2026 APR. EDITION
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to visit the Rio Grande Valley with the President, members of her cabinet, the Chair of the Board of Regents, and the Deans of Nursing and Pharmacy. Together with officials from the health system Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance (DHR), we participated in the groundbreaking of a new joint UH and DHR building to support research and medical education. We have been sending students for clerkships at DHR the last two years, and plan to grow both the variety of clerkships available and the number of students who can train there. As we begin to add Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine faculty at DHR this year and grow our joint residency and fellowship programs, we hope to establish a full Regional Campus in the Valley a few years from now. This will be a tremendous opportunity for more of our students to experience medicine outside of the urban environment of Houston, an important advantage as we help to build the primary care pipeline for all of Texas. It will also allow us to tap into the deep well of talent in South Texas and bring more of those students here to Houston for training and education. The Fertitta College of Medicine continues to grow!
- Jon McCullers
The University of Houston’s Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine is expanding clinical training opportunities through a new partnership with Memorial Hermann, the latest sign of the college’s rapid growth, rising reputation and increasing impact across Texas health systems. What began just five years ago with a small cohort and limited rotation sites has quickly evolved into a broad, multi-institutional training model now supporting about 60 students per class.
The College of Medicine celebrated Spirit Week & Field Day as we round out the end of the semester. It was a great chance for students to step back, unwind and have some fun together—from 2016 throwbacks to Adam Sandler outfits to full-on western wear, the creativity all week was unmatched. Spirit week culminated with Field Day— games, food, and a little friendly chaos to close things out right.
Three Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine students were selected for the 2026-2027 class of the notable Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF). This fellowship offers the students a year-long mentored community project that addresses unmet health needs for underserved communities in our area. The goal of these projects is to enhance and extend the services of existing community organizations to create immediate and lasting impact in the Houston-Galveston area. Learn about the fellows and their projects below!
Rolake Feyisetan & Sentreal Gregory - Wellness at the Workshop focuses on mentoring justice-involved youth at The Workshop Houston by creating a supportive space for high school students through interactive workshops, games and goal-setting activities. It is designed to normalize conversations around mental health, fitness, nutrition, sexual health, substance use, and career pathways with the goal of empowering adolescents to make informed decisions and expand their awareness of educational and career opportunities.
Edgard Castillo - Castillo is partnering with a Texas A&M University College of Medicine student to do a Patient Navigation Program project at Casa Maria. He will be working under the Patient Navigator project for Casa Maria Conexiónes. Their project focuses on helping patients in this Latino free clinic get access to the Harris Health Financial Assistance Program, or the Gold Card. Further project endeavors are focused on improving access to other resources to help aid in the non-medical determinants of health.
The Teaching Innovation Program (TIP) grant is an award opportunity for departments to develop and implement plans for new and innovative approaches to teaching. Jake Valentine, M.D., M.Ed., was recently awarded funding for his proposal entitled “AI-supported Faculty Development Initiative to Improve Narrative Evaluations.”
We continue to grow our dynamic team of consummate professionals. Let us welcome the newest members to join our college:
Linda Civallero, executive director of community engagement for Community Health, has been facilitating the Consortium for Translational and Precision Health (CTPH) since its inception. The CTPH currently partners with Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston. The Community Engagement Advisory Board aims to increase alignment in research with community needs and preferences.
Hosted by March of Dimes, representatives from the UH Health Family Care Center attended Mama Talks, an event focused on educational topics and resources available to new moms. The Family Care Center provided information on healthy eating and the services available to the community.
Earlier this month, Holman Street Baptist Church held a community block festival with food, entertainment, and a small resource fair. The Family Care Center attended to provide welcome giveaways and clinic information to attendees!
Cougar Cudos Alert! Jessica Goldfried, Assistant Vice President for Marketing & Communications at UH Health, and Marie Jeanne Nisnisnan, Director of Business Operations & Strategic Initiatives at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, exemplified what it means to go above and beyond through their leadership of the Texas Association for Advisors of Health Professions (TAAHP) Conference. Over nearly two years, they coordinated complex planning efforts among TAAHP leadership, University of Houston leadership, Fertitta College of Medicine leadership, and numerous committee members to deliver a seamless and highly successful event.
From developing the conference website and securing the venue to managing logistics and overseeing the design and production of conference materials, Jessica and Marie Jeanne moved mountains behind the scenes while leading their teams with exceptional dedication and attention to detail. Their work not only elevated the reputation of the college and the University of Houston, but also advanced the mission of the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine—to improve the health and health care of the Greater Houston community and beyond—by supporting the advisors who guide and inspire the future health care workforce.
Recently, our UH Health Family Care Center staff showed exactly what it means to be there when it matters most. When someone was experiencing a severe medical emergency, the team immediately sprang into action, without hesitation, confusion or fear.
Everyone rallied together, communicated clearly, supported one another, and did whatever was needed to help the patient. Because of their willingness to go above and beyond, a person’s life was protected, and care was delivered with dignity and urgency. This is a powerful example of how our work truly saves lives, every single day. We are incredibly grateful to this team for their courage, teamwork, and unwavering dedication.
We have open spots for next month’s Adult Mental Health First Aid Training. This is a free training that consists of two sessions and provides participants with the skills to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults.
Dates: Friday, May 8 and Friday, May 15 Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Location: UH Health Family Care Center
Participants must attend both sessions to receive certification. The training is interactive and includes discussion, videos, and practical strategies for supporting individuals in crisis or experiencing mental health challenges.
Please click here to sign up or to be notified for future dates.
Sutapa Sur established the Sudha Mondal Sur Endowed Scholarship at the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine to honor her mother, a pioneering OB/GYN whose compassionate, decisive care saved countless lives in underserved communities.
Dr. Sudha Mondal Sur, who trained in India and rebuilt her career in Texas, became known for listening to patients that others dismissed and for addressing serious conditions that might otherwise have gone untreated. Her decades of service highlighted persistent gaps in women’s healthcare, especially for those with limited resources.
This new scholarship will support future physicians committed to women’s health, ensuring her legacy continues through a new generation of OB/GYNs serving communities most in need.
Do you have something you’d like to share college wide? Please open a Zendesk ticket select the Marketing Request Form and provide details in the description for consideration in next month’s edition of The Pulse.
