A Message from Dean Jonathan McCullers

Welcome to the spring edition of the Biannual Newsletter from the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine! We have seen tremendous progress in the nine months since I was named Dean of the College. We have had our second, highly successful Match Day and graduated our second class to much pomp and circumstance. Our UH Health Family Care Center received Federally Qualified Health Center “look-alike status” from the Health Resources and Service Administration. 97% of our students taking the USMLE Step 1 passed on the first try (amazing!) In support of our continued expansion, we successfully lobbied for increased funding from the 89th Texas Legislative session. And most importantly, we had a successful and buoying interim LCME “consultation” site visit that affirms that we are on track for full accreditation in 2026.

One of the areas that we need to grow is research. We have a dedicated core of researchers in place who are launching original investigations and training students in the conduct of research. We have begun searches for new talent to recruit to the Fertitta College of Medicine and will begin this summer a Strategic Plan for Research process that will provide a roadmap for further hires and new investment.

I am excited to report that we have completed the initial design phase on the new Medical Research Building – you will see us break ground behind the main College of Medicine building in the coming year, and we anticipate completion of this state-of-the art, best in class research facility in the fall of 2027.

Importantly, we have begun coordinated efforts to harness the full strength of the University of Houston’s many Colleges to grow our research portfolio. As Vice President of Health Affairs, I hosted a successful health-related research retreat this spring to start bringing together researchers across the campus in diverse fields and across the spectrum of research. In this effort the Fertitta College of Medicine can act as a catalyst to grow research across the University and as a conduit into other research programs at our sister medical schools in the Houston region.

Finally, I am pleased to announce that we will launch a new University-wide initiative this summer, anchored in the Fertitta College of Medicine, the ASPIRE Institute for Digital Health Transformation. More information to come on this new and exciting endeavor!

- Jon

Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine celebrated the graduation of its second class this spring. Continuing to support our mission to improve the overall health and health care of the population of Greater Houston, Texas and beyond, 63% of graduates will remain in Texas and 63% will train in primary care specialties. Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

• Match Day 2025 is a defining moment for our students and a proud milestone for the college. It represents the culmination of years of dedication and resilience, and as these future physicians take their next steps, they carry with them our mission – to improve health care and health outcomes in communities. The College of Medicine had a 96% match rate this year, with 63% of students staying in Texas and 63% going into primary care specialties. Read more.
• Chinasa Anokwuru, Angelique Basquine, Malachi Troy Miller, Mason Cordell Neal, Iliana Oberkircher, Kenechukwu Ugochukwu, Linda Yamthe were awarded the Harris County Medical Society (HCMS) Alliance Scholarships by the Texas Medical Association. Their dedication to service, academic excellence and community care is shaping the future of medicine. Read more.
• MS2s completed their Student Scholarly Project (SSP), a research component of the physicians, patients and populations course. This is an in-depth, mentored learning experience that allows students to apply their coursework in biostatistics, evidence-based medicine, public health and bioinformatics. This year, Shielene Vargas, Saba Siddiqi, Celine Nguyen, Ben King, Ph.D., M.P.H., Lauren Gilbert, Ph.D., M.P.H., Jannette Diep and Bich-May Nguyen, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, received first place for their research on CEAL Survey Examining Vietnamese Americans' Level of Trust in Sources of Information and Willingness to Participate in COVID-19 Clinical Trials.
• The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Houston-Galveston hosted its first-ever Winter Symposium. The day brought together passionate change-makers, thought leaders, and their dedicated Fellows to explore innovative solutions to health disparities in our communities. MS3s Ashlynn McCall, Jessica Medrano, and MS2s Mathew Mendoza, Alejandra Duque, Cassie Leissner and Jasmin Ali were all in attendance and either presented or helped question the fellows.
• The Texas Pediatric Society awarded MS3s Ashlynn McCall, Megan Vu, Nyeomi McGaskey, along with faculty and staff Mohamed Zebda, D.O., M.P.H., Lola Adepoju, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Mary Tipton, a $5,000 grant by the Texas Pediatric Society to fund their KIDSAFE program at Blackshear Elementary.
• Sidnee Wilson, MS3, joined fellow medical students along with the city’s medical and academic communities, at the Houston Medical Forum’s 32nd Annual Scholarship Gala. Wilson received a scholarship on this storied night dedicated to advancing medical education and community health.
• College of Medicine students joined graduate students from eight colleges, including architecture, business, education, law, optometry, policy, and social work, for three intense rounds of competition, tackling real-world population health challenges. A shoutout to MS1s Ashley Roland and Niku Tabatabai, and MS2 Edgard Castillo for representing our college and showcasing the power of collaboration in shaping the future of health care.
• MS2 Iman Bouchelkia won 1st place in the oral presentation category at the 2025 Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) Southwest Conference.
• MS2s Aleah Frison & Elizabeth Eversole’s Student Scholarly Project (SSP) titled “Firearm Injury Trends in Texas: Regional Disparities and Emerging Challenges” was selected for a podium presentation at the South Texas Chapter American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting on February 22, 2025.
• Shielene Vargas, MS2, was selected as a general scholar for the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) 2025 Scholars Program.
• Iliana Sanchez, MS4, received the Outstanding Medical Student in Emergency Medicine award from the Texas College of Emergency Physicians (TCEP). This honor highlights her exceptional clinical and academic performance during the emergency medicine (EM) rotation, impressive USMLE Step 2 scores, and dedication to the field through involvement in EM-focused extracurriculars.
• Brendan Rosamond, MS3, was recently selected to be on Medical Student Task Force (MSTF) and the Committee on Medical Student Education’s (CMSE) medical student liaison of the American College of Surgeons.
• Pulse for Life held an event at Mission Milby for Día de los Niños. This was a part of a student led mentorship & outreach initiative and launch event. The mentorship initiative is led by MS1s Jackie Garcia and Alfonzo Munoz. Pulse for Life is led by MS1s Daniela Enriquez and Mariana Garcia, with Faculty sponsorship by Diego F. Alvarez, M.D., Ph.D., and Jamie M. Everett, M.D..
• Isabella Martingano, MS4, and Emma Lakey, MS4, with mentors David Raskin, Ph.D. and Kevin Rowland, Ph.D., published a study on Efficacy of NSAIDs in reducing pain during intrauterine device Insertion: A systematic review. Martingano and Lakey were lead co-authors on this amazing research.
• Swansea University Medical School Exchange: The College of Medicine developed a student exchange program this year and hosted three students this spring: Richard Odai (L), Tobias King (M) and Samantha King (R), mentored by faculty members Tameka A. Clemons, Ph.D., Diego F. Alvarez, M.D., Ph.D., Maryam Vasefi, Ph.D., David Raskin, Ph.D.
• Ayman AL-Zubi, MS2, presented at the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery — the most prestigious conference in the field — on his cadaveric anatomical research exploring femoral artery variations and their implications for vascular access in both endovascular and cardiothoracic procedures.

