Topics at a glance: Nearly a quarter century at work: Segovia says goodbye to UTDB    … Construction on Holcombe, Main to improve drainage -- eventually  … PRESIDENTAL SEARCH UPDATE  … Paravina’s work featured in ‘Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry’  … Introducing the iModules Scholarship Program … Write it with flowers; help UCSC fund scholarships

Nearly a quarter century at work: Segovia says goodbye to UTDB

After 24 years, Rachel Segovia, support specialist in the Department of Pediatrics, worked her last day at the UT Dental Branch on Monday, March 31. She wrote a few words about her UTDB experiences:

“When I first started working at the Dental Branch, I started working in Central Sterile at the Basement. Teresa Guillory was my dispensary supervisor and Mary A. Adkisson was in charge of the Central Sterile Department. After the fourth year, I was selected to be acting supervisor for the Central Sterile Department. From there I was given the job as receptionist in Patient Records (later called CIS and now EPR) which was my first encounter working with patients.

“One day, June Grinstead, the secretary for Dr. Brady, and Kathy Murray, the secretary for Educational and Facilities Support Services, came to ask me if I would like to transfer to a department on the third floor. I was only given about three minutes to make my decision. I decided to accept that offer and that’s how I ended up at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry for the past 18 years. The chairman then was Dr. Thomas Wild, and the secretary for the department was Mary Helen Borrego.

“My 24-year working career in The University of Texas System included four-and-a-half years in Central Sterile, one-and-a-half years at Patient Records, and about 18 years in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

“I am for changes, and I can say that what is now happening here at the Dental Branch is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen throughout this past 24 years, especially the new Dental Branch Building. Support all those who are here to make progress a continuous growth in The University of Texas System, especially the Dental Branch.

“I will miss my Dental Branch family, but I plan to be busy in my next 24 years traveling and spending good times with my family and friends!”

Construction on Holcombe, Main to improve drainage — eventually

Orange cones are up for yet another construction project in the Texas Medical Center. This time, the City of Houston will lay new water lines, storm drains, sanitary sewers and pavement along Holcombe Boulevard between Fannin Street and Brays Bayou. The work began April 1 and will continue through May 2009. Water lines and pavement also will be replaced on Main from Holcombe to Southgate, and storm drain inlets and leads will be installed on Main from Holcombe to Sunset. The project will improve drainage in the TMC, but until the work is finished, traffic will likely be more congested. Additional information is available in a Houston Chronicle article about the project.

PRESIDENTAL SEARCH UPDATE

Progress is being made on the search for a new president for the UT Health Science Center, with four highly qualified candidates set to visit the campus in April. Their names have not yet been revealed, but details should be forthcoming after this visit.

Introducing the iModules Scholarship Program

The vendor whose program the UT Health Science Center uses to communicate with alumni recently launched a scholarship program. The application deadline for the iModules Scholarship Program is April 30. Five individual scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded, with winners announced by the end of the first week in May. For information on applying, visit the iModules Website.

Paravina’s work featured
in ‘Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry’

An article by Rade D. Paravina, D.D.S., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials, is featured on the cover of the March edition of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. The paper, “New Shade Guide for Tooth Whitening Monitoring: Visual Assessment,” emphasizes that “shade guides currently used to monitor tooth bleaching lack logical order, uniform color distribution and light shade tabs, thus limiting the design of bleaching studies and diminishing the validity of obtained results.” Three shade guides were compared in this paper, and only the visual light-to-dark order of the VITA Bleachedguide 3D-Master was found to be identical to the order suggested by manufacturer. The VITA Bleachedguide 3-D Master was designed jointly by Paravina and VITA Zahnfabrik.

Write it with flowers
Help UCSC fund scholarships Looking for a gift for Secretary’s Day, a birthday or even Mother’s Day? The University Classified Staff Council Scholarship Committee is selling silk pen floral arrangements to raise funds for the scholarship fund. Each pen is $3, or two for $5. A bouquet is $15. The pens are made to order and are delivered to the Dental Branch’s UCSC representative. For more information, contact Cecilia Lim. To order, complete and submit the order form.