Pulse the Magazine of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Summer 2023
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Features
By Alessandra Singh
By Tina Hay
Departments
In Every Issue
Photo by Neal Hinkle.
Remembering the Life and Legacy of a Beloved Dean
Maya Angelou’s quote seems apropos to honor the late Steven L. Berk, MD, our beloved School of Medicine dean and executive vice president of clinical affairs, who died May 26, 2023.
He will, no doubt, be remembered for his accomplishments as a dedicated physician, esteemed educator and visionary leader. His deep commitment from day one at TTUHSC impacted the mission of our great university. Highlights of Berk’s most impactful work include establishing the Family Medicine Accelerated Track, the first program of its kind in the nation. The program put the School of Medicine at the forefront nationwide in training family medicine physicians. He was vital in introducing medical research and establishing the university’s Clinical Research Institute, significantly increasing the number of published clinical papers by faculty. Berk also helped launch the medical summer research program and remained a staunch supporter, allowing more than 100 students to participate annually.
Editor’s Note
WHICH PROFESSOR TAUGHT YOU THE MOST
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner student
rural america’s relevance
MANAGING PARTNER 2THEDGE LABS
Posted on linkedIn
SURVEY DRAWING WINNERS
Masthead
Editor-in -chief
Danette Baker, MA
Managing Editor
Alessandra Singh
Design
Jim Nissen
Contributors
Kim Catley, TR Castillo, Suzanna Cisneros, Carolyn Cruz, Tina Hay, Mark Hendricks, Neal Hinkle, Kami Hunt, Sarah Sales, Emily Shafer, Natalie Stanislaus, John Weast, Melissa Whitfield
Administration
President
Lori Rice-Spearman, PhD
(Health Professions ‘86)
Vice President of External Relations
Ashley Hamm
Assistant Vice President of External Relations
Mattie Been, Amarillo
Jessica Zuniga, Permian Basin
Cyndy Morris, Abilene
Assistant Vice President of
Institutional Advancement
Institutional Advancement
Helen Li
Assistant Vice President of
COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING
COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING
Holly Russell
development
Gift Officers
Kevin Friemel, Clarissa Sanchez, Lauren Tidmore, Clifford Wilkes
CORPORATIONS & FOUNDATIONS
Jordan Nabers
Contact Us
pulse@ttuhsc.edu
TTUHSC External Relations
3601 Fourth Street STOP 6242
Lubbock, TX 79430-6242
Tap, Tap, Tap – Is this on?
TTUHSC TOGETHER
Cleared to Land
THE APPROACH:
WHAT IT IS:
THE WHY:
Establishing the region as a global leader in the drone industry is feasible because of the geography and optimum weather conditions to test the impact on drone flight operations, says Sizer.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
“[Drones] are being used for humanitarian purposes to solve really important problems (that) help with health care delivery across West Texas and all of rural America,” Sizer says.
The Lure of Amarillo
Faculty profileAnthony Hewetson, MS
Faculty associate for Medical Education and Cell Biology and Biochemistry for the School of Medicine
Together, they realized that Hewetson wasn’t going to become a molecular biologist — but he would make an excellent anatomy instructor. He enrolled in anatomy courses in the Graduate Medical Education Sciences program and, in 2003, earned a certification in human anatomy.
In addition to Lee, Hewetson said, Branislav Vidic, PhD, and Bernell K. Dalley, PhD, (retired TTUHSC faculty) were critical in developing his skills in dissection and as an instructor.
Around CampusTTUHSC Snapshots
TTUHSC is making moves
Vitals: Signs from the Schools
This Isn’t Real
1
Skin color modeling wax is used to create a realistic injury.
2
Blood paste is used to simulate the blood with a deep red color for the wound.
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For extra effects, an airbrush tool is used to enhance areas of red to mimic a trauma injury.
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A latex film is placed on top to keep the moulage in place.
School of MedicinePurposeful Living
LANGUAGE BARRIERS CAN BE DEADLY
LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH
WHERE ERRORS HAPPEN
THE STUDY
To help address communication hurdles, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a nonprofit government-sponsored organization, awarded Tetyana L. Vasylyeva, MD, PhD, professor in the School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, a $438,756 subcontract. The five-year project, studying language barriers for hospitalized children and their families, in partnership with Northwest Texas Healthcare System, will be implemented at TTUHSC in Amarillo. Vasylyeva’s project is part of a more extensive PCORI study directed by Alisa Khan, MD, MPH, from Boston Children’s Hospital.
The current research is based on a pilot study conducted at the hospital from 2014-2017 that produced a 38% reduction in harmful medical errors.
Her approaches:
- Follow current communication practices with no changes.
