Media Spotlight

The following is a sample of recent media placements 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. Scott Walters at the UT School of Public Health's Dallas Regional Campus joins addiction researchers who have criticized the ritzy Passages rehab program for saying that it "cures" patients; quoted in the Los Angeles Times, Oct. 9.

In a Front-Page Houston Chronicle story by Alexis Grant about OTC cold medicines, Dr. Mark Hormann says, "There's evidence that they don't help in small children, and in certain circumstances they can harm kids," Oct. 12.

Dr. Annath Annapragada and clinical instructor John Mucha tell reporter Christi Myers about developing "smart insulin" that may offer an inhalable alternative for patients with diabetes; aired on KTRK-TV's "Eyewitness News At Four" and "Eyewitness News At Six," Oct. 16. Also reported nationally on the Fox News Channel evening program, "Fox Report with Shephard Smith," Oct. 17.

For reporter Alexis Grant's Front-Page story in the Oct. 17 Houston Chronicle, Dr. Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner talks about a study showing that the majority of cases of drug-resistant staph infections (MRSA) originate in health care settings - and he says there are systems for reducing the number of these cases.

Dr. Mark Hormann also is quoted in a follow-up story by David Ellison about pediatricians here wanting an end to OTC medications use for kids under age 6, saying, "There is not any evidence that shows this stuff helps." Houston Chronicle, Oct. 19.

UT Medical School Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo tells reporter Dave Fehling that the prevalence of kids with asthma has increased dramatically, up nearly 50 percent in the past 20 years; aired on KHOU-TV's "11 News At Ten," Oct. 19.

CNN includes on the Oct. 24 "Anderson Cooper 360" news program and in two of their nationwide news reports how the UT School of Public Health has released an important study showing kids living within two miles of the Houston Ship Channel had a 56 percent greater chance of getting some forms of leukemia, plus finding concentrations of known carcinogens benzene and 1,3-butadiene at least 20 times greater density than any other city in the U.S.; aired at 10 p.m., EST, Oct. 27-28.

Dr. John Reveille discusses with Christi Myers how his research has identified two new genes that will help diagnose people with a severe form of arthritis; aired on KTRK-TV's "Eyewitness News At 6 PM," Oct. 27.

Drs. Judianne Kellaway & Dong Kim explain how the influx of larger numbers of medical students means resident training needs to expand, as well; reported by Alexis Grant in the Houston Chronicle, Oct. 28.

Drs. Jung-Wei Chen & Joi D. Shaw are among the UT Dental Branch's pediatric dentists donning Halloween costumes to relax their young patients while explaining to Christi Myers what treats and candies are less harmful for children's teeth; aired Oct. 31 on KTRK-TV's "Eyewitness News At Four" and "Eyewitness News At Six."

The Media Relations team reported 179 total media placements in October 2007, 74 of these in the Houston-area market.