
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Inhaled Medication Resource Allocation for the Luke Society Clinic
| From left, UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, Awardees
Dr. Brian Walsh, Dr. Jose Rojas, and PC leadership
Fred Raschke and Tom Perich. | Supports the purchase of spirometry equipment and inhaled steroids to provide better treatment and care for underinsured individuals seeking treatment for COPD and asthma at the weekly Luke Society Street Clinic. | | |
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Moody Early Childhood Center Infant Toddler Outdoor Learning Environment
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From left, UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, Awardee
Dr. Karen Ratliff, and PC leadership Fred Raschke and
Tom Perich. Not pictured, Dr. Claudia Hilton.
| Promotion of skill development for infants and toddlers through the creation of an outdoor learning environment at Moody Early Childhood Center in Galveston. | | |
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Reach Out and Read:
Mitigating the Effects of Toxic Stress Through Relational Health
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From left, UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, Awardees Roxanna Sanchez, Dr. Maria Nguyen, Angela Attaway, and
PC leadership Fred Raschke and Tom Perich. Not pictured
Dr. Syed Kazmi and Priscila Martinez.
| Expansion of the Reach out and Read program at the UTMB Alvin Pediatric and Adult Primary Care Clinic to provide books to more at-risk patients between 6 – 60 months of age. | | |
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Reaching Into the Community:
A Student-Led Hand Therapy
Initiative at St. Vincent’s
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From left, UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, Awardees
Dr. Loree Pryor, Dr. April Cowan, and PC leadership
Fred Raschke and Tom Perich.
| A specialized hand therapy program will be created to serve uninsured individuals in Galveston County that will provide real life student education and much-needed therapy for individuals with hand and arm impairments. | | |
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UTMB Galveston Chemical
Incident Preparedness Initiative
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From left, UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, Awardees
Mike Mastrangelo, Dr. Philip Keiser, and PC leadership
Fred Raschke and Tom Perich.
| An effort to gather baseline environmental and health data to assist with the development of a county-wide chemical incident preparedness and response plan. | | |
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Veteran’s Health Resources Project
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From left, UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, Awardees
Alex Sosa, Kathleen Karam, and PC leadership Fred Raschke and Tom Perich.
| Creation of a program for our underserved veteran population to provide transportation to the VA and essential health care appointments. | | |
Women’s Health Action Plan at Grace Clinic (St. Vincent’s Satellite Clinic) | |
From left, UTMB President Dr. Jochen Reiser, Awardees
Martha Garcia, Dr. Lucy Villarreal, Staley Rose, Jennifer Odio, and PC leadership Fred Raschke and Tom Perich.
| Establishment of women’s health care resources at Grace Clinic, including supplementary funding for patients to afford pelvic imaging. | | |
“It is evident that UTMB is deeply invested in the community, and I look forward to working with the President's Cabinet to provide resources to improve life for our neighbors.” | |
Welcoming Dr. Jochen Reiser:
A Visionary Leader at the Helm of UTMB
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We are proud to welcome Dr. Jochen Reiser as UTMB’s new president and CEO of the UTMB Health System. With a distinguished career that interweaves clinical practice, research, and academic leadership, Dr. Reiser is poised to steer the institution into a future where harmonious collaboration ushers in a new era of advancements.
“I am truly honored by the opportunity to lead this distinguished institution,” said Dr. Reiser. “UTMB is widely recognized for its legacy of excellence and innovation, and I am eager to carry forward and expand on this rich tradition through novel endeavors.”
Dr. Reiser’s journey in medicine and science began at the prestigious Heidelberg University, Germany, where he earned both his medical degree and PhD. His postdoctoral work at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and subsequent training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital — Harvard Medical School’s renowned teaching affiliates — laid a solid foundation for his illustrious career in nephrology and internal medicine. He later served on the faculty at Harvard University and the University of Miami.