- Add a telephone interpreter to current practices.
- Include the patient’s entire care team working together with an in-person interpreter.
“We need to get patient feedback in order to work as a team to improve communication and patient safety,” Vasylyeva said. “(By educating) our students and residents, they can better understand how to effectively approach their patients with linguistic difficulties.”
VitalsSCHOOL OF MEDICINE
How To Save A Life
PM&R, or physiatry, focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions that cause disability.
The program received 329 applicants for four residency slots. The inaugural class of residents arrive in July 2023.
The program was a dream 20 years in the making of Roger Wolcott, MD, (Medicine ’92) – his leadership and that of community partners, Trustpoint Rehabilitation Hospital of Lubbock, Veterans Affairs Lubbock Outpatient Clinic, Covenant Health, Moody Neuro-rehabilitation Institute and a lead gift from the Moody Endowment.
VitalsJULIA JONES MATTHEWS School of population and public health
First Class
As a future physician, I wanted to ensure that I could practice to that standard — treating a patient holistically — and that includes their environment and community. As a dual degree student, I knew earning both my Master of Public Health and Doctor of Medicine, simultaneously, would secure that, which is why I chose to pursue my goals at TTUHSC.
TTUHSC is highly involved in the community and has become a cornerstone of West Texas. During my Community-Based Methods and Practice class, I realized the health disparities that exist in East Lubbock. In this class, I analyzed current environmental conditions and health issues while researching plausible future interventions that could bridge the gaps in the area. This class was just another reminder of why I chose TTUHSC and made me look forward to the work we have cut out for us in our own backyard.
“A memorable moment during my studies was being able to use everything I learned and putting it to use with my applied practice experience with LASA Health. My plans following graduation are to hopefully continue my education to be able to be a doctor.
Care in crisis
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Queen had to adapt to virtual instruction and research restrictions. Then, Russia invaded nearby Ukraine, bringing more uncertainty and change. Again, Queen adjusted her plans and worked to support her students in a stressful environment.
Queen and Robert Osgood, PhD, a fellow Fulbright scholar in Latvia, published their thoughts on what Fulbright scholars can offer in the face of global crises.
“What roles can we, and should we, play in working amid multiple humanitarian crises,” they wrote in the July 2022 issue of Fulbright Chronicles, published just as they were returning home. “Our fundamental questions became: How do we navigate these changing realities so that we can achieve the goals and objectives for our grant activities, and more importantly, how can we support the work and the lives of those with whom we collaborate?”
SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Lessons Worth Repeating
Traci Henegar values their feedback; and as an the mother of a former addict, finds their words inspiring. Her son, Davis, died in 2021 at the age of 24, from an accidental overdose. “No one would talk with us about (his addiction), not even the health care providers,” said Henegar, also a student in the Addicition Counseling program.
Learning the School of Medicine students annually go to the center, funded by donor support, Henegar proposed to expand the scope. Her family’s gift created an opportunity for an interdisciplinary group of students to attend training, a first in the Betty Ford Center’s history.
Making An Impact
VIEWING FROM A LOCAL ANGLE
THE HIDDEN PROFESSION
40 YEARS AND COUNTING
professionals who are a step ahead in the workforce and highly sought after by employers.
VitalsJERRY H. HODGE SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
Project: ‘Combat Cancer’
A SUMMER ESCAPE LIKE NO OTHER
WELCOME CAMPERS
At first glance, Camp New Day is an ordinary summer camp. Take a closer look and you will notice a staff of medical and pharmacy students that give kids with diabetes an experience they can’t get anywhere else.
MANAGEABLE CHANGE
Summer camp environments can have a dramatic effect on children with diabetes. Extra physical activity and emotional stressors make blood sugars erratic, requiring dosage changes on a day-to-day, if not hour-by-hour, basis. Most summer camps don’t have the medical staff to manage these constant changes.That’s why diabetes camps fill an important gap, said Thomas Parker, PharmD, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at TTUHSC, who also serves as Camp New Day director.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH
Although diabetes camps most often have medical professionals on-site, the counselors are high school and college students or general volunteers. At Camp New Day, all counselors are in the medical field, including many TTUHSC pharmacy students. They also go through extensive Type 1 diabetes training.
“We want our counselors to have that higher level knowledge so that they can make timely decisions. Instead of relying on outside medical staff,” Parker said, “and have a greater awareness of changes that need to be made.”
WALK IN THEIR SHOES
Having a staff of trained medical professionals means campers have comprehensive support and education on good medical habits. The camp is also an opportunity for TTUHSC students to gain hands-on patient experience and a better understanding of the challenges those with a chronic disease face in life.
