McWilliams Bragging Points
Members of our McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics Community have recently achieved noteworthy accomplishments. We want to recognize and applaud these individuals.
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Laura and D. Bradley McWilliams were recently honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Houston Chapter. They earned the Maurice Hirsch Award for Philanthropy for their tremendous contributions to the community, including our school.
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Ivan Coronado successfully defended his Dissertation late last month and will earn his PhD in Biomedical Informatics this semester. Join us in congratulating Ivan on completing his doctoral studies. He is pictured here (2nd from the left) with his committee members (l-r) Sunil Sheth, MD, Luca Giancardo, PhD, and Yejin Kim, PhD.
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Associate Professor Angela Ross, DNP, MPH, is now a Fellow of the American Nursing Academy. She was inducted last month during the Academy's annual Health Policy Conference.
MS and Certificate Program Advising
Need help with your degree plan? Questions about your program? Travis Crook is available to help plan for future courses and discuss any academic questions you have. Schedule your appointment by using the booking link: go.uth.edu/TravisCrook.
Important Reminders from IT
The Information Technology (IT) Team at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics has several important reminders as we approach the holiday season.
DO NOT:
- Leave your laptop unsecured in an open area while you are away from your desk. Use a laptop security cable if you cannot take it with you.
- Leave your laptop in an unoccupied vehicle. If you must leave it, make sure it is in a locked trunk and not visible.
- Take your laptop with you while you are on vacation or leave of absence.
DO:
- Keep your laptop in a locked cabinet while you are away from your desk.
- Keep your laptop in your locked office while you are away from your desk/office.
- Leave your laptop with MSBMI IT services while you are on an extended leave/vacation.
If you have any questions about securing your laptop, please contact the IT Team at 713-500-3928 or [email protected].
Fall Poster Session on December 9
Join us at 4 PM (CT) on Monday, December 9 for the fall 2024 Poster Session and Mixer. Students, faculty, staff, and guests are invited to learn more about research taking place at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics while enjoying festive snacks and beverages. The event will be in the IMM Atrium (1825 Pressler Street) which is next door to our school’s building.
New Secure Generative AI Tool Available
We are pleased to introduce https://aichat.sbmi.uth.edu; a beta version of a secure large language model (LLM) chat tool based on Llama 3.2, now available to all McWilliams students and faculty.
Why Use This Tool?
- Security and Privacy: This tool ensures that user data does not return to the model, making it ideal for working with sensitive data like EHRs or intellectual property materials.
- Educational Use: Faculty are encouraged to integrate this tool into their courses to support student learning and innovation.
- Campus-Only Access: Accessible only on campus or through VPN, ensuring controlled and secure usage.
This initiative reflects the collaborative work of Dr. Xiaoqian Jiang and his lab, as well as the following McWilliams teams: IT, Educational Technology, and Creative Services Team. As we launch this new capability, we appreciate your patience and welcome your feedback. Any issues or concerns can be reported to [email protected].
We hope https://aichat.sbmi.uth.edu becomes a valuable resource for teaching and research at our school.
Reminder from Student Counseling Services
As we near the end of the fall semester, Student Counseling Services wants to remind all students of the services their staff offers, including counseling and psychiatry appointments in person and online. This PDF provides more information on the available resources. Please reach out if you need support; Student Counseling Services is here to help.
You can schedule an appointment by calling 713-500-5171 or stopping by the clinic between the hours of 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The clinic is located inside the UT Professional Building at 6410 Fannin, in Suite 130.
To speak with a crisis counselor, available 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, you can call the IMUT Crisis Hotline at 713-500-IMUT (4688). Alternatively, you can call or text the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Unique Opportunities for McWilliams Students
Pfizer Summer 2025 Internship in AI/Machine Learning
- This 12-week internship is designed for graduate students (MS and Doctoral) and will take place during the summer (May to September). It provides an immersive experience through a rich range of seminars, lectures, fireside chats, project work, and integration with other groups, offering a glimpse into life at a company dedicated to the mission of changing the lives of one billion patients every year.
- For more information on qualification requirements and application details, please visit the application webpage. The application deadline is January 31, 2025.
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Program
- The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship is dedicated to training the next generation of professionals to serve and empower vulnerable people to build healthier communities and live healthier lives. The application for 2025-2026 will open this month and there are several upcoming workshops for prospective applicants.
- To learn more about this program’s requirements or to register for a workshop, visit the application webpage.
Follow us on Bluesky
McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics is on the new social media app – Bluesky. If you are one of the 20 million users who recently joined, make sure you follow our school: https://bsky.app/profile/mcwlliamssbmi.bsky.social.
SIC Scholarships for UTHealth Houston Students
UTHealth Houston’s Student InterCouncil (SIC) is currently accepting scholarship applications. SIC will award three different $1,000 scholarships to current UTHealth Houston students that “demonstrate outstanding leadership, community service, and academic excellence.” There are eligibility requirements for each scholarship as well. Visit the SIC scholarship opportunities webpage for more detailed information.
Applications must be submitted electronically (via Qualtrics) no later than 11:59 PM CT on January 24, 2025. If you have questions, please contact Tanedra Booker in the UTHealth Houston Office of Academic Affairs and Student Success.
McWilliams Applications are Open
McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston is accepting applications for our various degree programs.
For any current students interested in applying and transitioning to a different degree program, please take the time to review the admission requirements and Apply Now!
ADMISSION DEADLINES
McWilliams In the News
- Professor Jim Langabeer, PhD, EdD, MBA, EMT spoke to KPRC-TV Channel 2 about how customers of the genetic company 23andMe could be affected by its potential bankruptcy. The Daily Mail also shared the interview.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Upcoming Events
| Nov. 27 | Research Seminar presentation by PhD Students Hao Xubing & Warren Manuel 12 PM CT online and at 7000 Fannin Street, 6th floor (UCT E-618) |
| Dec. 4 | Research Seminar presentation by John D’Amore, MS ’11 12 PM CT online and at 7000 Fannin Street, 6th floor (UCT E-618) |
| Dec. 9 | Fall Poster Session 4 - 6:30 PM in the IMM Atrium (1825 Pressler Street) |
Important Dates
| Nov. 28-29 | Thanksgiving Holiday - University is closed |
| Dec. 6 | Last class day for fall 2024 |
| Dec. 6 | PhD - Last day to defend proposal |
| Dec. 9 | McWilliams Fall Poster Session |
| Dec. 9-13 | Final Exams/Evaluations |
| Dec. 17 | Faculty - Final grades due in myUTH |
| Dec. 19-20 | PhD Qualifying Exam |
| Dec. 23 | Skeleton Crew Day - Staff have limited schedule |
| Dec. 24-26 | Holiday Break - University is closed |
| Dec. 27 | Skeleton Crew Day - Staff have limited schedule |
| Dec. 30-31 | Skeleton Crew Days - Staff have limited schedule |
| Jan. 1 | New Year’s Day - University is closed |
Visit our website for a full list of research seminar dates and access to recordings for past seminars.
Office of Academic Affairs
7000 Fannin, Ste. 650 Houston, TX
Phone: 713.500.3591
Email: [email protected]
7000 Fannin, Ste. 650 Houston, TX
Phone: 713.500.3591
Email: [email protected]
