Health Institutes of Texas: A Good Idea

An editorial in the May 14 Star-Telegram supported legislative funding of the Health Institutes of Texas at UNT Health Science Center. The Texas State Legislature’s regular session is scheduled to end May 28. The Health Institutes of Texas proposal is still being reviewed.

Lap Band Surgery may Improve Insulin Resistance

Dr. Joan Carroll, assistant professor of integrative physiology, presented her recent physiological findings indicating that lap band gastric bypass surgery improves insulin resistance at the 120 th annual meeting of the American Physiological Society April 30 and May 1. As reported by Reuters and others media, the popular surgery is very successful in controlling diabetes, even before substantial weight loss has occurred.

Dr. Susan Franks, associate professor of psychology, will release the results of the associated psychological study in June.

Ensuring No Medical Student Gets Left Behind

Dr. Bruce Dubin, associate dean of academic affairs, and Dr. Jerry Alexander, director of academic information services, have proven the benefits of Web-based business-intelligence software in improving learning for medical students at the Health Science Center. The program, dubbed “No Medical Student Left Behind,” highlights the benefits of integrating data from a variety of sources to streamline administrative processes, keep students on track, and help instructors with providing recommendations.

The article, “Ring the Alarm,” appeared in this month’s issue of Texas Technology.

“Skeletons in the Closet”

The UNT System Center for Human Identification, which includes the Health Science Center’s DNA Lab, was featured in a segment on the “State of Tomorrow” PBS series on May 11. Dr. Art Eisenberg, director of our DNA lab, and Dr. John Planz, assistant director, were both interviewed about the case of Shawn Patrick Reilly, whose remains were identified though DNA testing.