2025 SEP. EDITION
As I reflect back on the completion of my first full year as Dean of the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, so many amazing accomplishments of our still developing and growing school come to mind in research, education, clinical care and community engagement. In this issue, I want to celebrate the growth of our outpatient clinic in Health 2, the UH Health Family Care Center (FCC). Led by our CEO and Assistant Vice President Neena Arora, the clinic has met goal after goal during the year. We achieved “look-alike” status as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the spring, which will allow for enhanced payments for Medicare and Medicaid patients. Encounters increased from 6,728 in fiscal year 2024 to 8,287 in fiscal year 2025 (an increase of more than 23%!). We have established a quality program which is resulting in financial success payments for better patient care. As detailed in this month’s Pulse, we established a medical-legal partnership to help mitigate the legal and social barriers that our patients so often experience. And most remarkably, the clinic finished the year beating its budget by 25%. But more is coming in this new year – we are hiring new physicians in pediatrics, OB-GYN, and psychiatry, we will hopefully apply for full FQHC status which allows us to apply for federal grants, and we are considering expanding to satellite clinics more embedded in the communities we serve. Congratulations to the providers and staff in the FCC on a job well done!
- Jon McCullers
Save the Date! UH Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine will host its annual holiday appreciation luncheon on Tuesday, December 2.
College of Medicine students Alyona Lee, Shielene Vargas, Jasmin Ali, Pamela Ulloa-Franco, Steven Biegel, Sylvia O. Omozee, Amani Halawa, Aleah Frison, Kierra Jackson, Gabriella Sanchez, Supriya Anand and Iman Bouchelkia, under mentorship by Steven Starks, recently had their worked published. You can read about their research on “Exploring Plant-Based Diets and Mental Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review” in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science.
What a night! More than 400 medical students came together at The Health Museum for the Harris County Medical Society Medical Student Mixer 2025. Fertitta College of Medicine students joined peers to network, connect and celebrate the future of medicine.
MS4 Sage Campbell was recently awarded the Glen Johnson MD, Minority Medical Student Scholarship through the Texas Academy of Family Physicians Foundation (TAFPF). We are proud to celebrate Campbell’s outstanding achievement and dedication to advancing medicine.
MS3 Taylor Woodall and Maureen Grissom, Ph.D., presented (and though they weren’t present, MS3s Caroline Cone and Shreya Desai also contributed) at the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Conference on Practice and Quality Improvement in Pittsburgh. The title of their talk was “An Opportunity for Behavioral Faculty: Incorporating Self-Directed Learning into UME Coursework.”
MS4 Stephanie Sanchez recently completed her neurology elective rotation at the Family Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Center in Pasadena, TX, where she cared for both adult and pediatric patients alongside Dr. Vanessa Mbanga, child neurologist and epileptologist, and Lisa Nassif Wright, M.D., adult and pediatric neurologist and clinical associate professor.
Maryam Vasefi, Ph.D., hosted a brown bag lunch for her Paul Farmer Learning Community. Her Brown Bag Lunch Chat took place on the first day of Renal for MS2s and the last week of CAHD for MS1s in their LC room. Vasefi provided dessert, coffee and homemade banana bread to her LC and they had a wonderful time.
The purpose of the Section on Pediatric Trainees (SOPT) Leading Example for Aspiring Pediatricians (LEAP) Award is to honor the work of trainee mentors, especially those who have helped trainees discover their voices as advocates for child health and physician wellness. Congratulations to Mohamed Zebda, D.O., M.P.H., on receiving this amazing award.
Congratulations to clinical professor, Bettina M. Beech, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., on being appointed Editor-in-Chief of Population Health Management! As a dedicated member of the journal’s editorial board, Beech brings editorial experience as a reviewer, associate editor and editor-in-Chief for other publications, in addition to her significant content knowledge. Your leadership and commitment to advancing public health continue to inspire our UH Medicine community.
Gregory Scott Brown, M.D., FAPA, FAIHM, psychiatry clerkship director, was recently elected as a member of The American College of Psychiatrists! Your dedication to education and patient care inspires us all. Congratulations on achieving such an honor.
