Press Releases

Tyler, Texas (March 9, 2022) — UT Health East Texas Rehabilitation Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Stroke Specific Rehabilitation Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

Henderson, Texas (March 9, 2022) — Patsy McCoy lives by the words, “If you truly enjoy your work, you actually never work a day in your life.” McCoy, a certified pharmacy technician at UT Health Henderson, was honored Tuesday for 50 years of service at the hospital.

“If I didn’t like my job, I wouldn’t still be here,” McCoy said. “The atmosphere is good. If you like working with the people you’re with, your day is not hard.”

Athens, Texas (March 4, 2022) — The UT Health East Texas Sleep Disorders Center is opening a new center, located at 704 South Palestine St. in Athens, Monday, March 7.

Tyler, Texas (January 31, 2022) — The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at UT Health Tyler is now open, and its neonatology team is providing specialized care for babies who are born prematurely or have other complex care needs.  

The new NICU and renovated nursery is a combined 2,900 square feet and features nine state-of-the-art neonatal beds and the most up-to-date equipment for advanced care and monitoring.

Tyler, Texas (January 21, 2022) — This January, primary care/sports medicine physician and running expert Rebecca Peebles, DO, is leading a six-week series to teach the basic techniques of running. When they register, participants receive a six-week training plan with the goal of completing a 5K at the end of the training.

Participants can watch a weekly video covering six topics coving the fundamentals of training and have the opportunity to ask Dr. Peebles questions about their progress:

Jacksonville, Texas (Jan. 5, 2022) — UT Health Jacksonville welcomed the first baby of the new year at 12:19 p.m. Jan. 3, 2022. Sophia Paulina Alvarez was born to Paulina Arredondo and Reyes Alvarez. She weighed 7 pounds, 12.7 ounces and measured 19.5 inches.  

“I wasn’t expecting the new baby of the year,” said Paulina, explaining that her labor originally was scheduled to be induced Thursday, Dec. 30, but a positive COVID-19 diagnosis delayed that until Monday.

Henderson, Texas (Jan. 5, 2022) — UT Health Henderson welcomed the first baby of the new year at 5:17 p.m. Jan. 1, 2022. DaBralyn Wofford was born to Areka Wofford and weighed in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 19 inches.

Athens, Texas (Jan. 3, 2022) — UT Health Athens welcomed the first baby of the new year at 3:02 p.m. Jan. 1, 2022. Hector Damian Prado was born to Andrea Govea and Hector Prado. He weighed 5 pounds, 13.5 ounces and measured 19.5 inches long.

“It’s the best feeling. I had a really nice nurse (who was) understanding, kind and patient,” Govea said.

For being the first baby born in the new year, baby Hector received an assortment of gifts courtesy of the UT Health Athens OB Department.

Henderson, Texas (December 13, 2021) — Surprises weren’t in short supply with the arrival of the first baby born in December at UT Health Henderson.

Mother Meagan Neal said she was shocked and thrilled when nurses brought her a hand-sewn stocking embroidered with the UT Health East Texas logo, a keepsake all newborns will go home with in the month of December.

“It was so adorable when they brought that to me,” Neal said. “I was expecting her to come after Christmas, so it was just perfect.”

Tyler, Texas (December 7, 2021) — Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, UT Health North Campus Tyler was named a Top Teaching Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group. Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive.