The Breezeway Alumni E-Newsletter

August 2020

Welcome message from Richard Andrassy, MD

Hello,

Appointed interim executive dean on July 1, I hope I am a familiar face to many of you. I have served as the chair of the Department of Surgery since 1994 and am honored to serve in this interim role until a permanent dean is selected for McGovern Medical School.

During these uncertain times, McGovern Medical School has never wavered in its commitment to excellence in education, research, and patient care. Faculty, residents, fellows, medical students, and staff have stepped up during these difficult days and not only persevered but led and innovated in the fight against COVID-19.

I am pleased to report that over the past month we have welcomed a great group of incoming students. Our incoming Class of 2024 includes 240 students – 135 women and 105 men. These students represent 63 undergraduate colleges and are an average age of 23 – with our youngest at 20 and our oldest at 38. This bright and energetic group has an average MCAT of 511 and GPA of 3.81. We are so proud to welcome them to the McGovern family, to our profession, and an environment that needs physicians more than ever.

Thank you for your support of McGovern Medical School and for all that you do each day to provide for the health of your communities.

Richard Andrassy, MD

Executive Dean ad interim, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth

H. Wayne Hightower Distinguished Professor in the Medical Sciences

Celebrate Women in Medicine Month with us

Join us all month long as we celebrate Women in Medicine Month, which started September 1! We will have weekly feature stories on five remarkable alumnae, a featured webinar, and other virtual opportunities.

See schedule of events >>

A year in review from Priscilla J. Alfaro, MD '89

2019-2020 Alumni Association President Priscilla J. Alfaro, MD '89, reflects on her past year as president.

Virtual student stories

See what McGovern Medical School students have been up to during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alumni in Action

Bela Patel, MD ’93, interviewed about two new clinical trials she is leading to investigate outpatient uses for convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients

Andrew Dupont, MD ’98, interviewed by HealthCentral about the possibility of using supplements to help treat ulcerative colitis

Eric L. Flenaugh, MD ’94, recognized as a 2020 Top Doctor and a physician hero during the COVID-19 pandemic in Atlanta Magazine

Matthew Harting, MD ’03, discussed how lung physiology and immune function in children could be protecting them from severe COVID-19

Kenn Finn, MD ’90, edited a medical textbook with over 70 authors from three countries and 20 chapters that are now available electronically

Lilit Sargsyan, MD ’09, was the focus of a Houston Chronicle story about working as a critical care physician on the front lines of the pandemic

Alan Tyroch, MD ’90, appointed to Governor’s Advisory Council

Submit a Class Note >>