Year in review: Highlights of 2023 at Texas A&M Health

Award-winning Texas A&M Health clinic in Navasota expands to a Health Hub

The Texas A&M Health Family Care clinic in Navasota expanded to become a Health Hub in January to provide more health care options for families in the area.

As part of the expansion, the family care clinic moved to a larger suite just around the corner in the same building it’s been housed in since 2016. The additional space has allowed Texas A&M Health to bring in more care providers and services to provide a one-stop medical home for residents of Navasota and the surrounding area.

The new Health Hub offers primary care for the whole family, including pediatric, geriatric and obstetric care, and on-site lab services. Patients can also schedule same-day appointments. 

Texas A&M Health creates the Center of Excellence in Cancer Research

Texas A&M Health was awarded a five-year, $6 million grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, CPRIT, to support the creation of a Texas Regional Excellence in Cancer, or TREC, Center.

The Texas A&M Health Center of Excellence in Cancer Research is establishing the infrastructure required to advance a cohesive vision to address unmet needs in cancer prevention and treatment regionally and across the nation. It is led by Director Kenneth Ramos, MD, PhD, Alkek Chair in Medical Genetics, executive director of the Texas A&M Health Institute of Biosciences and Technology and assistant vice chancellor for health services at The Texas A&M University System, along with Deputy Director Robert Chapkin, PhD, University Distinguished Professor and Allen Endowed Chair in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Nutrition and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

New dean takes the helm at the School of Nursing

Trisha Leann Horsley, PhD, RN, CHSE, CNE, became the dean of the School of Nursing at Texas A&M University on July 1.

A scholar, certified health care simulation educator and researcher, Horsley’s 29-year career includes administrative, faculty and health care service at the University of Oklahoma and South Dakota State University. Most recently she served as professor and dean of the College of Nursing at East Tennessee State University.

As dean of the School of Nursing, Horsley provides strategic, scholarly and financial leadership for the school, as well as support for faculty, staff and student success. She oversees the development of operational procedures, degree programs, research initiatives and service efforts, along with research productivity, clinical activities and more.

Board of Regents approves creation of Texas A&M Health Telehealth Institute

Led by Carly McCord, PhD, clinical associate professor in the Texas A&M School of Medicine and the School of Education, the new Telehealth Institute aims to address disparities in access to high-quality health care by advancing interdisciplinary telehealth research, education and clinical services.

Through collaborative partnerships and the application of scientific knowledge and innovative solutions, the institute will provide telehealth services to diverse communities and will increase research in clinical care, rural health, policy, law, community outreach, education and population health by collaborating with schools across the university.

University Health Services launches to provide holistic health care for students

With the start of the new school year came the beginning of a new era for on-campus student health services at Texas A&M University. The newly united University Health Services—which combines the units formerly known as Counseling & Psychological Services and Student Health Services—takes an integrated approach to health that prioritizes treating the whole person, with counseling, health, prevention and population health services working together with students toward a goal of achieving overall health and well-being.

Rural and Community Health Institute turns 20

The Texas A&M Health Rural and Community Health Institute celebrated 20 years of supporting rural health care. The institute provides resources, expertise and connections for health care professionals and facilities practicing in small towns.

Founding institutions celebrate the opening of the TMC3 Collaborative Building

Texas Medical Center (TMC), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health), and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) celebrated the opening of the TMC3 Collaborative Building and the launch of Helix Park on Oct. 27. The 250,000-square-foot TMC³ Collaborative Building is located at the heart of Helix Park and incorporates research initiatives for the four founding institutions, including the Texas A&M Health Institute of Biosciences and Technology.

School of Public Health celebrates 25 years

The nation’s fifth-largest school of public health launched a year of events in Texas, Georgia and Washington, D.C. in celebration of its 25^th anniversary. Since opening its doors in 1998, the school’s faculty, staff and students have worked to transform public health through interdisciplinary inquiry, innovative solutions and the development of leaders through the Aggie tradition of service to engage diverse communities worldwide.

School of Pharmacy adds program to address shortage of pharmacy technicians

The Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy responded to the increasing demand for pharmacy technicians in Texas by adding the Aggie Pharmacy Technician Program (PTP) to its educational offerings. The 17-week Aggie PTP curriculum is shorter than many other programs and is based on the apprenticeship model where students practice in retail or hospital pharmacies what they learn in the classroom and lab. The cost of tuition is also half as much as the average cost of other technician programs in Texas, thanks to a $1 million gift from The WoodNext Foundation that will support incoming students in various ways, including scholarships.

Texas A&M establishes multidisciplinary Institute for Healthcare Access

The The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved the establishment of the Texas A&M University Institute for Healthcare Access, a collaboration between Texas A&M Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health), Texas A&M University School of Medicine and Texas A&M University School of Law. The institute will lead interdisciplinary health policy research, help advance interdisciplinary and interprofessional education, and create innovative clinical and community partnerships across Texas A&M to expand health care access and improve health in Texas and across the nation.