Volume 16 | Issue 9
Inside This Issue
September Edition 2026
Komen Makes Innovations to Save Lives Through ShareForCures Breast Cancer Database By Brandice Pierre Executive Director, Gulf Coast Susan G. Komen
I VA Launches Trail Of GLP-1 Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder See pg. 10
INDEX Legal Matters........................ pg.3 Oncology Research......... pg.5 Healthy Heart....................... pg.6 Financial Forecast............ pg.12
Disaster Day is on the Move See pg. 11
n 2026, it is estimated that the state of Texas will have 24,270 new cases of breast cancer reported and that 3,400 individuals will die from this terrible disease. These aren’t just statistics; they are our neighbors, our friends, and our loved ones and speaks to a profound health crisis and heartbreak that touches us all. Susan G. Komen, is the world’s leading breast cancer organization, working toward a future where no one dies from breast cancer. One of the organization’s most innovative initiatives, ShareForCures, provides researchers with critical data to accelerate breast cancer breakthroughs and improve outcomes for everyone affected by the disease. Breast cancer affects every individual differently and is shaped by biology, lived experiences and demographic factors such as race and ethnicity. To drive meaningful advances in research, scientists need access to a diverse and comprehensive pool of health data that reflects the full spectrum of people impacted by breast cancer. Share For Cures provides a safe, secure platform for participants to contribute their data, breaking down barriers and advancing research for all. At its core, ShareForCures is a breast cancer registry developed by Susan G. Komen to connect scientists with information from people who are living with or have had breast cancer. The database provides rich data that helps scientists make discoveries faster and offers people who have been
diagnosed with breast cancer a direct way to participate in research. Participating in Share For Cures is an easy, safe and seamless process; individuals create a registry account and complete informed consent and medical
disparities and accelerate patient-focused care, regardless of race, ethnicity or geography. Data gathered through the platform helps scientists learn more about breast cancer and improve the care of breast cancer patients in the future. Participants also benefit directly from the database by gaining secure, easy access to their own medical records, along with breast health information and resources to help those impacted by the disease better understand their diagnosis. Susan G. Komen invites anyone who has ever been diagnosed with breast cancer to contribute their health data and help fuel the next generation of research and join us in our mission of a world where no one dies from breast cancer. Proceeds from Komen events, like the Houston Race for the Cure, help fund critical patient-centered
Through ShareForCures, everyone’s health information is pooled with all other health information... to create one of the most valuable tools available for breast cancer research release forms to provide information about their breast cancer diagnosis. Through ShareForCures, everyone’s health information is pooled with all other health information from diverse people of all backgrounds, over time to create one of the most valuable tools available for breast cancer research. By joining Share For Cures, participants help eliminate breast health
see Database ...page 14
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 1 HOUSTON TX
Houston Medical Times
Page 2
Love Where You Live
Start living the vibrant lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of with a Central Living by David Weekley home in Reserve at Park Row, an exclusive gated community in West Houston. Enjoy a convenient location near major medical facilities while staying connected to all the excitement Houston has to offer.
Scan to Explore Reserve at Park Row
Reserve at Park Row From the high $400s | 832-701-0015
Already Love Where You Live? Build your dream home on your own land in the Houston area with David Weekley Homes through our Build on Your Lot program. Choose a floor plan designed for the way your family lives and personalize it to reflect your style!
Scan To See How You Can Build On Your Lot
Build on Your Lot in Houston 832-975-1897
Build on Your Lot
See a David Weekley Homes Sales Consultant for details. Prices, plans, dimensions, features, specifications, materials, and availability of homes or communities are subject to change without notice or obligation. Illustrations are artist’s depictions only and may differ from completed improvements. Copyright © 2026 David Weekley Homes - All Rights Reserved. Houston, TX (HOU-26-005152)
September 2026
medicaltimesnews.com
Houston Medical Times
Page 3
Legal Matters Is Your AI Strategy Putting Your Trade Secrets at Risk? By Jay E. Heidrick, J.D. Polsinelli, PC
G
enerative artificial intelligence has become an indispensable business tool. Employees use platforms like ChatGPT and other publicly available AI models to draft documents, analyze data, troubleshoot technical issues, and streamline everyday work. While these tools can significantly improve productivity, they also present an often-overlooked legal risk: the potential loss of trade secret protection. For companies that rely on proprietary information to maintain a competitive advantage, understanding this risk — and taking steps to mitigate it — is becoming increasingly important. Why Public AI Can Jeopardize
Trade Secret Protection Under both federal and state trade secret laws, information qualifies as a trade secret only if it derives economic value from not being generally known and the owner takes reasonable measures to maintain its secrecy. That second requirement is where public AI platforms create concern. Unlike enterprise AI environments that contractually protect customer data, publicly available AI models generally are not intended to serve as confidential repositories for sensitive business information. Uploading source code, proprietary algorithms, customer lists, pricing strategies, product designs, or other confidential information into a public AI platform may undermine the argument that the company took reasonable steps to preserve secrecy. If confidentiality is lost, trade secret protection may be lost as well. Why Your Existing NDA May Not Be Enough For decades, companies have
relied on nondisclosure agreements to preserve confidentiality when sharing sensitive information with employees, vendors, prospective business partners, and other third parties. Traditionally, those agreements have been sufficient because the recipient was contractually obligated not to disclose the information further. Generative AI introduces a new category of risk that many existing confidentiality agreements were never designed to address. Even if a recipient never intentionally discloses your confidential information to competitors or the public, uploading that information into a public AI model may itself compromise its confidential status. In other words,
your counterparty could inadvertently jeopardize your trade secrets despite remaining otherwise compliant with the NDA. As a result, companies should consider updating their confidentiality agreements to expressly prohibit the disclosure or uploading of confidential information to public or non-enterprise AI platforms without prior written authorization. Likewise, companies should evaluate how they use information provided to them under and NDA. If a company imports confidential information it received under an NDA into a non-confidential AI platform, it may see Legal Matters. ...page 14
Ending breast cancer needs All of Us. Saturday, October 3, 2026 Sam Houston Park Houston, TX Register now and join us today! komen.org/HoustonRace
medicaltimesnews.com
September 2026
Page 4
Houston Medical Times
Houston Methodist Invests More Than $4M To Strengthen Community Health Across Greater Houston By Staff
H
ouston Methodist is expanding its ongoing commitment to community health with an investment of more than $4.2 million in grant funding to nonprofit organizations across Greater Houston. Part of the health system’s annual community investment pledge of more than $14 million, the funding supports programs that address social and environmental factors affecting health
and help improve well-being beyond the hospital. Through its support of local organizations, Houston Methodist helps advance efforts to address barriers that affect health, such as access to stable housing, economic opportunity, education and essential resources. This year’s funding will contribute to 47 programs that collectively serve nearly 46,000 individuals through initiatives focused on healthy neighborhoods, workforce and economic development, and educational advancement. A complete list of grant beneficiaries is available here. “At Houston Methodist, we
September 2026
medicaltimesnews.com
recognize that health is shaped by more than medical care alone,” said Jill Campbell, director of community benefits at Houston Methodist. “Through the grant program, we are proud to partner with exceptional nonprofit organizations that help strengthen the well-being of individuals and families across Greater Houston.” Houston Methodist’s community investment strategy focuses on addressing the social and economic
factors that influence health outcomes before patients enter a hospital. Through partnerships that strengthen food access, housing stability, transportation, social connectedness, education and workforce development, Houston Methodist works to reduce barriers to health and promote long-term well-being across the communities it serves. Food security efforts include supporting community-based programs that provide meals for seniors, connecting families and children with nutritious food, expanding access to fresh produce and helping individuals navigate food assistance resources.
Houston Medical Times
Page 5
Oncology Research I Can’t Screen Patients from the Chemotherapy Chair By Debra Patt, M.D., Ph.D., MBA
T
hroughout my career I’ve met with countless people on the hardest day of their life to deliver heavy news: a cancer diagnosis. Many assume those conversations begin when patients walk into an oncologist’s office. However, they often begin months, even years, earlier with a missed mammogram, a postponed colonoscopy, pap smear or a lung cancer screening that simply never happened. What stays with me isn’t just the diagnosis. It’s what patients tell me afterward. “Work was busy.” “I just couldn’t find time.”
“I felt fine.” These aren’t excuses. They’re reminders that life is complicated. People are balancing jobs, raising children, caring for aging parents and stretching every dollar. Finding time for preventive screenings can feel impossible when everything else demands your attention. And when you don’t have symptoms, it’s easy to convince yourself the appointment can wait. Unfortunately, cancer doesn’t always wait. This year alone, the American Cancer Society estimates more than two million people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer. As oncologists, we’re fortunate to have treatments today that were unimaginable even just a decade ago. Precision medicine, immunotherapy and targeted therapies have transformed care for many patients and continue to improve their outcomes and quality of
life. But even with all those advances, one of the most powerful tools we have still is not a new drug or groundbreaking technology. It’s finding cancer before it causes symptoms. When cancers are detected early, treatment is often less invasive, less expensive and more successful. In some cases, screening does even more than detect cancer early. It prevents cancer altogether by identifying precancerous changes before they become lifethreatening. Yet unfortunately, too many people never reach that point.
The barriers aren’t always medical. They can be practical. For some, taking time off work means losing wages they can’t afford to lose. A colonoscopy requires transportation, preparation and recovery time. A parent may need to arrange childcare just to keep an appointment. Patients in rural areas may drive for hours to reach a screening center. Others simply don’t know which screenings they need or when they should begin. By the time many patients arrive in my clinic, those barriers are no longer see Oncology. ...page 14
Scan Here
Affordable living in the heart of Houston’s Medical Center District. Mention this advertisement for a special move-in promotion.
