Quite a rise

Medical Center shakeup: "Humble pediatrician" from Italy to be the new UTHealthpresident

More changes are in store for the Texas Medical Center. The University of Texas System Board of Regents named a sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — a candidate that was right under their noses.

Dr. Giuseppe N. Colasurdo first moved to Texas in 1988, intending to fulfill his residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch and then return to Italy. He joined the faculty of the UTHSC-Houston Medical School in 1995, became chair of the pediatrics division in 2005, ascended dean of the school in 2007 and stepped in as UTHealth interim president after Dr. Larry Kaiser left in April 2011.

"When they say, 'Should I call you President or dean?' I say, 'I'm still a humble pediatrician. Call me Giuseppe.' "

In an interview with CultureMap last year, Colasurdo explained his ideas for handling the barrage of challenges he faced in the presidency, with budgetary shortfalls in the Texas legislature, the implementation of new federal health care laws and a growing need for more medical practitioners to meet the state's widening population.

"I accepted the (interim presidency) for 12 months and I will complete it and then go back into my dean job that I actually do every day anyway," Colasurdo told CultureMap. "When they say, 'Should I call you President or dean?' I say, 'I'm still a humble pediatrician. Call me Giuseppe.' "

"Dr. Colasurdo is a remarkable clinician and educator and we are confident he is the right choice to lead the UT Health Science Center – Houston to even greater levels of teaching, research and medical care," Regents' Chairman Gene Powell said in a statement.

The university governing board must name finalists at least 21 days before making an appointment. The wait is largely a legal formality before Colasurdo is officially named president.

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Throw the confetti

Houston puts a ring on it as 8th best U.S. city to get married in 2025

Photo by Eugenia Pankiv on Unsplash

Wedding bells are ringing in Houston.

Put your hands up, Houston. H-Town has climbed through the ranks to become one of the top 10 best places to get married in America this year, according to a just-released study from WalletHub.

WalletHub ranked 182 U.S. cities based on the average wedding costs; the number of venues, vendors, and services; and the number of activities and attractions in every city.

Houston ranks No. 8 for 2025, and especially stands out for activities and attractions (No. 10) and facilities and services (No. 15).

With more than 130 different wedding venues to choose from throughout the Houston area, there's no shortage of beautiful and unique locations to tie the knot. Plus, the bride and bridesmaids can get the party started early with with a shopping spree at Houston's 41st annual Bridal Extravaganza Show, or a luxurious spa getaway.

"Certain cities also make wedding planning easier with an abundance of options for wedding essentials, from florists to videographers to venues," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. "The more options a city has, the more likely you are to receive competitive pricing and to find places that can work with your optimal schedule."

It's equally important to be budget-conscious, as weddings can cost about $35,000 on average, WalletHub said.

"When weddings can cost tens of thousands of dollars and prices have only become even more outrageously inflated in recent years, it pays to hold your wedding in a city that’s affordable, both for those paying for the wedding and for guests who will need to make accommodations," said Lupo.

For the avid DIY-ers out there, there's plenty of tasks that can be accomplished without shelling out hundreds or thousands of dollars – such as creating special floral arrangements using unconventional vessels as vases.

Houston is the second best place to get married in Texas, with Austin climbing into first place statewide and No. 6 nationally. Two additional Texas cities made it into the top 25 best places to get married: San Antonio (No. 20) and Dallas (No. 23).

The top 10 best places to get married in the U.S.in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Orlando, Florida
No. 2 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 3 – Miami, Florida
No. 4 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 5 – Tampa, Florida
No. 6 – Austin, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Houston, Texas
No. 9 – New Orleans, Louisiana
No. 10 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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