UTMB Aerospace Medicine Residents Learn about Research in Extreme Environments

There are many things that make UTMB unique, and the university’s relationship with NASA is one of them. The Aerospace Medicine Residency at UTMB is particularly special, providing the opportunity for physicians to learn from the combined strengths of the two institutions.

UTMB has graduated several astronauts and flight surgeons, including a few who have spent significant time living and working on the space station. Physicians from UTMB also work closely with the teams that fly on both NASA and SpaceX missions, monitoring their medical conditions and ensuring they are healthy during their training, as well as before and after their spaceflights.

In August, five physicians who are participating in the UTMB Aerospace Medicine Residency Program spent an afternoon at the GNL learning about research in different kinds of “extreme environments.”

GNL scientists shared what it’s like to collect disease carrying mosquitos and monitor tree dwelling monkeys in the rainforests of Brazil, and what it takes to respond to outbreaks of extremely dangerous infectious diseases in far-flung corners of the world where basics like electricity and clean water can be hard to come by.

The team also toured the GNL and then had the opportunity to visit the International Biosafety Training Center on campus and experience first-hand what it is like to wear a bulky “spacesuit” while conducting laboratory research.

The Aerospace Medicine Residents who participated in the afternoon are pictured above and include (left to right) Dr. Andrew Lam, Dr. Christine Schwartz, Dr. Vasilis Mavratsas, Dr. Ethan Stephens, and Dr. Brian Rodriguez. They were accompanied by Heather Medley, the department's Administrative Associate. Dr. Tom Ksiazek, Dr. Gene Olinger and Dr. Nikos Vasilakis shared stories about their research, and Ms. Corrie Ntiforo provided them with the Biosafety Training experience.

UTMB is extremely proud of its partnerships with NASA and commercial space organizations and looks forward to a long future of collaborative success ensuring the health and safety of those who dare to venture off this planet.