The Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy departments at the UTMB School of Health Professions will hold two, week-long clinics this summer providing free therapy for people with neurological disease and injury, including but not limited to stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. The clinics take place the weeks of June 24-28 and July 8-12 at the School of Health Professions, 1114 Mechanic Street. For more information and to register contact Jill Seale at 409-772-3068

Practice conference
“Learn, launch, lead: EBP today and into the future,” was the theme of a two-day conference on evidence-based practice held on the island last week that looked at challenges and opportunities for nursing.

Imaging seminar
Friday is the deadline to register for the 18th annual Medical Imaging Seminar at UTMB. Organized by the department of radiology, the all-day event begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 18 in Levin Hall, located at 10th and Market Streets. For more information, contact Ma’Lisa Thomas at or 409-772-2434. Go here to view the seminar program.

Student Research Forum
“The future of biomedical research” was the topic of Dr. Alan E. Guttmacher, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. He was on campus to present the 2013 Abreu Memorial Keynote Lecture at the 54th National Student Research Forum.

Atherosclerosis grant
Dr. Ken Fujise has earned a five-year $1.9 million grant to conduct research in atherosclerosis. The grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute is to study how some specific versions of fortilin proteins might be able to combat the process by which blood flow is obstructed in arteries. Fujise is director of the division of cardiology and will be the principal investigator.
 
The Lunch Bunch
The UTMB Lunch Bunch presents guest speakers and light lunch on the second Tuesday of every other month from noon to 1 p.m. On Tuesday, May 14, Drs. Catherine Hansen and Pamela Havlen will present “An ounce of prevention: Check-ups and health screenings,” at the UTMB Specialty Care Center at Victory Lakes, 2240 Gulf Freeway South, League City. For questions about this or future sessions, call 832-505-1600 or email VictoryLakes@utmb.edu. A schedule of future programs can be found at www.utmbhealth.com/LunchBunch.
 
Diabetes support group
“Eat this: Not that” is the topic for this month’s meeting of the UTMB diabetes support group on Monday, May 13.  The group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in Suite 9 of the UTMB Multispecialty Center and Stark Diabetes Clinic, 2660 Gulf Freeway South in League City. To reserve a place, call 832-505-2300.

Gastrointestinal cancer support group
Dr. Victor S. Sierpina, author of the Healthy Gut Workbook and the W.D. and Laura Nell Nicholson Family Professor of Integrative Medicine at UTMB, will discuss the integration of conventional and holistic cancer treatments at the next meeting of the GI cancer support group at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, in Room 1.132 of the Rebecca Sealy Building, at the corner of Market and Eighth streets. The group meets the second Tuesday of each month. For more information or to RSVP for the meeting, contact Robert Webster at 409-789-5074 or Captrwebster@aol.com.