The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has recognized Laura Tenner, MD, MPH, as one of ASCO's 2019 Advocacy Champions at the Senator’s Club Level for her dedication to educating lawmakers on important policies that ensure patients have access to high quality cancer care. Her advocacy accomplishments include the ASCO Advocacy Summit on Capitol Hill, participation on the Board of the Texas Society of Clinical Oncology and her work as an ASCO Health Policy Leadership and Program Fellow for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

A planned 144-bed teaching hospital on the UT Health San Antonio campus slated to open in the spring of 2024 will boost enrollment for many health programs so crucial for the region and state. The medical school alone could see an increase of 22 students in each enrollment class. The number of medical residents could grow by 100 to 130 slots by 2027. Currently, 1,000 residency slots are offered through UT Health San Antonio.

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Greg Aune, MD, associate professor, pediatrics, is a cancer survivor who is on a mission to help young cancer patients. Dr. Aune conducts research at the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute.

The first annual Texas MPN (myeloproliferative neoplasms) Virtual Workshop and Meeting was developed by Ruben Mesa, M.D., director of Mays Cancer Center, Srdan Vertovsek, M.D. and Naveen Pemmaraju of MD Anderson Cancer Center. 

Johanna Matos, APRN, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing, urges parents to take steps to help keep their children healthy as schools prepare to start in-person classes. That includes getting the flu shot this year and making sure kids are up to date on routine vaccinations. Medical Minute is a collaboration between UT Health San Antonio and KENS 5.

“Contributing with Grateful Hearts” is the theme for this year’s UT Health San Antonio State Employee Charitable Campaign, which runs from September 1 through October 9. Throughout the years, the generous faculty and staff at UT Health San Antonio have contributed more than $8.5 million to our local community through the SECC.

The photography studio is open for business, offering professional portraits for faculty, staff, students and residents. The studio, located in Room 2.461T on the second floor of the Dental School Building, is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. As a reminder, providers that have a Mays Cancer Center online profile on cancer.uthscsa.edu are required to get a new professional portrait. 

Rosa Ballesteros joined the Mays Cancer Center seven months ago as a medical office receptionist after spending most of her career working in pediatrics. Her interest in working with cancer patients began when her brother started radiation therapy at the Mays Cancer Center. As she accompanied him to his appointments, she saw how the staff helped him throughout his journey against cancer. It was then that she realized that she could make an impact on an individual's fight against cancer.

You can find Rosa in the radiation oncology department, interacting with patients scheduled for their treatment and follow-up appointments. She enjoys talking with patients, hearing their stories and learning as much as possible about them. She even likes to memorize the patients' last name the first time she meets them. She cares deeply about all of our patients and shares her personal experience to give them hope.

Plan to virtually attend the UT Health Physicians 2020 Stars and Shields Awards ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

UT Health San Antonio employees are encouraged to get a flu vaccination this flu season. Wellness 360 will have limited number of influenza vaccines available for employees and students beginning on Thursday, Sept. 3.