Before joining UTMB, Dr. Reiser served as the Ralph C. Brown, MD Professor of Medicine and chairman of Internal Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. His leadership and commitment to excellence at Rush helped significantly elevate medical education and patient care. In addition, his research, particularly in uncovering mechanisms behind kidney diseases, has not only advanced scientific understanding but also opened new doors for therapeutic intervention.
As co-founder of Walden Biosciences, Dr. Reiser has also demonstrated his expertise in linking academic research with biopharmaceutical development, underscoring his belief in the power of translational science. His numerous patents and involvement in innovative ventures speak to his commitment to not only understanding diseases but also actively combating them.
At UTMB, Dr. Reiser inherits the legacy of a historically significant academic health sciences center of global influence, with a world-renowned research enterprise, well-regarded academic programs, and a comprehensive health system. His vision for the institution is clear: to create an ecosystem where compassionate patient care, groundbreaking biomedical research, and superlative health sciences training coalesce to spark growth and innovation.
Additionally, Dr. Reiser recognizes the significance of investing in the community, which is exemplified at UTMB by the President’s Cabinet.
“As president, my focus is not only the long-term success of the university, but also the long-term health and well-being of the community,” Dr. Reiser added. “It is evident that UTMB is deeply invested in the community, and I look forward to working with the President’s Cabinet to provide resources to improve life for our neighbors.”
As we embark on this new chapter under Dr. Reiser’s leadership, we look forward to the ways in which his expertise, vision, and passion will amplify UTMB’s contributions to medical science and health care both locally and around the world.
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Introducing Tom Perich as the New UTMB President’s Cabinet Chair
We are delighted to introduce the new chair of the UTMB President’s Cabinet, Tom Perich. Tom brings a rich history of commitment and leadership to this role, having been an integral part of our university community for 26 years. His tenure has been marked by significant contributions to fostering compassionate health care, inspiring innovative biomedical research, and nurturing the next generation of health professionals.
Tom, a native Galvestonian and successful attorney, has been a cabinet member since 1998. He has been a key figure on the Development Board for over two decades and played a pivotal role as vice chair of the Working Wonders Campaign, which raised a historic $450 million. Additionally, his ongoing involvement in the Houston Regional Leadership Council underscores his broader influence on regional development and community engagement.
Tom’s appointment is a testament to his unwavering dedication and visionary leadership. As chair, he is poised to lead the President’s Cabinet to new heights, continuing its legacy of excellence and impact in the realms of health care, research, and education. We look forward to witnessing the continued growth and success of the cabinet under his guidance.
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"The Cabinet's impact on UTMB, its faculty, staff, students, and the community is critically important and that is why my wife Debra and I have been members for more than 25 years." | | | |
As of September 1, 2023, the President's Cabinet reports 263 members; 18 of whom are new. Membership categories consist of a junior level (age 40 or less), regular level, and a corporate level. Below is a breakdown of membership by category and constituency. If you know of friends, associates, or companies who might be interested in joining, please let us know! Call Marie Marczak at 409-747-4876 or email mmarczak@utmb.edu . | |
Since September 2023, we have welcomed 18 new members to the Cabinet. | |
| Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Booth | Emily M. Goertz, MBA | | Katherine C. Branch, PhD, MSN, RN, CHSE | Gulf Copper Drydock & Rig Repair | | Mr. David M. Buergler | Mr. Kevin W. Harrington | | Ms. Christine Childress | Erin McGoff, MD | | Ms. Stacey Childress | Dr. Jacqueline S. and Mr. Jason Meyer | | Mr. and Mrs. Christopher P. Danesi | Barbara A. Railey, JD | | Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Elton | Mr. Trent Raschke | | Ms. Mary Ann Ezell | Mrs. Elizabeth M. Reimschissel | | Mrs. Heather W. Foster | Mr. Cheyne Welch | | |
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For questions or assistance with your membership, please contact
Marie Marczak, Director of Annual Giving, 409-747-4876 or mmarczak@utmb.edu.
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