Website: residencesatthemed.com Email: residencesmed@keenermanage.com Phone: 832-422-5054
2111 Holly Hall Street, Houston, TX 77054
medicaltimesnews.com
September 2026
Houston Medical Times
Page 6
Healthy Heart Developmental Psychologist and Her Husband to Lead Year-Round Campaign to Improve Health in Houston By Dion Bart The American Heart Association
T
hrough the American Heart Association’s Heart of Houston campaign, Dr. Danielle and Stephen Tschirhart, volunteer chairpersons will lead community-wide efforts to help ensure every individual in Houston has the opportunity for a full, healthy life. The Heart Ball celebrates hope and progress made through the dedication and passion of all who support the American Heart Association’s efforts to make an impact on the health of the community. These efforts include the relentless pursuit of scientific discovery, public policy change, equitable health for the under resourced and underrepresented, and education to equip the community to take control of their health. As longstanding volunteers of the American Heart Association, the
Tschirharts have a profound personal connection to the mission, following the death of Dr. Tschirhart’s father to heart disease. The devastating loss shaped the couple’s commitment to supporting research, education, advocacy, and access to care so that other families may have a chance to lead longer, healthier lives. “We are honored to serve as the 2027 Houston Heart Ball chairpersons,” said Dr. and Mr. Tschirhart. “We look forward to partnering with our incredible team of volunteers and the American Heart Association to advance the impactful work championed by dedicated leaders such as the LaPar, Labrasca, and Singletary families. Together, we will continue driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care to improve the health of our community. Creating lasting change takes all of us—and united in this mission, we can build a healthier future
for every person in Houston.” Dr. Danielle Tschirhart is the founder of The Growing Minds Studio, a developmental psychologist and licensed professional counselor supervisor in the Houston area. With extensive experience as an educator, school counselor, and child psychologist, she has dedicated her career to enriching the lives of children and families. She holds a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Developmental Psychology from Fielding University, along with a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of St. Thomas and a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University. Stephen Tschirhart is a chief underwriting officer at AmRisc Group, who is one of the largest property catastrophe insurers in the United States. Mr. Tschirhart holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University.[DB3.1] Stephen works on underwriting and product strategy, along with carrier and portfolio management across the AmRisc platform. “Dr. Danielle and Stephen Tschirhart’s commitment to the American Heart Association’s mission, combined with a clear passion for
Dr. Danielle and Stephen Tschirhart named 2026-2027 American Heart Association Heart of Houston chairpersons
improving the well-being of our community, makes them an outstanding choice to lead this year’s campaign,” said Lacey Berlau associate vice president of development with the American Heart see Healthy Heart. ...page 13
SEVENTY-SIX TROMBONES. The cast of The Music Man. Photo by Marshall Meadows.
ONE UNFORGETTABLE MUSICAL!
GET TICKETS AT TUTS.ORG SAVE WITH GROUPS OF 10+ AT TUTS.ORG/GROUPS
SEASON SPONSORS
SEPT. 15 – 27 • THE HOBBY CENTER September 2026
medicaltimesnews.com
MEDIA SPONSOR
Houston Medical Times
Page 7
medicaltimesnews.com
September 2026
Houston Medical Times
Page 8
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Awards University of Houston $750,000 to Strengthen Nursing Education By Staff
The Grant Will Expand Clinical Training, Simulation Technology and Faculty Development as Texas Faces a Projected Shortage of More Than 57,000 Registered Nurses By 2032
T
he University of Houston’s Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing has received a $750,000 grant through the Texas Nursing Innovation Grant Program to expand nursing education and help address the state’s growing shortage of registered nurses. The award is part of more than $5.6 million in grants announced by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to support innovative nursing education programs across the state.
The funding comes as Texas faces an increasing demand for nurses. State data and projections from the Texas Hospital Association indicate the state could face a shortage of more than 57,000 registered nurses by 2032. University officials said the two-year grant will strengthen clinical learning opportunities, invest in advanced simulation technology and expand faculty expertise to better prepare students for today’s rapidly changing health care environment. Raji Pillai, assistant professor at the Gessner College of Nursing, said the funding represents an important investment in the future of Texas’ health care workforce. − “The nursing shortage is a critical issue across our state, causing burnout and dissatisfaction among
the existing workforce. Receiving this grant from Governor Abbott is a significant investment in both our students and the future of health care in Texas.” Raji Pillai, assistant professor at Gessner College of Nursing: Pillai said the college plans to use the funding to expand clinical learning environments, acquire new simulation technology and provide training for both newly hired and current faculty members. “We plan to use these resources to expand our clinical learning environments, acquire new simulation technology, and train both newly hired and existing faculty on the most advanced technologies for clinical practice, ensuring our students enter the
workforce practice-ready from day one.” The Gessner College of Nursing serves students throughout the Houston region, including through instructional sites in Sugar Land and Katy. Students receive advanced training from faculty and gain clinical experience at hospitals and health care facilities across the Houston area. According to the university, approximately 95% of UH bachelor’s degree nursing students and 100% of master’s degree nursing students from the Class of 2024 secured employment after graduation. The university also reported that 98% of those graduates accepted positions within Texas. see Grant. ...page 13
Do you have patients with plaque psoriasis? Consider a Clinical Trial
CCS is looking for individuals diagnosed with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis to participate in a voluntary clinical research trial. Patients would continue to see you for their general care.
Patients may qualify if: Be age 18 to 65 (inclusive)
Diagnosed with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
Able to attend visits & complete required study-related testing
Meet additional study criteria requirements
You or your patients can call to learn more.
