Topics at a glance: UTDB alumna making news with Down syndrome treatment … Fun Fest 2008 … Thanksgiving Raffle tickets on sale now … Medical School hosting Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair

UTDB alumna making news with Down syndrome treatment

Documentary showing Friday, Nov. 14 in Missouri City

Teresa Cody, D.D.S., and her son, Neal, are featured in Changing a Mind, a documentary about Down syndrome research in action.

UTDB alumna Teresa Cody, D.D.S., (Class of 1992) and her husband, Tim Cashion, D.D.S., have a dental practice in Sugar Land, where she specializes in care of special-needs children. It's a challenge she knows well, both as a dentist and as the mother of Neal, their 11-year-old son with Down syndrome. For most of her son's life, Cody has made a daily habit of reviewing research literature, looking for scientific innovations that might help him. It now appears that her research may have paid off - not only for her son, but for others as well.

Based on research at Stanford University and with approval from her son's pediatrician, Cody began treating Neal with a GABA antagonist found in the herbal supplement gingko biloba. His amazing progress - and that of six other children in Cody's small "clinical trial" -- has been documented by outside testing and captured on film by a videographer who turned out to be a filmmaker. The result is an award-winning documentary, Changing a Mind, which recorded the children's response to the protocol. The film will be presented locally at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14 at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Missouri City. Tickets are available at www.changingmindsfoundation.org or by calling 281-341-0101.
FULL STORY.

Fun Fest 2008

The annual University of Texas Health Science Center Fun Fest drew a crowd Friday in its new location, Grant Fay Park outside the School of Public Health. This year's theme was "Rockin and Rollin' to the 50s."

Dental students enjoy the music and free food.
Dental Branch employees Angelica Garcia, Mamie Ellis and Jessica Garcia enjoyed the 50s theme at Fun Fest as Ed Kelly snaps a photo.	Among the volunteers from the Dental Branch were Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S, (center) seen here with Mamie Ellis (left) and Ronda Lowe.

Not actual basket.

Thanksgiving Raffle tickets on sale now

The Employee Relations Committee is selling raffle tickets for chances to win two gift baskets with $25 gift cards included. Tickets prices are three for $5, or $2 each, and are available from any ERC member. The drawing will be at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18 in the First Floor Lobby.

Don't know any ERC members? Here are a few:

Medical School hosting Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair

More than 25 vendors, including some from the Dental Branch, will be offering items for sale at the 22nd Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair in the Leather Lounge at the UT Medical School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18. The event is sponsored by the Medical School's Employee Relations Committee. If you can't make it that day, mark your calendar for the holiday arts and crafts fair coming up at the Dental Branch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12.