The UTMB Newsroom

UTMB partners in unprecedented partnership to address rising U.S. infant mortality

GALVESTON, Texas - The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has partnered with National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition to provide a free mobile information service, called “text4baby,” providing timely health information to pregnant women and new mothers from pregnancy through a baby’s first year.

The program, which launched nationally today, allows women to sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE in Spanish). Beginning the day after they sign up, women will receive a free, daily message for the first six days with key starter messages. Then, the service will provide three free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or the baby’s date of birth.

These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health, including birth defects prevention, immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health, oral health and safe sleep. The messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services and other resources.

“UTMB is proud to be a part of text4baby,” said Marlo Jasek, women’s health nurse practitioner. “Text messaging can deliver the right health information at the right time to pregnant women and new moms, and can be particularly helpful in reaching underserved populations.”

According to the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, research shows that, while 90 percent of Americans have a mobile phone, fewer have access to the Internet, and texting is more prevalent among women of childbearing age.

As long as the user subscribes to one of the text4baby mobile operator partners, she will be able to access the text4baby service without charge. Each text message begins with “Free msg” to remind users that this is a message delivered at no cost to them.

Pregnant women can subscribe to the service at any point in pregnancy, and mothers of children under 12 months can sign up at any point during their baby’s first year.

Women can also sign up and find out more at http://www.text4baby.org/.

Each year in the United States, more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely, and an estimated 28,000 children die before their first birthday. The infant mortality rate in the United States is one of the highest in the industrialized world and, for the first time since the 1950s, that rate is on the rise.

The text4baby wireless carriers are voluntarily providing the critical communications link of the initiative, distributing text messages to recipients at no charge. Participating carriers include Alltel, Assurance Wireless, AT&T, Boost Mobile, Cellular South, Cellcom, Centennial Cellular, Cincinnati Bell, Metro PCS, N-Telos, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Virgin Mobile USA.

An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, text4baby delivers timely health tips via text message to those who need it most. It is made possible through an unprecedented public-private partnership which includes the White House Office on Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Voxiva, CTIA-The Wireless Foundation, Grey Healthcare Group  and founding corporate sponsor Johnson & Johnson. Premier sponsors include WellPoint, Pfizer and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and wireless carriers are distributing text messages at no charge to recipients. Implementation partners include BabyCenter, Danya International, Syniverse Technologies, Keynote Systems and The George Washington University.

About the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition: The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) is the only coalition of its kind which acts as a catalyst for change by creating partnerships among community groups, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, businesses and government agencies. The Coalition promotes optimal health for mothers and babies, and works to strengthen families and build healthy communities.

ABOUT UTMB: Established in 1891, Texas’ first academic health center comprises four health sciences schools, three institutes for advanced study, a research enterprise that includes one of only two national laboratories dedicated to the safe study of infectious threats to human health, and a health system offering a full range of primary and specialized medical services throughout Galveston County and the Texas Gulf Coast region. UTMB is a component of the University of Texas System.

GALVESTON, Texas - Peter Davis, chief of the Galveston Island Beach Patrol, is the guest speaker at the Senior Seaside Club’s dinner Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Levin Hall, 10th and Market streets, on the UTMB campus. His topic is “Walking, Patrolling the Galveston Beach.” (more…)

Lefeber Winter Series on Aging brings experts to Galveston

GALVESTON, Texas - “Nutrition for Successful Aging” is the topic of the second installment of the 2010 Lefeber Winter Series on Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston on Tuesday, Feb. 2. The Lefeber lectures, which bring renowned experts on aging to UTMB, are free and open to the public. (more…)

GALVESTON, Texas - The public is invited to attend the Kempner International Symposium on Aging and Health Disparities of Mexican Populations at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

The symposium is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the Caduceus Room on the sixth floor of the UTMB Administration Building, Eighth and Market streets. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. (more…)

GALVESTON, Texas - For more than two decades, a free, nationwide support program sponsored by the American Cancer Society has offered women help and encouragement to cope with the side effects of cancer treatment that affect their appearance. But any participant will tell you, the Look Good … Feel Better program is less about what it does for women on the outside and more about how it makes them feel on the inside.

The Oncology Clinical Trials Office at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is offering a Look Good … Feel Better workshop conducted by trained cosmetology professionals at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25 on the UTMB campus.
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GALVESTON, Texas - Dr. Stanley M. Lemon, director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, has announced his intention to return to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he will be a professor in the Department of Medicine and a member of the Inflammatory Disease Institute, Center for Translational Immunology, and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center later this spring.   (more…)

GALVESTON, Texas — The Galveston County Regional Collaborative is hosting its “Honoring the Teachers” celebration at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

The event honors teachers from Galveston County and the surrounding area who have achieved Science Teacher Mentor status. Honorees are from several districts in Galveston, Harris and Brazoria counties.
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GALVESTON, Texas - The public is invited to attend the Kempner International Symposium on Aging and Health Disparities of Mexican Populations at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

The symposium is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the Caduceus Room on the sixth floor of the UTMB Administration Building, Eighth and Market streets. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. (more…)

GALVESTON, Texas - The Senior Seaside Club will host its first By the Sea Senior Beach Walk Wednesday, Jan. 13. The beach walks will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. every Wednesday at the Stewart Beach Pavilion, Sixth Street and Seawall Boulevard in Galveston.

Sponsored by the Sealy Center on Aging Center for Spirituality of Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, the Senior Seaside Club brings an array of activities to Galveston focused on older people. The club is open to baby boomers through centenarians, and family members are welcome to accompany their older relatives. The club is funded by a UTMB President’s Cabinet Award.

“Walking on the beach is great way for seniors to get exercise and get out of the house,” said The Rev. Helen Appelberg, director of the SSC. “Many older people need a nudge to get out and about, and the beach walks are a great way to not only stay active but to meet people.”

Members of the Galveston Beach Patrol and UTMB students will assist during the walks. A limited number of sand-worthy wheelchairs are available for those with limited mobility. Games and refreshments will be available in the Stewart Beach Pavilion following the walks. Walks will not be held when it is raining. There is no charge for participating in the walks.

GALVESTON, Texas - The Senior Seaside Club will host its first By the Sea Senior Beach Walk Wednesday, Jan. 13. The beach walks will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. every Wednesday at the Stewart Beach Pavilion, Sixth Street and Seawall Boulevard in Galveston.

Sponsored by the Sealy Center on Aging Center for Spirituality of Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, the Senior Seaside Club brings an array of activities to Galveston focused on older people. The club is open to baby boomers through centenarians, and family members are welcome to accompany their older relatives. The club is funded by a UTMB President’s Cabinet Award.

“Walking on the beach is great way for seniors to get exercise and get out of the house,” said The Rev. Helen Appelberg, director of the SSC. “Many older people need a nudge to get out and about, and the beach walks are a great way to not only stay active but to meet people.”

Members of the Galveston Beach Patrol and UTMB students will assist during the walks. A limited number of sand-worthy wheelchairs are available for those with limited mobility. Games and refreshments will be available in the Stewart Beach Pavilion following the walks. Walks will not be held when it is raining. There is no charge for participating in the walks.