As a medical student and resident, Stamps said she often served as the “unofficial” official interpreter — a source of pride in that she could relate with Hispanic patients because she could speak their language and understood their culture. She also realized she was somewhat of a unicorn and made it a career priority to offer opportunities for medical students also to acquire such skills. Stamps, an obstetrics-gynecology physician for almost 40 years, founded a program in 2018, and has served as instructor since, at the Mayo Clinic’s Alix School of Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona, called the Medical Spanish Selective — an immersive elective in language and culture.

VitalsSchool of Medicine

VitalsSchool of Medicine

The human body is a health care professional’s first patient. Life experiences and disease states leave their mark, presenting opportunities from which future generations can learn.

Individuals who choose to donate their bodies through the Willed Body Program help to advance health knowledge, education, research and training, said Kerry Gilbert, PT, Sc.D., assistant dean for anatomy, research and education, and co-director of the Institute for Anatomical Sciences with Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Dean Brandt Schneider, Ph.D.

The institute houses TTUHSC’s Willed Body Program, which has served West Texas since 1972.

There are 11 willed body programs in Texas, all located within a health science center and governed by the Texas State Anatomical Board. TTUHSC program serves the area west from Wichita Falls to the Rio Grande.

VitalsSchool of Nursing

COVID heightened stress levels for many nurses, but students were dealing with stressors even before the pandemic, said Karla Chapman, PhD, School of Nursing associate dean for admissions, enrollment management and student affairs. “Faculty became the first line of defense. We wanted to support them so they could focus on delivering academics, and honor our commitment to students with resources and support.”

The school implemented a Student Wellness Program in 2018 and has since adopted a common language to triage students’ stress, based on an algorithm developed by Hollis Franco, PhD, RN, assistant dean of wellness. Green, yellow and red signals identify increasing intensity of stress — from mild anxiety about a test to concern of immediate threat to harm oneself and/or others. Faculty assist with academic related stressors, and the school’s wellness team provides support outside the learning environment. Students can access resources on the program website as well.

“Significant levels of emotional distress can be found throughout higher education, but now, more than ever, nursing schools are seeing a wellness predicament that impacts the delivery of material and attrition rates, which can ultimately affect the availability of nurses,” Franco said. “Our goal is to assist students in coping with the stress of nursing school and everyday life, as well as support them through their journey.”

VitalsSCHOOL OF NURSING

Previously a firefighter paramedic, Longacre’s desire to provide care led him to further explore training and health care delivery options. The physician assistant degree’s versatility and courseload appealed to this nontraditional student, said Longacre, PA-C (Health Professions ’21), who works at Medical Center Health System in Odessa, Texas.

Longacre didn’t have TTUHSC high on his list; yet, the superior rankings of its Physician Assistant Studies Program and high pass rates by students on the certification exam were convincing.

But it was the community that changed his mind. The kindness of those he met while in school and accessibility of small-town living “felt homey;” and for Longacre and his family, “It fit.”

“I fell in love with the mission of public health,” she said. “I didn’t initially choose public health, but public health has a way of choosing you.”

As she ascended the career ladder — health programs manager, assistant director and now director of health services for the city — she realized that if she paired her experience with more formal education, she could supercharge the work she did.

“I fell in love with the mission of public health,” she said. “I didn’t initially choose public health, but public health has a way of choosing you.”

As she ascended the career ladder — health programs manager, assistant director and now director of health services for the city — she realized that if she paired her experience with more formal education, she could supercharge the work she did.

he footprint of Julia Jones Matthews’ legendary philanthropy extends deep and wide across the environment and culture of Abilene, Texas. Portending this moment we celebrate, Matthews long recognized the importance of health care. Over many years, she has magnanimously shared her considerable resources to address health needs in the Abilene community by supporting local health care institutions including Hendrick Health, West Texas Rehabilitation Center, TTUHSC and many others.

Born in December 1918, much of Matthews’ early life was spent in her childhood home on Abilene’s Alta Vista Hill, enjoying the company of her many childhood friends. During her youth, she developed a life-long appreciation of film and spent many afternoons watching the latest release in downtown Abilene’s Paramount Theatre. The pursuit of education led her to the East Coast in 1933. She attended the Maderia boarding school in Virginia where she excelled both academically and athletically. After earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from Massachusetts’ Smith College in 1942, she returned home to Abilene, marrying Albany rancher John Matthews later that year. They had five children, Joe, Jill, Watt, Matt and Kade.

UpdateNews & Notes

The privilege of taking care of patients has been a big part of what pulled this researcher to the clinical side the last few years. Vaz said he cherishes the long-term relationships he has with his patients. “That’s what’s special about being a practicing rheumatologist.”

“Rheumatology’s constant evolvement keeps me excited,” he said. There’s a vast spectrum of diseases within the specialty that sustains his interest. “It’s not just one disease we treat all day long.”

“The field of rheumatology is intellectually stimulating and has been personally fulfilling for me,” he said, calling himself blessed.

— Alessandra Singh

UpdateNews & Notes | FRIENDS WE’LL MISS

 Kafle takes a great pride in his position. “Even though [my] title is lab manager, [I’m] a leader.” Two titles that he says are very different. Knowledge is power to him, and as a leader, it’s his job to share that knowledge with others. There are no tricks up Kafle’s sleeve; it’s not how he operates, he said.

“The more you share, [the] more knowledgeable you get,” said Kafle. This exchange of information is how he serves other people for their growth, creating new leaders.

— Alessandra Singh

UpdateNews & Notes

This feeling of acceptance into the profession is what Troutman wanted to pay forward by supporting Stethoscopes for Students, he said, which gifts stethoscopes to incoming TTUHSC medical students. Describing the feeling as finally embarking on your “lifelong work,” it’s an emotion he associates with his first stethoscope.

Although Troutman traded his first stethoscope for a new one — a graduation present from his uncle – he couldn’t bear to lose the old one again. Packed safely away is the stethoscope that started his journey, sitting sideline as backup. You know – in case the new one goes missing.

— Alessandra Singh

UpdateNews & Notes

With graduation came a choice: return to the known or take a gamble. It would’ve been easy to remain at UMC with its familiarity, but Escobar decided to step into a new realm of the military – active duty.

The U.S. Navy continues to push Escobar out of his comfort zone. When COVID-19 hit so did the unknown. Stationed at a hospital in Virginia, Escobar was given less than a week to pack up and load onto the USS Comfort, traveling to New York. Treating 15 to 20 patients on board at any time, Escobar was part of supportive care to “alleviate the health care system in New York,” he said.

— Alessandra Singh