Media Spotlight

The following is a sample of media placements during May 2007 about The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. For more information or assistance with media relations, call Meredith Raine, 713-500-3050.

Dr. Deepa Vasudevan tells how a new chewing gum may help cut cravings for those who diet, KTRK-TV, 5/2; a variety of ABC affiliates nationwide, 6/7.

A front-page story reports Dr. Eric Boerwinkle's new finding of kinks in DNA that might explain why heart disease runs deep in some families, but not others, Houston Chronicle, 5/4.

A profile of country music star Clay Walker describes how his Band Against MS has given $350,000 to the UT Medical School's multiple sclerosis research since 2004, largely in appreciation of successful care provided to the performer by Dr. Jerry Wolinsky, Page One of the Houston Chronicle's "H" section, 5/6.

President Dr. James T. Willerson accepts the 80th Texas Legislature's honorary resolution on the UT Health Science Center's 35th Anniversary and its praise for his efforts to improve the health of Texans, Houston Chronicle "Legislative Highlights," 5/10.

"VIDA" features share the health care expertise en español of UT Health Science Center faculty members Dr. Andrew Harper, 5/4; Dr. Katherine Loveland, 5/4; and Dr. Francisco J. Orejuela, 5/11, three-city RUMBO newspapers.

Dr. Gerard E. Francisco and a patient at TIRR demonstrate how a new device called Walkaide can mean faster, better physical therapy for stroke recovery, KHOU-TV, 5/11.

SHIS faculty member Dr. Cynthia L. Phelps says cell phones and voice-over-Internet services are making land lines obsolete to a growing minority of callers, Page One of the Houston Chronicle's "H" section, 5/15.

UT Health Science Center is listed No. 36 among "Greater Houston's Top 100 Employers" in a 2007 survey, Houston Chronicle, 5/20.

At Memorial Hermann Hospital-TMC, Dr. James J. McCarthy announces a new partnership that puts CPAP devices in Houston Fire Department ambulances for use on patients with congestive heart failure, KUHF-FM, KTRK-TV and KHOU-TV, 5/24.

A story about UT Medical School emergency medicine physician Dr. Diana L. Fite herself experiencing and recovering from a stroke describes Houston Stroke Team advances and includes Dr. James C. Grotta saying, "Until today, stroke was an untreatable disease," The New York Times, 5/28.

Local TV stories airing during the important May Sweeps ratings period were: Dr. Lance Gould on the worst foods for heart health, KTRKTV, 5/1; Dr. Andrew Hamilton on how reducing sodium intake can reduce risk of heart attack, KHOU-TV, 5/9; Drs. Magda Eldiwany and Rade Paravina on the dangers of "over bleaching" your smile, KTRK-TV, 5/9; Dr. Adelaide Hebert says beware misuse of numbing creams in laser hair removal, KTRK-TV, 5/14; Dr. Jung-Wei Chen on why cavities in children now are on the rise, KHOU-TV, 5/15; Dr. David R. Hoyer cautioning that many prescription drugs could create a deadly combination, KTRK-TV, 5/18; Dr. Terry Clyburn describing the new, FDA-approved Oxford partial knee replacement system, KHOU-TV, 5/21; Dr. Carmel Dyer on how memory works and what happens when it doesn't, KTRK-TV, 5/22; Dr. Pamela Berens on Lybrell, just approved by the FDA as the first birth control pill designed to be taken daily, 365 days a year, KHOU-TV, 5/22; Dr. Adelaide Hebert explaining that stretched lobes due to pierced ears and heavy earrings can be fixed, KTRK-TV, 5/24; Dr. Pamela Berens saying more patients are trying a cancer treatment using breast milk, which already is in short supply, KTRK-TV, 5/29; Drs. James J. McCarthy and Richard W. Smalling on the American Heart Association launching a new initiative to get hospitals to treat heart patients quicker, KHOU-TV, 5/30.