(281) 343-3300 www.ccstexas.com September 2026
medicaltimesnews.com
Houston Medical Times
Page 9
The Kidney Conversation Primary Care Keeps Missing By Bismah Irfan, MD
I
am a nephrologist in Houston, and most of the patients who come to me did not need to come when they did. They arrive at stage 4, the eGFR is in the twenties, and then we pull the old labs together and the whole story was already there three or four years ago. Nobody was careless. The number that would have shown it was never ordered. So the thing is, eGFR by itself does not find early kidney disease. A patient can sit at 75 for years, with an albumin to creatinine ratio of 200, and be losing function the entire time. That means the normal-looking eGFR is reassuring you and it should not be. KDIGO asks for both tests every year in
diabetes and in hypertension, and the urine albumin is the one that quietly drops off the order set. If you change one thing after reading this, add the uACR to the annual diabetic and hypertensive panel. It is a spot urine and it costs almost nothing. The other thing is the isolated creatinine bump, and I want you to stop treating it as an event. When you start an ACE inhibitor or an ARB, a rise up to 30 percent is expected. That is the hemodynamic change you were going for, and it settles. If you stop the drug there, you have just taken away the kidney protection you prescribed it for. Same with the eGFR dip after you start an SGLT2 inhibitor. That dip is in every one of the big kidney trials, and in DAPA-CKD and EMPA-KIDNEY the long term curve still goes the right way. What I do want you to look at is a creatinine that keeps climbing, a rise over 30 percent, or a rise with new hyperkalemia. And then, at stage 3, do the
medication review. Ten minutes, and it changes more than anything else in that visit. Ask what they take for pain, and ask specifically, because patients do not think ibuprofen is a medication. In August in this city I see that combination land in the emergency room every few weeks: an ACE inhibitor or an ARB, a diuretic, and an over the counter anti inflammatory, in somebody who was outside all day and behind on fluids. Then check what needs renal dosing. Look at the proton pump inhibitor that was started for a two week problem four years ago. And confirm that your patient
Medical Suites Available for Lease
with albuminuric diabetic kidney disease is actually on an SGLT2 inhibitor, and whether finerenone belongs on top of it. On when to send them to me, I would rather see people early, and I know every specialist says that. So here is the honest list. eGFR under 30. uACR over 300. Losing more than five per year. Hypertension that is still not controlled on three drugs. Hematuria with proteinuria. Above that line most of this is managed well in primary care, and for those patients I am glad to be a see Kidney. ...page 14
Brazos Atrium Building Looking for professional medical office space? Our medical suites offer: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Located in Cornerstone Area (FM 1960 & TC Jester)
•
Close to Hospitals 24/7 tenant access Various Professional Medical Suites Executive Suites Available Virtual Suites Available Frontage Access & Visibility Off FM 1960 Front & Rear Parking Covered parking in rear of Building Conference room is located on each floor Building signage opportunities Marquee Signage Available located on FM 1960 On-site maintenance Internet Available Upon Request Competitive pricing Build-out Suit Available (3 yr lease minimum) On Site Commercial Building Leasing On site maintenance Tenant Portal for payment and submit maintenance issues Located close to Churches, Restaurants, Retail Centers, Gas Stations, Auto Repairs On Houston Metro Bus Routes
FOR MORE INFORMATION/TOUR 346-327-0707 | 3303FM1960.com medicaltimesnews.com
September 2026
Houston Medical Times
Page 10
VA Launches Trial Of GLP-1 Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
SHAPE THE FUTURE OF
MEDICINE
By Staff
T
LEARN MORE
he U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs today announced a new clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to treat diabetes, as treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Currently, more than 400,000 Veterans nationwide are diagnosed with AUD, and some estimates say AUD affects nearly 11% of U.S. adults. Semaglutide has drawn scientific interest because it may affect parts of the brain related to how the body experiences rewards. An analysis published in March found that patients receiving GLP 1
NOW HIRING IN CLINICAL, ACADEMIC, AND LEADERSHIP ROLES
PLAN WISELY. YOU WON’T GET A DO-OVER. A successful retirement in the future can often depend on having a solid plan now. If your money isn’t working as hard as you are, it may be time to act—there are no do-overs in retirement planning. Now is the time to consider developing a strategy that can help you work toward your financial goals. I specialize in providing comprehensive, personalized financial guidance with the goal of maximizing every remaining moment of the retirement countdown.
Call today to learn more or to schedule a consultation. MDBA idtoName wn Financial Group, LLC GLocated race S. YatunInstitution g, CFP® Name MAgent anagiName, ng DireDesig ctor 1, Desig 2, Desig 3, Desig 4 1 . Alabama St., Ste. 180 3Title 355 W Insurance HTitle oust2onor, TX 7 7 0 9 8 Lic#xxxxxxxx 7Address 13-355-9line 833 1Office 1Address -855-464line -38629 Toll Free XXXXX gCity, raceState .yung@ lpl.com 000-0000 w(000) ww.m idtownfgxExt .comor Description (000) 000-0000 xExt or Description (000) 000-0000 xExt or Description email.address@email.com www.webaddress.com
Your Logo Here F O O R A P P U K C O L V2
The Financial Consultants at <DBA Name> are registered representatives with, and securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. [Credit Union name] and [DBA name] are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using [DBA name], and may also be employees of [credit union name]. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate Sentities ecuritiefrom, s andand advnot isoraffiliates y serviceof, s o[credit ffered tunion hrougname] h LPL For ina[DBA ncialname]. , a regisSecurities tered invesand tmeninsurance t advisor, M emberthrough FINRA/S IPCor . Lits PL affiliates Financialare: and Midtown Financial offered LPL Group, LLC are separate entities. Not Insured by NCUA or Any Other Government Agency
