Health

The longtime friendship shared by three caregivers at UT Health Tyler has brought them both personal and professional satisfaction as well as a deep system of support in the workplace.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that predominantly affects the lungs and digestive system. This disease usually shows signs in early infancy and can by treated by a physician to manage complications and improve quality of life. Dr. Rodolfo Amaro-Galvez, director of UT Health’s Cystic Fibrosis Clinic, and Dr. Leslie Couch, pulmonologist, see both children and adults who have been diagnosed with this disease.

May is mental health awareness month. So, what are some facts about the state of mental health in the United States, in Texas and in our East Texas community? What are some self-care strategies you can use to keep yourself mentally healthy?

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. There are two main types of skin cancer: non-melanoma and melanoma. The two most common types of non-melanoma skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Skin cancer is often caused by sun exposure and sunburn. Skin cancer can occur anywhere on the skin, but it is often on the head, face, neck and the back of the hands. The incidence of skin cancer has been increasing over the past few years.

Blog by Dr. Chambers

For Melinda Leinard, RN, charge nurse at UT Health Henderson, it’s the little things that go a long way.

Leinard, who works the night shift, already is known at the hospital for passing out bookmarks to new patients in the morning that feature an acrostic poem reading GOOD MORNING. 

“I thought it would be something to give them in the morning to say, ‘I hope you have a great day. It was a pleasure taking care of you last night.’ Just something to brighten their day a little bit,” she said.

Margie Smith’s introduction to cardiac nursing came when she was a heart patient 25 years ago.

That experience, Smith says, shaped the patient care she now provides as an RN in UT Health Tyler’s Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. 

“Being a patient has allowed me to be a better nurse,” Smith says. “Had I not gone through what I went through, I’m not sure I’d have pursued nursing.” 

Smith first started experiencing heart problems at age 28. By age 32, with four sons younger than 10 at home, she received her first pacemaker. 

Brandon Jones, a Marshall, Texas, native, began boxing and learning kung fu at age 12. He fell in love with the sport and achieved his dream of opening his own kung fu studio and boxing gym in 1996. “Kung fu and boxing is who I am,” says Brandon. “It's a passion of mine and I love sharing that passion with others.”

Spring brings with it beautiful blossoms, a chance to spend more time outside and pollen. Allergies cause problems all over the country, but it can seem like this region gets hit particularly hard. “East Texas may be particularly bothersome for allergic patients as the pollination may be more prolific than in other areas and the “seasons” may be prolonged,” explains Dr. Jonathan Buttram, allergist and immunologist at UT Health East Texas.

Blog by Dr. Maria Anastasiades, PsyD and Dr. Crystal Frazier, PsyD, MPA