GALVESTON — Experts in molecular medicine, researchers on infectious diseases and well-known surgeons were among the 127 University of Texas Medical Branch faculty members laid off after Hurricane Ike.
The doctors, professors and researchers were among 3,000 layoffs at the medical branch.
The medical branch released a list of faculty members whose jobs were cut in response to a request under the Texas Public Information Act.
“All the layoffs are hard on the individuals and their families,” said Heber Taylor, editor of The Daily News. “But members of the faculty have treated thousands of people in this community. They’ve served on community boards and charitable organizations.
“Seeing a list of those names is the only way a person can get a sense of just how badly this community will be hurt by these layoffs.”
Among those given their pink slips from UTMB were Dr. Frank “Marty” Ivey, who was the chief of sports medicine for the medical center. Ivey, an alum of the UTMB medical school, is a published expert on knee and shoulder surgery and is sought after by athletes of all levels of their sports careers.
Within the same orthopedic department, an expert on spinal injuries and rehabilitation, Dr. Lilly Chen, was also let go. As an assistant professor, she lectured often on rehabilitation for those suffering from back pain.
The battle against cancer at UTMB also took a hit in the layoff announcements. Dr. Lee-Nien Lillian Chan has been heading studies on using vitamin A analogues to inhibit the growth of several cancer cell lines.
Research professor Wayne Bolen, who was heading a laboratory that focused on the physical chemistry of proteins, also is among those who will no longer conduct his research in Galveston. His research was looking into how the proteins in many plants and animals adapted to environmental stresses that would normally deprive the proteins of their natural abilities. The research was looking for ways to better stabilize proteins to fight disease.
Some of the physicians drew patients from around the country. Among the well known surgeons were Drs. Steven Viegas, Joseph P. Kearney and William Nealon.
From the medical research arena to the ground-level care, the layoffs included five doctors who enabled UTMB to operate one of the top-rated emergency rooms in the country.
The American College of Surgeons in October rated the UTMB emergency room as having the best survival rate for a big hospital in the country. But the layoffs likely mean the medical center for now is abandoning operating a Level 1 trauma center.
That leaves only two for the region: Memorial Hermann Hospital and Ben Taub Hospital, both in Houston.
Already the cost for trauma care has taken a jump for those involved in auto accidents or suffered head injuries.
In many cases, that would normally involve a ground ambulance to transport a Galveston County patient to the emergency room in Galveston, air ambulances such as Hermann’s Life Flight are being called instead.
In a review of 12 such calls in recent weeks, emergency medical officials told The Daily News that most would have not required an air ambulance were UTMB’s Level 1 trauma care available.
