TTUHSC Hosts 50th Annual Conference for Texas Association of Advisors for Health Professions

• By Melissa Whitfield
• March 11, 2019

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) hosted the 50th Annual Texas Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (TAAHP) Conference Feb. 7-9.

TAAHP is a state network of advisors and staff in health professions working to promote excellence in pre-health professions advising.

“TAAHP’s reach stretches across the state of Texas to promote excellence in pre-health professions advising,” said Louis Perez, associate director of admissions for the TTUHSC School of Medicine. “This year, it was an honor to celebrate 50 years of excellence in pre-health advising the same year TTUHSC is also commemorating our 50th Anniversary. The two are working together and along with institutions across the state to educate future health care professionals.”

The conference is an opportunity to network, collaborate and promote the efforts of those involved in helping shape the future of health care for Texas and beyond. The purpose of TAAHP is to advance undergraduate education for all the health professions, further the development of health science curricula, facilitate the exchange and dissemination of information and conduct educational meetings. 

Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., Texas Tech University chancellor and TTUHSC president, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. As its longest serving president, he has successfully led a period of record growth in enrollment, academic excellence, and physical expansion on all campuses. TTUHSC now graduates more health care professionals than any other health related institution in Texas.

Participants heard from a keynote panel including: Brandt Schneider, Ph.D., dean of the TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Lori Rice Spearman, Ph.D., dean of the TTUHSC School of Health Professions, Charles Seifert, Pharm.D., regional dean of the TTUHSC School of Pharmacy, Karla Chapman, Ph.D., associate academic dean of the TTUHSC School of Nursing, Debra Flores, managing director of the West Texas Area Health Education Center.

Conference speakers will include:
 

• Felix G. Morales, M.D., associate dean of admissions for the TTUHSC School of Medicine
• Susan J. Calloway, Ph.D., professor and director of the TTUHSC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program
• Cheryl Erwin, J.D., Ph.D., the McCrary/McGovern Chair in Humanities and Ethics and professor in the TTUHSC Department of Medical Education and director for the Center for Ethics, Humanities and Spirituality
• Kathryn Horn, M.D., associate dean for Student Affairs, Admissions and Outreach at the University of Houston College of Medicine
• Tara K Cunningham, Ed.D., associate dean of Admissions and Student Diversity and associate professor of Medical Education at Texas Christian University and the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine
• Enrique Jasso Jr., M.A., Texas Education Service researcher of applicant trends and host of the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Podcast
• James Scott Wright, Ed.D., executive director of the Texas Health Education Service
• Jeff Koetje, M.D., director of Kaplan Partner Solutions