• Michelle A. Carroll Turpin, Ph.D., associate dean for Admissions and Outreach and clinical associate professor, and fellow co-PIs were recognized at the President’s Circle Award ceremony for securing nearly $2 million in NSF funding for STEM mentorship programs: STEM RISE and RESET in STEM. These innovative initiatives connect UH medical students and STEM majors with local students to provide hands-on research, teaching, and mentoring opportunities, empowering the next generation of scientists and health care professionals. Through cross-college collaboration with the Fertitta College of Medicine, University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Houston College of Education, and UH Cullen College of Engineering, these programs are transforming how we engage, uplift, and inspire our community through STEM.
• Rajeev Raghavan, M.D., internal medicine program director at the HCA Kingwood location and one of our voluntary faculty, was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine for his article on patient care. Learn more about how the impact of taking patient care to the next level with Driving Jackson.
• Tameka Clemons, Ph.D., was selected as a Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Science and Diversity Leadership Award Grant Reviewer.
• Woods Nash, M.P.H., Ph.D., sees poetry as a way to refresh our thinking about health care and our own relationships to it. “Like taking meds,” he says, “engaging with poetry isn’t always easy, but the goal is to renew and to restore.” “Massage” is Nash’s 13th poem in JAMA since 2013.
• Jamie Everett, M.D., has accepted the role of Interim Assistant Dean for Foundational Sciences, effective February 1, 2025. In this role, Everett will oversee the development, integration, and delivery of a comprehensive four-year curriculum in foundational sciences. In addition to overseeing the Phase 1 foundational science courses, she will continue collaborating with course directors, integrated thread leads, and faculty across the curriculum. With a strong commitment to student-centered learning, Everett will play a pivotal role in fostering scientific inquiry and discovery while ensuring and enriching educational experience for our students.
• Maureen Grissom, Ph.D., presented her research on “Do Medical Students Really Need to Attend Class?” at the national Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) conference on Medical Student Education in San Antonio at the end of January. Co-authors for her research are: Jerome Crowder, Ph.D., and Bich-May Nguyen, M.D., M.P.H., FAAFP, as well as Leslie Rojas and Katie Velez.
• LaShaune Johnson, Ph.D., was asked to serve on the advisory council for the Neal Cancer Center at Houston Methodist. The mission of the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center's (HMNCC) Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) is to facilitate cancer research relevant to the over 7.5 million people living in the catchment area and to provide community-based services and education to those populations. Our community advisory board advises the COE with a focus on how to best support and enhance the critical mission of providing a voice for the community. This voice is to inform HMNCC’s cancer priorities and support community-engaged outreach, engagement, and research.
• Ben King, Ph.D., M.P.H. has recently had his new research, Optimal Delay Time to Initiate Anticoagulation After Ischemic Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation: A Pragmatic, Response-Adaptive Randomized Clinical Trial, published in the online JAMA Neurology journal.
• Lani K. Ackerman, M.D., visited a remote medical school in Nepal where she assisted in teaching, course development, and faculty development of new courses in medical ethics and clinical skills and communications.
• Lola Adepoju, Ph.D., M.P.H., received a grant from the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP) to present her work on Comparing Healthcare Systems in Ghana and the U.S.: Lessons for Equity, Access, and Policy.
• David S. Buck, M.D., M.P.H., and Ben King, Ph.D., M.P.H., presented research at the STFM Annual Spring Conference on their new advanced clerkship course titled “Inclusion Health”. There were several of our faculty members at the STFM National Conference this year, including Suzan Skef, M.D., M.S., who presented her research on ‘Triad of Tricks for Success as Junior Faculty’.

