On May 13, six UT Health Science Center faculty members will be honored by the
San Antonio Business Journal as Healthcare Heroes for 2009. In all, judges will be giving awards to 17 professionals in several categories of health care to recognize the outstanding achievements of individuals and organizations.
In this edition, we will profile three distinguished Healthcare Heroes from the Health Science Center — Drs. Tyler Curiel, William L. Henrich and G. Richard Holt.
The additional three Health Science Center honorees — Drs. David F. Jimenez, Amelie Ramirez and Steven Wolf — will be profiled in the May 19 edition.
Biomedical Research award
Tyler Curiel, M.D., M.P.H., executive director of the Cancer Therapy & Research Center at the UT Health Science Center
The scientist who nominated Dr. Curiel said his work holds great promise for making ovarian cancer a curable disease. In a challenge to conventional wisdom, Dr. Curiel and his team showed that tumor cells are finding a way to prevent the immune system from launching a battle against them. Dr. Curiel found that the major “bad guys” in this process are regulatory T-cells, called T-regs. His lab found that an existing drug called Ontak will kill T-regs. More recently, they showed that T-regs were damaged further and treatment results were even better when they added another immune booster called Pegasys. The combined approach has been used in one patient so far with outstanding results and a clinical trial is in the works.
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| As dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. William Henrich oversaw development of the Medical Arts and Research Center. | |
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Administrative Excellence award
William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, interim president of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio
Colleagues who supported Dr. Henrich’s nomination say he has created a “spirit of excitement” since his arrival at the Health Science Center in 2006. As dean of the School of Medicine, he oversaw the development of the Medical Arts and Research Center to house the faculty practice plan. He played a “pivotal role” in the merger negotiations between the Health Science Center and the Cancer Therapy & Research Center in late 2007. He is backing the implementation of new computer systems that will allow better tracking of patient care. Colleagues say when opportunities arise Dr. Henrich meets them with enthusiasm. They describe him as an intellectual leader, strong mentor and diplomatic collaborator who generates a whirlwind of activity. He likes to remind people, “If you look at your feet, you will never see where you are going.” Dr. Henrich began serving as interim president of the Health Science Center in February.
Lifetime Achievement. G. Richard Holt, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., M.A.,, professor and founding chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
The physician who nominated Dr. Holt wrote that when he enters a room, his very presence brings out the best in all those around him. “He is like a tidal surge, raising every boat in the water.” Medical students, residents and surgeons routinely describe Dr. Holt as one of the most influential individuals they have ever met. In his 41 years at the HSC, his peers repeatedly selected him as “Best Doctor in America.” He governed his profession’s three leading organizations. He placed the first osseointegrated facial implant in North America, leading to an entire field of implants for dental and facial reconstruction. A lifelong learner, he earned master degrees in public health, engineering and biomedical ethics. The retired colonel in the Medical Corps and Special Forces of the US Army continues to serve. On a recent mission for the Medical Coalition for Iraq, he applied prosthetic ears to dissidents who’d had their own ears cut off during torture.
RSVP for Healthcare Heroes receptionReservations are still being accepted for the May 13 reception to honor the Health Care Heroes award recipients at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio. Contact Dariela Trevino at (210) 477-0855 or
saevents@bizjournals.com.