Not Credit Union Guaranteed
Not Credit Union Deposits or Obligations
May Lose Value
PRT-00000-0000Tracking Tracking #0-000000 (Exp. MKT-06048-0122 #1-05228930 (Exp. 00/00) 01/24)
September 2026
placebo over a 24 week period, followed by a safety follow up. Researchers will track changes in drinking, health, and quality of life to determine whether the medication offers a meaningful new treatment option. The study will be conducted at the following VA medical centers: • Ann Arbor VA Health Care System, Ann Arbor, Michigan • Charles George VA Medical Center, Asheville, North Carolina • Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina • Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois • George E. Wahlen VA Medical
medications experience lower rates of AUD and other substance use disorders compared with similar patients taking other diabetes medications. The use of GLP-1 medications by people with existing substance use disorders has been associated with fewer emergency visits, hospitalizations and other adverse outcomes. These findings highlight the need for a controlled clinical trial to determine whether a GLP-1, such as semaglutide, can reduce AUD among Veterans. “This clinical trial reflects medical research that VA is uniquely situated to launch, and is aimed directly at benefitting Veterans,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “By exploring emerging treatment options like the use of a GLP-1 for AUD, we aim to expand the tools available to help Veterans take control of their health and recovery.” The study, known as the Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans trial, will enroll more than 600 Veterans at 18 VA medical centers nationwide. Participants between the ages of 18 and 80 with moderate or severe AUD will receive weekly injections of either semaglutide or a
medicaltimesnews.com
•
• • • • • • • • • • • •
Center, Salt Lake City Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minneapolis Orlando VA Medical Center, Orlando, Florida Palo Alto VA Medical Center, Palo Alto, California Philadelphia VA Healthcare System, Philadelphia Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, Long Beach, California VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, see GLP-1 Trial...page 13
Houston Medical Times
Page 11
Disaster Day is On the Move By Laura Tolentino
Texas A&M’s 19th annual disaster response simulation will prioritize student learning in swapping event locations and refocusing student leadership roles
A
fter spending nearly a decade at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service‘s (TEEX) Disaster City, the collaborative event is moving to the Brazos County Expo and overhauling its planning structure, said Christine Kaunas, EdD, MPH, assistant vice president for Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research, the Texas A&M Health office that oversees Disaster Day coordination. “Disaster City has been an amazing location to set the scene for our student participants, and TEEX will continue to be essential event partners for Disaster Day moving forward,” Kaunas said. “Adjusting locations just changes the logistics of event planning and execution in a way that lets our students spend even more time focusing on collaboration, patient care and
disaster response.” The new venue features multiroom, adaptable accommodations, including a large arena, in addition to on-site parking, eliminating the need to bus in student participants and volunteers from a secondary location. The space will lend easier access and greater flexibility to execute the disaster simulation for the hundreds of participants who attend Disaster Day. “We’ll still have our hospital tents, medical equipment and realistic moulage,” Kaunas said. “Our goal is always to provide students with an experience that closely mimics the sights, sounds, feel and available resources of a real-world disaster response environment. That hasn’t changed.” Over the years, Disaster Day has found an expert partner in TEEX. As sponsor of Texas’ elite urban search and rescue teams, Texas A&M Task Force 1, Texas Task Force 2 and Texas A&M Task Force 3, TEEX serves as a “comprehensive training provider through more than 80 years of extension training.” And TEEX is poised to continue
Student-led, interprofessional emergency response simulation
providing expert insight for Disaster Day, said TEEX Preparedness Program Instructor Tyler Watson ’27. Watson participated in Disaster Day for four years, starting as a volunteer in the fall of 2022 and eventually serving as the student planning director in 2025 before moving to his current role at TEEX. “The real strength of Disaster Day is its collaborative elements,” Watson said. “It brings together students and professionals from across the university and the state in a unified effort to create an unparalleled student experience. For the last five years, I’ve been privileged to see it from all sides. The critical insight into real-life disaster scenarios and training that TEEX provides will have an even more amplified impact when paired with the resources available at
MENUDO AND BARBACOA NOW SERVED 7 DAYS A WEEK!
Brazos County Expo.” Disaster Day began in 2008 with a group of 35 students from the Texas A&M College of Nursing. After noticing the disaster relief Texas A&M provided for more than 650 individuals displaced by Hurricane Rita, the students recognized a need for hands-on disaster relief training for tomorrow’s medical professionals and first responders. The simulation expanded over time to include a planning committee of more than 50 students who met for six to eight months under the guidance of Texas A&M faculty and staff to plan the annual, one-day event. Event planners and simulation participants have ranged from 800 to nearly 1,000, see Disaster Day ...page 13
MENUDO AND BARBACOA NOW SERVED 7 DAYS A WEEK!
