Summer Health Science Institute

Day One

During the first day of the Summer Health Science Institute, the participants registered and enjoyed a small breakfast.

At 9:00, words of introduction and welcome were expressed by Dr. Gil Castro (Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs ), Dr. Nancy Murray (Associate Professor of Behavioral Science), Ms. Debra Samuels (Program Coordinator), and Mr. Robert Williams (Peer Teacher). Participants were briefed on some of the activities, the goals and expectations of the program,

A short video, UT-Houston Leading the Way to Better Health, was presented to explain the history and current goals of the University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center.

Ms. Sue Sifford (Adminisrative Services Office), explained how the stipend would work, and participants filled out the necessary forms.

Ms. Debra Halstead (Director of Library Operations, Texas Medical Center Library), introduced the library staff, discussed library procedures, and handed out our personalized library cards.

At 10:30, Mr. __________ ____________ (Safety Specialist), covered some basic laboratory safety information. Intended to discuss ways to teach laboratory safety to students, this presentation became quite a lesson for the participants themselves. They learned the reasons behind some of the mandatory safety regulations, discovered some new safety features they want for their campuses, and discussed some safety concerns that they have for their own classrooms or departments.

At noon, lunch was served. During lunch, Ms. Mary Hobbs (Science Coordinator for Spring Branch ISD), Dr. Jeffery Huber (Research Specialist with the TMC Library), and others spoke words of welcome.

Also during lunch, Dr. Brian Boutwell presented an interesting and humorous history of the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world. He discussed some of the founders of the institutions and how they interacted with one another, some of the difficulties and setbacks they had, how the TMC grew over the years, and some of the newest additions. His lively presentation introduced participants to the people for whom the buildings and streets in the Texas Medical Center were named, and seemed to bring them back to life.

After lunch, participants went up to the student services office to be photographed for their new I.D. badges.

The afternoon ended with a group meeting to discuss the rest of the schedule, logistics for parking, and other matters.

On to Day Two!