University Communications & Publications

The communications team is the principal distributor of official university communications.

Karen Krakower Kaplan

Director of Communications

Editor, HealthLeader Online Wellness Magazine

Phone: 713-500-3045

Karen Krakower Kaplan, director of communications has returned to the UT Office of Public Affairs (currently the Office of Advancement) three times during the last 30 years, most recently in 2002 to serve as editor of HealthLeader.

HealthLeader Online Magazine serves the larger public outside the walls of the Health Science Center, providing solid health and wellness information to the consumer. The magazine has won numerous regional and national awards for content, design and information excellence.

Karen serves on several advisory boards and committees both within the University and the broader Houston community and lectures on key issues surrounding personal health and medical journalism. Her work has appeared in over 50 journals, magazines, newspapers and anthologies and is the recipient of more than 20 awards for writing. Her additional work with AIDS organizations, organ transplant and hospice provides a necessary depth to her understanding of current health information needs.

Cynthia Johnson

Cynthia Johnson, Ph. D.

Communications Manager: Phone: 713-500-3058; Email: Cynthia.J.Johnson@uth.tmc.edu; As a member of the Communications team in the Office of Advancement, Cynthia Johnson works closely with faculty to create feature articles and print publications that speak effectively for the University’s mission, programs, achievements, objectives, and funding needs. Before joining the UT Health Science Center, she held administrative positions in both industry and academia. She has nearly 30 years of experience in communications management; is the author of numerous reports, proposals, and policy papers; and has taught in France and in the U.S. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University, a master's degree from the University of Kentucky, and a Ph.D. from Rice University.

Jenna Taylor

Jenna C. Taylor

Communications Specialist: Phone: 713-500-3038; Email: Jenna.C.Taylor@uth.tmc.edu; Jenna C. Taylor joined the Office of Advancement in March 2008 and has more than eight years of communications experience in the nonprofit community. Her background includes experience in annual giving, special events, stewardship, grant writing, crafting case statements and philanthropic proposals as well as creating comprehensive marketing campaigns for fundraising programs. Jenna holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Texas Christian University.

Andy Heger

Communications Specialist: Phone: 713-500-3087; Email: Andrew.J.Heger@uth.tmc.edu; Andy Heger joined the communications team in the Office of Advancement in August 2011. His background includes more than 10 years of experience in fields such as the film/video industry, news reporting, special events planning, marketing/advertising and grant writing.

University Publications

Health Leader is an online consumer wellness magazine for the general public providing free, useful consumer-health articles and tools on topics related to medical research, personal health, fitness, nutrition and mental well-being, plus access to UT Clinics. For information call 713-500-3045 or visit http://www.healthleader.uthouston.edu/.
Distinctions is an online publication that highlights the UTHealth’s distinctive capabilities and accomplishments in education, research, community service, and philanthropic support. It is distributed to external as well as internal audiences. For information call 713-500-3038 or see http://www.uthouston.edu/distinctions/.
News on the Go is a weekly electronic news service from the Office of Advancement, providing timely news and information to faculty, staff, fellows, residents and students on the go. For information, call 713-500-3087 or visit http://inside.uthouston.edu/notg

Mass emails

If you are planning a mass communication to the whole university community, or to certain segments of the community, please alert Karen.K.Kaplan@uth.tmc.edu as far in advance of the push out date as possible. The Communications Team will work with you to figure out the appropriate way to send your message either by mass email to the whole community or a segment of the community, or by another form of communication.

Archives of past issues of all the publications are searchable online.