ORDER ONLINE
www.eltiempotaqueria.com medicaltimesnews.com
September 2026
Page 12
Houston Medical Times
Financial Forecast The Roth Conversion Window: Why the Years Between Retirement and RMDs Matter By Grace S. Yung, CFP Midtown Financial Group, LLC
R
etirement can create an important tax-planning opportunity that is often overlooked. For many people, the years between retirement and the beginning of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) may be an ideal time to consider converting some traditional IRA assets to a Roth IRA. Why? Your taxable income may decline after your paycheck stops. Later, Social Security benefits, pensions and RMDs can push that income higher again. Using the years in between strategically may help reduce future
RMDs, manage lifetime taxes and potentially limit exposure to higher Medicare premiums. The RMD Challenge Traditional IRAs and many retirement plans allow investments to grow tax-deferred, but eventually the IRS requires distributions. Under current law, RMDs generally begin at age 73, while individuals born in 1960 or later generally begin at age 75. If you retire years before your RMD age and don’t need to withdraw much from your IRA, the account could continue growing. While growth is certainly welcome, a larger account can also mean larger future RMDs - and potentially more taxable income than you actually need. That additional income can affect more than your income-tax bill. It can also affect what you pay for Medicare. How a Roth Conversion Can Help A Roth conversion involves moving money from a traditional IRA or other eligible pre-tax retirement account into a Roth IRA. The amount converted is generally taxable in the year of conversion. September 2026
medicaltimesnews.com
In exchange for paying taxes today, the converted assets can potentially grow tax-free, and qualified Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free. Roth IRA owners are also not required to take RMDs during their lifetime. Rather than converting an entire IRA at once, retirees may consider a series of partial conversions over several years. The objective might be to take advantage of lower tax brackets while reducing the amount remaining in traditional retirement accounts before RMDs begin. Medicare and IRMAA Another important consideration is Medicare’s Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA. Higher-income Medicare beneficiaries pay additional premiums for Medicare Parts B and D. Medicare generally uses income
from two years earlier when determining IRMAA. For example, 2026 Medicare premiums are generally based on 2024 Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). For 2026, IRMAA begins when 2024 MAGI exceeds $109,000 for single filers or $218,000 for married couples filing jointly. Additional IRMAA tiers apply as income increases. This creates an interesting balancing act. A Roth conversion increases taxable income and could potentially push you into a higher IRMAA tier two years later. However, strategically converting assets earlier may reduce future RMDs, which could help keep future taxable income - and potentially Medicare premiums - lower. In other words, sometimes paying additional tax today may help reduce taxes and other income-related costs later. Married Couples Should Consider the Survivor Effect The difference between the single and married IRMAA thresholds deserves special attention. see Financial ...page 13
Houston Medical Times
Healthy Heart
Page 13
Heart Ball Platform sponsor and is deeply interested in the community they serve. The Houston Heart Ball mission in the coming year fits perfectly with that dedication. AmRisc’s president Laura Beckmann and senior vice president Elizabeth Hayes – who together created and run AmRisc’s charitable giving division noted, “We are pleased to collaborate with the American
Heart Association’s Heart of Houston campaign, and we’re glad to see our giving at work through such a great organization”. The 2027 Houston Heart Ball sponsored by AmRisc Group will be held on February 6, 2027, at The Hilton Americas- Houston. The annual event is a night to celebrate the Heart Association’s year-round efforts to build a healthier Houston. Throughout the
evening, the Heart Association will honor volunteers and patrons, share survivor stories and entertain guests with dinner, dancing and an auction. For more information on how to support or attend the Houston Heart Ball, www.Heart.org/HoustonHeartBall or contact Lacey Berlau (Lacey.Berlau@ heart.org).Melody.Torno@heart.org.
step into the workforce and make an immediate difference for patients and communities. This grant will help us Continued from page 8 expand opportunities for our students Kathryn Tart, dean of the Gessner while strengthening the nursing College of Nursing, said the grant arrives pipeline Texas needs for the future. at a critical time for the state’s health The grant will support three care workforce. “This investment comes primary areas: expanding clinical at a critical time as Texas works to meet learning environments, investing in the growing demand for highly skilled advanced simulation technology and nurses. At UH, we are committed strengthening faculty expertise. to preparing nurses who are ready to New simulation technology
will allow nursing students to practice clinical decision-making and patient care in realistic, controlled settings before entering clinical environments. The funding will also support faculty development and help create an interdisciplinary learning environment designed to advance research and translate new discoveries into improved patient outcomes. The investment also supports UH Health, the University of Houston’s
integrated academic health enterprise, which connects education, research, innovation and community impact to address pressing health care challenges. As hospitals and health systems across Texas continue to face staffing pressures, the University of Houston’s investment in nursing education is aimed at helping produce more practice-ready graduates and strengthening the state’s health care workforce for years to come.
GLP-1 Trial
2026. For more information about participation, Veterans can contact their local VA medical center or visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search for the trial. VA strongly discourages self
medicating or attempting to replace other AUD treatment options with GLP 1 medications or any other unprescribed substances. Evidence based, proven treatments are available at VA facilities to support Veterans with AUD. Veterans
should always consult their health care providers before making any treatment decisions.
School of Government & Public Service. Event partners include multiple state and local government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In another update to previous Disaster Day events, the 19th annual simulation, taking place April 2, 2027, will not utilize a student planning committee, leaning instead on student leadership within the simulation. Shifting all event planning logistics
to Texas A&M Health and TEEX professional staff and faculty frees up bandwidth for students to further occupy leadership roles during the simulation, Kaunas emphasized. “Our priority is and always has been student learning,” Kaunas said. “When we looked at the many pieces and people Disaster Day brings together and really assessed our strengths, moving to the Expo Center felt like a natural next step. Just like in years
past, we’re still assembling the very best experts and resources from across the Texas A&M System in the name of student learning. This reconfiguration allows that effort to propel the student experience that much further.”
to evaluate Roth conversions while both spouses are alive and filing jointly. Finding the Right Balance Roth conversion planning isn’t simply about converting as much as possible. The more important question is how much to convert each year. A thoughtful strategy considers your current and projected tax brackets, future RMDs, Social Security and pension income, Medicare enrollment, IRMAA thresholds and the source of funds used to pay the conversion taxes. For someone retiring at 65 with RMDs beginning at 73 or 75, there may be eight to ten years available for strategic partial conversions. Those years can represent a valuable planning window.