Ben King, Ph.D., M.P.H., clinical assistant professor, contributed analysis for the 2025 Point-in-Time Count & Survey of People Experiencing Homelessness, a critical report that helps our community better understand homelessness trends in Houston and Harris County. We are proud to see King’s expertise informing both data-driven insights and public conversations on solutions to homelessness.
Bich-May Nguyen, M.D., M.P.H., FAAFP, has been named a co-investigator on a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) award with Dr. Christina Miyawaki in the UH Graduate College of Social Work! The project’s goal: improving dementia awareness in Houston’s Vietnamese American community. Congratulations on this great accomplishment.
Originally introduced by Stephen Scott, M.D., M.P.H., as a pilot in 2024–2025, the Coaching Program has returned and is now being offered to our directors. Building on last year’s successful cohort with assistant/associate deans and executive staff, the program continues to strengthen collaboration, enhance leadership, and support both personal and professional development, all while providing cost-effective access to professional coaching.
This new cohort of directors represents the next phase of Dr. Scott’s initiative, administered and facilitated by Chasisty Gilder. Over the course of six months, participants will engage in one-on-one coaching sessions designed to develop leadership skills, foster professional growth, and address the unique challenges of their roles.
Mekia Amos, M.B.A., associate vice president of business operations, on her time in the inaugural cohort-
“Participating in the Coaching for Executive Leaders program was a truly validating and enriching experience. It helped me step outside of my own mental barriers and gain a clearer, more authentic understanding of my leadership style. The program empowered me to appreciate the unique value I bring to the organization and world. It reinforced my confidence that my leadership approach, which is focused on accountability, positivity, care, and the pursuit of excellence, makes a meaningful impact. I also gained practical, actionable tips that I’ve been able to implement both in my professional life and at home. This experience has reinforced the importance of continuous learning and growth, inspiring me to unlock my greatest leadership potential. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to develop as an executive leader.”
Mekia Amos, M.B.A., along with Marie Jeanne Nisnisan, M.H.A., attended the 2025 AAMC Principal Business Officers’ Conference sponsored by the Group on Business Affairs. The conference focused on Leadership and Organizational Dynamics in a Period of Change, reflecting on the evolving challenges and opportunities faced by stewards of institutional strategy, people, and performance.
Amos presented on organizational structure optimization for medical schools, highlighting lean, scalable approaches and the balance between centralized and decentralized functions in finance, administration and operations.
Earlier this month, students from the College of Medicine (not all pictured: Miranda Alaniz, Sage Campbell, Amanda Dike, Hasan Rangwala, Guillermo Saldana and Wahab Tariq) and representatives from the UH Health Family Care Center participated in the St. Mary of the Purification fall health fair. They provided hearing, vision, blood pressure and BMI screenings to the attendees and educated the community on healthy choices and where to go for quality, affordable health care.
The Houston Heart Walk is on October 25th at Helix Park and you are invited! This family and pet-friendly event is more than just a walk—it’s an opportunity to unite, take action, and save lives. The American Heart Association’s goal is to ensure that at least one person in every household is confident and prepared to perform CPR. By joining the Heart Walk, you’ll be helping to expand our reach and turn bystanders into lifesavers.
Congratulations to David Curtis, Ph.D., and Kimberly A. Pilkinton, M.D., M.P.H., on being named as members of the new Faculty Council by President Renu Khator.
Jessica Goldfried, M.B.A., was recently promoted to Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications, Fertitta College of Medicine and UH Health Family Care Center.
Jake Valentine, M.D., M.Ed., was recently appointed the new Assistant Dean for Clinical Skills at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine.
Avani Dave, Executive Director, Business and Financial Operations, has been selected for the 2025–26 NACUBO Emerging Leaders Cohort! This program, led by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), recognizes rising leaders across higher education who are shaping the future of colleges and universities. Participants engage in a year-long experience designed to strengthen leadership skills, expand professional networks, and prepare for senior-level roles.
At the UH Health Family Care Center, physicians and attorneys are coming together with a shared mission: to treat not only the medical conditions of patients, but also the legal and social barriers that can stand in the way of better health. Learn more about our Medical Legal Partnership.
The UH Health Family Care Center has achieved three separate awards from the American Heart Association for the year 2025 in Diabetes, Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia control. Excellent health care is our goal and with everyone's effort it is possible to achieve those awards. Thank you all for being an integral part of delivering such care to our patients.
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.
