Dr. Strobel is UT-Houston's China Connection

Dr. Henry Strobel, who speaks German to his students in class and has "survival" Chinese and French skills as well, is the mind/body/soul behind the UT-Houston Medical School's Student Program to China. A professor of biochemistry, assistant dean for student affairs (as well as associate dean for faculty affairs), he started the Beijing program 14 years ago and in May of the year 2000 will have a reunion of all classes there, along with a small delegation of UT-Houston leadership. The gathering, from May 1-May 8, 2000, will highlight the accomplishments of the more than 200 students and their families that have been through the program over the years. On March 25, Dr. Strobel will leave with his current students to spend the month of April at Beijing, as well as three to four days in Xian. Dr. Strobel and his students will be doing 'Grand Rounds,' Chinese style, with four principal hospitals in Beijing -Xuan Wu, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Tian Tan Hospital and Beijing Children's Hospital - each serving an estimated 4,000 people daily on an outpatient basis.

Dr. Strobel feels that there is a big difference between the Beijing of the 1980s and the Beijing of the 1990s. "The atmosphere is much more modern, open, and yes, trusting, than when I first went over," he says. Additionally, he hosts students from other countries as well.

Both a priest and a biochemist, he is proud of both accomplishments. His oriental-style sitting room has many carefully placed portraits of smiling couples he has married over the years and he speaks eloquently of his life's work with Cytochrome P450, an enzyme. "We hope by cracking its code, we can influence its interaction with brain chemicals, particularly in trauma cases."

- COLLEEN O'BRIEN

---

Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News

---

---

©2006 Texas Medical Center

---

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/health_briefs/03_01_99-strobel.html