Three UT Health San Antonio faculty members were among six presenters at the Jan. 30 State of the Industry dinner, an annual event sponsored by The Health Cell, San Antonio’s premier networking and leadership development organization for professionals in health care and bioscience.
The presenters were selected based on their ability to convey interesting details of their personal/professional contributions to what San Antonio’s health care and bioscience industry achieved in 2018. More than 400 people attended the dinner at the Grand Hyatt.
UT Health presenters included:
- Steven Venticinque, M.D., professor and interim chair, Department of Anesthesiology; cardiac, transplant and critical care anesthesiologist, University Health System; and director, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Division
- Cynthia Blanco, M.D., professor of pediatrics, interim chief, Division of Neonatology, Greehey Family Foundation Chair in Neonatology Research; and director, Neonatal Nutrition and Bone Institute, University Health System
- Lillian Liao, M.D., M.P.H., clinical associate professor, Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery; and Pediatric Trauma and Burn Director, University Health System
The State of the Industry dinner presentations are fast-paced storytelling focused on personal experiences.
Dr. Venticinque, a former U.S. Air Force cardiothoracic and critical care anesthesiologist, spoke about advanced intubation techniques and devices, including his invention of the Tusk Tracheal Cannulator.
Dr. Blanco discussed her passion to save premature babies through her work with Omegaven, a lifesaving fish oil treatment for babies with gastrointestinal complications. Omegaven recently gained FDA approval.
Dr. Liao, who completed medical school and surgical training at UT Health San Antonio in 2011, focused on the value of collaboration in trauma care, including a regional trauma system under STRAC, the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council.
Other presenters at the State of the Industry dinner included Lance Reinsmith, M.D., a radiologist with South Texas Radiology Group, Oanh Maroney-Omitade, vice president of clinical operations for Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, and Sarah Hogan, division director, Southwest Texas Crisis Collaboration of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council.