Tax laws, Medicare premiums and IRMAA thresholds can change, and Roth conversions generally cannot be undone. Working with a certified financial planner professional and tax professional can help determine whether a Roth conversion strategy makes sense—and how to balance today’s tax bill against tomorrow’s RMDs, taxes and Medicare costs. [A Roth IRA conversion—
for tax-free withdrawals, you must generally be age 59½ and hold the converted funds in the Roth IRA for at least five years. Each conversion has its own five-year period, and early withdrawals may be subject to a 10% penalty unless an exception applies. Income limits still apply for future direct Roth IRA contributions. This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual circumstances]
Continued from page 6 Association, Houston. “We welcomed Dr. and Mr. Tschirhart as chairpersons of the Heart of Houston campaign, which unites leaders across our community to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere.” AmRisc is the 2026-27 Houston
Grant
Continued from page 10 Wisconsin Recruitment begins on July 28,
Disaster Day Continued from page 11 depending on the year. They hail from across Texas A&M University, including all five Texas A&M Health colleges and schools as well as the Texas A&M College of Education & Human Development, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and the Texas A&M Bush
Financial Continued from page12 A married couple filing jointly can have MAGI of up to $218,000 before IRMAA applies in 2026, while the threshold for a single filer is only $109,000. After one spouse dies, the surviving spouse may eventually file as a single taxpayer while still owning much of the couple’s retirement assets. The survivor could therefore have similar investment income and RMDs but face much lower single-filer tax and IRMAA thresholds. This potential “survivor’s penalty” is one reason couples may want
sometimes called a backdoor Roth strategy—is a way to contribute to a Roth IRA when income exceeds standard limits. The converted amount is treated as taxable income and may affect your tax bracket. Federal, state, and local taxes may apply. If you’re required to take a minimum distribution in the year of conversion, it must be completed before converting. To qualify
medicaltimesnews.com
September 2026
Page 14
Database Continued from page 1 initiatives such as ShareForCures and
Legal Matters Continued from page 3 jeopardize the trade secret status of that information, and create litigation exposure. Care must be given not only to information a company provides under and NDA, but also information a company receives under an NDA to ensure it protects the confidential status. A Litigation Scenario to Consider Imagine a key employee resigns and joins a competitor. She takes proprietary technical information with her, and your company files a trade secret misappropriation lawsuit. During discovery, however, it becomes apparent that while employed, she regularly pasted portions of the same confidential information into a public AI chatbot to help draft reports or solve technical problems as part of her daily activities. The former employee may still have acted improperly by taking the confidential information, but the defendant argues that the company failed to take reasonable measures to preserve
Oncology Continued from page 5 the biggest hurdle. Instead of talking about prevention, we’re discussing chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and whether the cancer has spread. That’s why improving cancer outcomes isn’t only about developing the next breakthrough drug. It’s also about making proven screenings easier to access. That means expanding awareness, reducing logistical barriers, ensuring adequate insurance coverage and helping people fit preventive care into lives that are already jam packed with responsibilities. As physicians, we have a duty to
Kidney Continued from page 9 phone call instead of a referral. The last one is not clinical. Almost nine out of ten Americans with chronic kidney disease do not know they have it, and that is the CDC’s number, not mine. It is not because patients are careless either. September 2026
Houston Medical Times provide essential resources to support the breast cancer community. Join us on Saturday, October 3, 2026, for the Houston Race for the Cure. For more information on the
Houston Race for the Cure and how you can help support Susan G. Komen programs, please visit komen.org/ houstonrace.
secrecy because employees routinely entered confidential information into public AI tools without meaningful restrictions or oversight. Whether that argument ultimately succeeds will depend on the facts and the applicable law, but it is an argument few companies want to litigate. Practical Steps Companies Should Take Now As organizations continue integrating AI into everyday operations, governance should evolve alongside the technology. Companies should consider: • Updating AI usage policies to prohibit employees from entering trade secrets or other highly confidential information into public AI platforms, including confidential information received under an NDA. By contrast, enterprise AI platforms that provide contractual confidentiality protections and do not use customer data to train public models may present different legal considerations, although companies should still conduct appropriate
diligence before use. • Identifying and categorizing the company’s trade secrets to help employees understand what information may not be shared with AI tools. • Training employees on the distinction between approved enterprise AI solutions and publicly available AI platforms. • Review and revise NDAs, vendor agreements, SaaS contracts, and other confidentiality provisions to prohibit counterparties from uploading your confidential information to non-approved AI services. Generative AI offers tremendous opportunities, but it also requires companies to rethink longstanding approaches to protecting confidential information. Organizations that proactively update their policies, agreements, and employee training will be better positioned to preserve valuable trade secret rights while still realizing the benefits of AI.
encourage recommended screenings. Employers can make preventive care easier by supporting time away for medical appointments. Health systems can continue investing in outreach, patient navigation and expanded screening access. Policymakers can strengthen programs that help more people receive recommended screenings, particularly in underserved communities. Each one of us has a role to play to make it easier for someone to catch cancer before it changes their life. I never look forward to delivering a difficult diagnosis to my patients, but there is so much hope when I can tell someone, “We found this early.” Because those patients often have more treatment options, fewer complications and every
reason to look ahead to the future with optimism. I can’t screen patients from the infusion chair. By the time they meet me, that opportunity has often passed. But together, we can make sure more people never have to sit in that chair in the first place. Dr. Debra Patt is a practicing oncologist and breast cancer specialist in Austin, Texas, and an executive vice president of Texas Oncology with responsibilities in healthcare policy and strategic initiatives. She is an active leader in breast cancer and research in healthcare informatics driving digital healthcare tool adoption in clinical practice to improve the patient journey.
