Office of Advancement

University Communications & Publications

The communications team is the principal distributor of official university communications.

Karen Krakower Kaplan

Karen Krakower Kaplan

Director, University Communications & Publications
Editor, HealthLeader Online Wellness Magazine
Phone: 713-500-3045
Email: Karen.K.Kaplan@uth.tmc.edu

Karen Krakower Kaplan, director of communications has returned to the UT Office of Public Affairs (currently the Office of Advancement) three times during the last 30 years, most recently in 2002 to serve as editor of HealthLeader.

HealthLeader Online Magazine serves the larger public outside the walls of the Health Science Center, providing solid health and wellness information to the consumer. The magazine has won numerous regional and national awards for content, design and information excellence.

Karen serves on several advisory boards and committees both within the University and the broader Houston community and lectures on key issues surrounding personal health and medical journalism. Her work has appeared in over 50 journals, magazines, newspapers and anthologies and is the recipient of more than 20 awards for writing. Her additional work with AIDS organizations, organ transplant and hospice provides a necessary depth to her understanding of current health information needs.

Andy Heger

Andy Heger

Senior Communication Specialist
Phone: 713-500-3087
Email: Andrew.J.Heger@uth.tmc.edu

Andy Heger joined the communications team in the Office of Advancement in August 2011. His background includes more than 10 years of experience in fields such as the film/video industry, news reporting, special events planning, marketing/advertising and grant writing.

Cynthia Johnson

Cynthia Johnson, Ph. D.

Communications Manager
Phone: 713-500-3058
Email: Cynthia.J.Johnson@uth.tmc.edu

As a member of the Communications team in the Office of Advancement, Cynthia Johnson works closely with faculty to create feature articles and print publications that speak effectively for the University’s mission, programs, achievements, objectives, and funding needs. Before joining the UT Health Science Center, she held administrative positions in both industry and academia. She has nearly 30 years of experience in communications management; is the author of numerous reports, proposals, and policy papers; and has taught in France and in the U.S. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University, a master's degree from the University of Kentucky, and a Ph.D. from Rice University.

Melanie Rosenberg

Melanie Rosenberg

Communication Assistant
Phone: 713-500-3177
Email: Melanie.R.Rosenberg@uth.tmc.edu

Melanie Rosenberg joined the University Communications & Publications team in April 2012. Melanie gained experience in media relations and writing press materials at an Austin PR agency after graduation from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a certificate in Business Foundations from the McCombs School of Business. Her background also includes special events, grant research and writing, development and social media.

Jenna Taylor

Jenna C. Taylor

Communication Specialist
Phone: 713-500-3038
Email: Jenna.C.Taylor@uth.tmc.edu

Jenna C. Taylor joined the Office of Advancement in March 2008 and has more than eight years of communications experience in the nonprofit community. Her background includes experience in annual giving, special events, stewardship, grant writing, crafting case statements and philanthropic proposals as well as creating comprehensive marketing campaigns for fundraising programs. Jenna holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Texas Christian University.

University Publications

  • HealthLeader is an online consumer wellness magazine for the general public providing free, useful consumer-health articles and tools on topics related to medical research, personal health, fitness, nutrition and mental well-being, plus access to UT Clinics. For information call 713-500-3045 or visit http://www.uthealthleader.org/.

  • Distinctions is an online publication that highlights the UTHealth’s distinctive capabilities and accomplishments in education, research, community service, and philanthropic support. It is distributed to external as well as internal audiences. For information call 713-500-3038 or see http://www.uthouston.edu/distinctions/.

  • News on the Go is a weekly electronic news service from the Office of Advancement, providing timely news and information to faculty, staff, fellows, residents and students on the go. For information, call 713-500-3087 or visit http://inside.uthouston.edu/notg

Mass emails

If you are planning a mass communication to the whole university community, or to certain segments of the community, please alert Karen.K.Kaplan@uth.tmc.edu as far in advance of the push out date as possible. The Communications Team will work with you to figure out the appropriate way to send your message either by mass email to the whole community or a segment of the community, or by another form of communication.

Archives of past issues of all the publications are searchable online.