- Emily Soelberg
- Administrative Updates, Institute for Healthcare Access
Institute for Healthcare Access announces new cohort of faculty fellows
Faculty fellows serve three-year terms and work to improve access to health and health care
The institute welcomes its newest cohort of faculty fellows. From top left to right then bottom left to right) Christine Crudo Blackburn, PhD; J. Thomas Cunningham, PhD; Curtis Donaldson; Sharon Dormire, PhD, RN; Col. (Ret.) Jim Lucas, MD, FACS; Frank North, PharmD, MPA, DPLA, DASPL; Srividhya Ragavan, BA LLB (Hons.) LLM, SJD; and Meredith Williamson, PhD, ABPP. (Contributed photos/Texas A&M Health Marketing and Communications.)
The Texas A&M Health Institute for Healthcare Access has welcomed eight faculty members from across Texas A&M University to its Faculty Fellowship Program.
Representing a range of disciplines and colleges, the institute’s newest cohort of faculty fellows will serve a three-year term. They are:
- Christine Crudo Blackburn, PhD, from the School of Public Health
- J. Thomas Cunningham, PhD, from the Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine
- Curtis Donaldson, from the Vashisht College of Medicine and the Office of the President of Texas A&M University
- Sharon Dormire, PhD, RN, from the College of Nursing
- Col. (Ret.) Jim Lucas, MD, FACS, from the Vashisht College of Medicine
- Frank North, PharmD, MPA, DPLA, DASPL, from the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy
- Srividhya Ragavan, BA LLB (Hons.), LLM, SJD, from the School of Law
- Meredith Williamson, PhD, ABPP, from the Vashisht College of Medicine
“We’re excited to welcome this distinguished group of faculty members to the institute and our program, and we look forward to supporting their work,” said Keegan Warren, JD, LLM, executive director at the Institute for Healthcare Access. “Our fellows bring expertise from across the university, and their work reflects the complexity of the challenges we face. The program is designed to foster cross-sector engagement, recognizing that health care access is not only a public concern but a personal one that impacts individuals, families and communities alike.”
Established in November 2024, the program supports university faculty engaged in research and education that address barriers to timely, effective and affordable health care. Fellows are selected for their commitment to their fields and their work on uncovering solutions to health and legal challenges that hinder access.
“Our Faculty Fellowship Program represents a meaningful opportunity for university faculty to advance research focused on health care access within a framework that integrates both health and law,” said William Sage, MD, JD, faculty director at the institute. “The institute is committed to supporting fellows throughout the lifecycle of their work, from conceptual development to collaboration and dissemination. In addition to research support, the program offers structured mentoring, strategic networking and access to interdisciplinary resources that strengthen the impact and research of their scholarship.”
Barriers to health care access are a nationwide concern, especially in underserved areas. These challenges—such as cost of care, insurance eligibility, provider shortages, long wait times, pharmacy deserts and geographic distance—are strategic priorities for the institute.
“Addressing barriers to health care access is not just a strategic priority. It’s a moral and social imperative,” Warren and Sage said. “Our program is a cornerstone of that commitment that creates the infrastructure for interdisciplinary work that drives change. As the program grows, it’s inspiring to witness the caliber of the research, innovation and leadership our faculty bring to this effort.”
The institute plans to appoint additional faculty fellows in 2026. To learn more about the institute and the Faculty Fellowship Program, visit the institute’s website.
Media contact: media@tamu.edu