It is because we hand them a number and no sentence to go with it. So when you tell somebody their eGFR is 55, tell them what it means, tell them early kidney disease has no symptoms, and tell them that what happens next depends on blood pressure, on glucose, and on which medications they take, more than on anything dramatic. The patient who understands the number
is the patient who comes back for the next one. My job is to slow this down once it reaches me, and at stage 3 there is a lot I can do that I cannot do at stage 5. Your job is the urine test that gets them to me while there is still function worth protecting.
medicaltimesnews.com
HOUSTON
Published by Texas Healthcare Media Group Inc. For Advertising advertising@medicaltimesnews. com Senior Designer Jamie Farquhar-Rizzo Web Development Lorenzo Morales Distribution Bell Distribution Accounting Liz Thachar Office: 713-885-3808 Editor editor@medicaltimesnews.com
Scan to Visit medicaltimesnews.com
Houston Medical Times is Published by Houston Medical Times News. All content in this publication is copyrighted by Houston Medical Times and should not be reproduced in part or at whole without written consent from the Editor. Houston Medical Times reserves the right to edit all submissions and assumes no responsibility for solicited or unsolicited manuscripts. All submissions sent to Houston Medical Times are considered property and are to be distributed for publication and copyright purposes. Houston Medical Times is published every month P.O. Box 57430 Webster, TX 77598-743
Houston Medical Times
Page 15
medicaltimesnews.com
September 2026
Houston Medical Times
The Overlooked Bottleneck in Cell Therapy: Reliable Access to High-Quality Biological By Nikhil Nayak, President and CEO, Gulf Coast Blood
Today, cell and gene therapies are changing the outlook for some patients with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease, inherited immune disorders and other serious conditions. More therapies are advancing through clinical trials, offering new possibilities to patients and families who previously had few options. Just a decade ago, many of these treatments existed primarily in research laboratories. Much of the conversation surrounding these breakthroughs focuses on scientific innovation, manufacturing capacity, regulatory pathways and reimbursement. Those discussions are essential. But another challenge deserves greater attention: access to the biological material needed to develop, test and manufacture these therapies. New therapies begin long before a patient receives treatment. Researchers need consistent, ethically sourced human blood and blood components to validate discoveries, Nikhil Nayak, President & CEO, Gulf Coast Blood optimize manufacturing processes, and meet rigorous quality standards. That work depends on well-characterized, consistently collected biological material that meets established quality and regulatory standards. For many cell and gene therapy programs, that may include specialized collections such as leukopaks, which provide white blood cells for research, development, testing and manufacturing. As cell and gene therapies move from the laboratory into clinical development and commercial production, demand for specialized biological collections is likely to grow. Yet organizations can face challenges in securing reliable, high-quality source material. Limited donor availability, inconsistent collection standards and fragmented supply chains can create delays in research and manufacturing. This is more than a supply-chain issue. The quality and consistency of starting material can influence the reliability of every stage that follows. Researchers developing CAR T-cell therapies, stem cell technologies and other advanced treatments rely on well characterized starting material to produce reproducible results, meet regulatory expectations and move promising therapies through development efficiently. If we want promising cell and gene therapies to reach patients more efficiently, access to highquality biological material must be treated as part of the infrastructure that makes innovation possible. Community blood centers can help strengthen that infrastructure. For decades, they have built expertise in donor recruitment, apheresis collection, quality management, regulatory compliance and donor safety. That experience can also support specialized research collections when they are conducted through dedicated programs designed around appropriate consent and oversight. Gulf Coast Blood’s experience illustrates this potential. In addition to providing blood products to more than 170 hospitals and healthcare facilities across the Texas Gulf Coast, Gulf Coast Blood’s Advanced Therapies provides research products and cell therapy services to academic institutions, biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical organizations. These activities are conducted separately from routine community blood donation and are supported by transparent donor consent, established quality systems and strict regulatory oversight. The opportunity extends beyond any one organization. Researchers, manufacturers, blood centers, policymakers and healthcare leaders should consider access to specialized biological collections when planning for the continued growth of cell and gene therapies. Stronger collaboration across these sectors can help promising therapies move from the laboratory to patients more efficiently while protecting the trust, transparency and quality standards that donors, researchers and patients depend on. As the field of cell and gene therapy continues to grow, building a reliable foundation of high-quality starting material will be just as important as the scientific breakthroughs it supports. Nikhil Nayak is President and CEO of Gulf Coast Blood, a nonprofit community blood center serving more than 170 hospitals and healthcare facilities across the Texas Gulf Coast. Gulf Coast Blood’s Advanced Therapies section provides research products and cell therapy services through programs that are separate from routine community blood donation and supported by appropriate donor consent, quality systems and regulatory oversight.
September 2026
medicaltimesnews.com