Welcome the following new faculty member to our college:

Thomas Hunt, M.D., D.Sc., associate dean of medical education and clinical professor in the clinical sciences department.

• Dia de la Mujer Latina Fiesta: Several students volunteered with Brian Reed, M.D., at the Dia de La Mujer Latina Health Fiesta. Along with students from Baylor, over 100 women were able to receive clinical breast examinations and/or pap smears.
• Health Commons is the College of Medicine’s model for community engagement. Through power-sharing, the community and the College co-create policies and programs to improve community health. We recently held a training on sociocracy, our shared governance structure, for community partners, faculty, and students.
• Community Mental Health First Aid Training: The Humana Integrated Health Systems Science Institute and the UH Health Family Care Center recently held a Community Mental Health First Aid Training. This collaborative effort focused on equipping community residents with essential skills to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, particularly in times of crisis.
• Healthy Connections’ New Partnership: Healthy Connections has partnered with Common Market to receive 70 boxes of farm-fresh food every two weeks, helping to address food insecurity among program participants, UH Health Family Care Center patients, College of Medicine students and staff. With community health workers (CHWs) providing food boxes directly to participants’ homes, this collaboration ensures fresh, nutritious vegetables reach individuals facing barriers to access.
• American Heart Association Health Walk - SAVE THE DATE: David S. Buck, M.D., M.P.H., is leading the University of Houston team to help fundraise for the American Heart Association (AHA) Health Walk on October 25, 2025. To join our team, register on the team site. Note: The team name is “University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine”, but this team is open to anyone who wants to participate - UH students, staff and faculty, as well as family and friends. Help us spread the word!

• UH Health Family Care Center Hits Major Milestone: The UH Health Family Care Center, an on-campus health clinic that provides affordable, comprehensive and integrated primary care and mental health services to the University of Houston and its surrounding communities, including Third Ward, East End, South Houston and neighboring areas, achieved a major milestone in May when it received its Federally Qualified Health Center, or FQHC, Look-Alike designation from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Congratulations to Neena Arora, M.H.A., M.B.A., Assistant Vice President and CEO of the Family Care Center, as well as all clinic staff and faculty who made this possible. Full story here.
• To Your Health! “My whole family needed support — physically, mentally and socially,” Auset Hutcherson says. “After years of searching, we found it all in one place at UH. Their collaborative, holistic approach to health care is transforming one family at a time.” Learn more about how the UH Health Family Care Center is helping Hutcherson and others in our community.
• Blackshear Elementary Banner Reveal: The UH Health Family Care Center sponsored a privacy fence banner for Blackshear Elementary, a local school in the Third Ward. This partnership is a big step for the clinic as it builds strong relationships in the Third Ward!
• Family Care Center Highlights Growth: The UH Family Care Center has grown exponentially since its doors opened in 2022. The clinic has served almost 3,000 patients visits since 2022, with this last year seeing an amazing 103% increase. True to the mission of the College, 55% of these visits are related to Primary Care.

Kind regards,

Jonathan McCullers, MD
Dean Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
Vice-President for Medical Affairs
Humana Endowed Dean's Chair in Medicine
University of Houston
(713) 743-0875
jamccul2@central.uh.edu
https://uh.edu/medicine