Abe DeAnda, Jr., MD, FACS, FAHA (Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery) and several UTMB faculty have championed a President's Cabinet Award for the SMART Family Literacy program titled: "SMART Heart Partners-Starting Early to Build Healthy Adult Hearts."
SMART Family Literacy Inc. is a Galveston-based volunteer organization that works with elementary school students to promote literacy and health. A number of UTMB faculty are members of the Board of Directors, and Dr. DeAnda recently served as the President of the Board of Directors.
The President’s Cabinet Award is in partnership between the Departments of Pediatrics, Surgery, and Family Medicine to assist students in reading as well as promoting healthy behaviors. Family literacy is a major factor in child health: with this award, the SMART Family Literacy program is one step closer to making an impact on the lives of children in Galveston and beyond.
The President's Cabinet Award provides seed grants to programs to deliver compassionate care, encourage novel biomedical research, and prepare future leaders for the health professions. The President's Cabinet has provided over $6 Million in seed grants to more than 175 developing programs in our community since 1993.