2025 MAY EDITION
Earlier this month, we gathered to honor a momentous occasion—the graduation of the Class of 2025. Surrounded by faculty, family, and friends, our second class of graduates crossed the stage as newly minted physicians ready to lead with knowledge, compassion and integrity. Their resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to the calling of medicine were evident in every smile, every hug, and every thank you message penned by the graduates and read aloud during the hooding ceremony.
To the graduates: You have left an indelible mark on our institution. Your journey through the rigors of medical education is a testament to your strength and character, especially since it came during unprecedented times at a new College of Medicine. We are immensely proud of all you have accomplished and excited to watch you shape the future of health care.
As I reflect on the ceremony’s energy and the powerful words shared by our Commencement speaker, Dr. Cynthia Cross, I encourage each of you to carry that inspiration forward. Let this memory be a reminder of the impact you are destined to make as you move into your residency training.
Warmest congratulations once again—and welcome to the alumni family.
- Jon McCullers
Big changes are coming to parking operations at the University of Houston, and they’re designed with you in mind. Over the next three months, Parking and Transportation Services will begin a campus-wide rollout of new parking gate equipment and a modernized parking management software system. Learn more about the changes here.
The College of Medicine has officially graduated its second class and has sent a new batch of doctors out into the world. Of this class, 23 graduated, 63% will remain in Texas, and and 63% will train in primary care specialties. These dedicated professionals are ready to provide high-quality, compassionate care in underserved communities across Houston, Texas, and beyond.
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, MS3, and Emma Lakey, MS3, 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.
The College of Medicine developed a student exchange program this year and we were lucky to have three students join the college this semester. Richard Odai (L), mentored by Diego F. Alvarez, M.D., Ph.D., and Maryam Vasefi, Ph.D., Tobias King (M), mentored by David Raskin, Ph.D., and Samantha King (R), mentored by Tameka A. Clemons, Ph.D. during their time at the college. Keep an eye out for more exciting news on this program.
Roughly 20% of the Class of 2025 matched into the highly competitive specialty of OBGYN. Pictured are the five graduates that are entering this field, along with their OBGYN faculty and advisors, Pooja Patel, M.D., M.P.H., M.M.S., FACOG and Kimberly A. Pilkinton, M.D., M.P.H., FACOG. Way to go, Coogs! Proud of all of our graduates.
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.
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.
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”. By incorporating diverse teaching methods and robust assessment tools, this elective has the potential to not only fill the educational gap but also empower future clinicians to address the health impacts of our evolving society at both the population and individual levels.
There were several of our faculty members at the STFM National Conference this year. Suzan Skef, M.D., M.S., presented her research on ‘Triad of Tricks for Success as Junior Faculty’.
We continue to grow our dynamic team of consummate professionals. Let us welcome the newest members to join our college:
David del Pino, director of education technology, and Colin Davis, Ph.D., instructional designer II, recently were selected to participate in two conferences. Their work focuses on enhancing student performance and supporting learning processes within the college. They emphasize the ethical use and dissemination of digital technologies to create meaningful educational experiences. Their efforts have been centered on change management, always approached with an emic perspective—understanding transformation from within the community it impacts.
Leslie Rojas, medical education data analyst, presented her research on how NBME CAS exam data can be synthesized into individualized performance reports to help students, faculty and advisors identify content gaps early and develop data-driven academic plans. The conference was a fantastic mix of innovation, collaboration and big ideas in medical education and student affairs. I’m proud to have represented the college and to be part of a community of medical education professionals who are pushing the boundaries of how we support and empower learners through data and innovation.
You're invited to a free catered dinner and documentary premiere on Thursday June 5th! This event is a fundraiser for food security in Third Ward. Each donation, no matter how small, is crucial. For example, a $20 gift could provide a Cuney Homes household with a box of fresh produce.
In early 2024, the University of Houston College of Medicine created the Health Commons, which is an ongoing partnership between the College, our Family Care Center clinic, and Houston's Third Ward neighborhood. Please take a minute to read more about the work our Health Commons team, along with numerous Third Ward organizations, have been focused on in our community (and maybe make a donation?) here: https://givebutter.com/feeding3ward
This month, the UH Health Family Care Clinic partnered with the City of Houston to offer sports physicals for free to students in Title 1 schools. In total, the clinic provided nearly 160 physicals to students across five schools who otherwise may not have received one, allowing them to participate in school sports for the upcoming year. Thank you to the clinicians, staff, and College of Medicine students who volunteered their time to make these physicals happen!
UH Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) hosted a mental health resource fair to connect UH students, faculty and staff with local organizations that provide mental health services. Representatives from the UH Health Family Care Center attended and hosted a table, bringing more awareness to the clinic and its services. Thank you to all who stopped by!
James H. Bray, Ph.D., was recently elected as a Fellow of the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology of the American Psychological Association.
Jaimen Singh was awarded the 2025 Student Employee of the Year award in the Innovation & Technology Award category.
The UH Health Family Care Center, an on-campus clinic at the University of Houston, has received a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike designation from the Health Resources and Services Administration. This recognition marks a significant achievement for the center, which provides primary care and mental health services to the university and surrounding communities. Learn more about this designation and the Family Care Center.
Do you have something you’d like to share college wide? Email uhcomcom@central.uh.edu with details for consideration in next month’s edition of The Pulse.