Lexie Greenwood, PharmD, (Pharmacy ‘23) said the camp was a chance to walk beside a person with diabetes, from finger pricks to counting carbs. Berkley Freund, PharmD, (Pharmacy ‘23) added, “It helped me develop a strong sense of empathy for my patients.”
CONNECTIONS THAT LAST
Parker hopes the camp is a source of connection between providers and patients and between children with similar life experiences.
“Some of the kids may be the only ones in school who have Type 1 diabetes. Coming to a camp focused on that allows them to be with peers who understand the extra challenges they go through.”
VitalsGRADUATE SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
Two Are Better Than One
school of medicine cancer center
SCHOOL OF NURSINGStand By Me
They have something else in common that sets them apart: They’ve stuck together through a childhood and adolescence full of trauma and upheaval.
The Ricklis grew up in California with a mother prone to addiction, rage and neglect. When they were 10, they were removed from the home and placed in foster care, separated from their older sister and brother. Their foster mother eventually adopted the twins, but they were miserable in their new family; they describe their adoptive mother as short-tempered and controlling and say she kept them from their biological siblings for five years. Eventually, social workers intervened. When the twins were 15, they returned to foster care and years later reunited with their biological siblings.
Through it all, the Ricklis excelled in school and sports. “School was always the one thing in our control,” Abigail explains, adding, “The stereotype of teenage foster kids is that they’re reckless, crazy teenagers on drugs. We were fighting so hard against that stigma. We were not going to be like that.”
School of NursingA Career Bigger Than Me
My name is Meagan Prehn, BSN, RN, (Nursing ‘20) and I earned my BSN not just for me.
When I was 11, I was in a car accident resulting in a spinal cord injury that left me paralyzed from the waist down and wheelchair bound.
From that moment on, I wanted to make the most out of life and inspire others, which led me to the medical field.
Now, in my work at Child Neurology Consultants of Austin, Texas, serving as a pediatric nurse, I recently had a moment where I got to see everything come full circle.
A patient who also uses a wheelchair came in, and I watched her face light up when she saw me. The patient’s mom said, “You don’t know how awesome this is … to have a nurse in a wheelchair because she wants to attend medical school but hasn’t gotten the most positive feedback.”
This is precisely why I went into nursing – to inspire kids to keep going.
The medical field should be prepared for people with disabilities because we are capable of doing anything. Our disability is our strength.
Provided by Meagan Prehn, bsn, rn
Provided by Amanda Jensen
Nursing students are ready to make their mark in the health care field of Texas.
Front-line Reinforcements
Jason Albers (Health Professions ’17) is the drummer for Flatland Cavalary.
I Belong
By Alessandra Singh
For some, a drum is merely its definition – a percussion instrument sounded when struck with sticks or the hands. To others, it’s just a great addition to their favorite music. Then there’s Albers, where drums brought a sense of belonging for a little boy who came to realize that he is different than his peers.
‘Thanks, Doc’
In fact, she’s the reason the rest of them are there.
In Honor of His West Texas Spirit
Gift for Future Pharmacy Leaders
Hodges remembers being struck by Phillips’ ability to zero in on an issue. He had a certain spirit – a “grit,” if you will. It was this spirit that connected Phillips, a quiet fifth-generation cattleman, and Hodges, a charismatic Dallas native – and drew them to the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy. Hodges describes it as an “entrepreneurial spirit” — a hunger for innovation, excellence and leadership. But there was one other key ingredient to this recipe — that if absent, just wouldn’t produce the same result.
“I’ll give them this drug, but how good is your malpractice insurance.” Another colloquialism of Phillips that his widow, Cheri Phillips, said challenged physicians during his residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in Livingston, Texas. “He saw pharmacy as something to be invested in, and pharmacists as people who got to change how patients were cared for.”
A genuine care for people was the connection between Phillips and Hodges, and the final ingredient found rooted in their alma mater. That genuine care led Hodges to give an endowment scholarship to the pharmacy school in Phillips’ honor who died in 2021.
“He reflected that West Texas pioneering spirit. He was the embodiment of the personality that Tech has to offer,” said Hodges.
The endowment is meant to encourage student recognition of the value in the school’s advanced curriculum and resources, and support future pharmacy leaders, something that Phillips was equally passionate about. “If the students can be proud of where they are, that money would be well-spent,” Hodges said.
Dermatology dual DegreeLove the Skin You’re In
DERMATOLOGY CHEAT SHEET
Call to action
Calling All MPHs
For Ashley Edling, MPH, (’19) the question is easy. Viewing health holistically fosters a unique perspective for nonprofit work, allowing public health professionals to connect dots such as how social determinants of health impact other areas of life. In tandem, the public health degree program teaches students to be creative and flexible, thinking outside of the box to create solutions.
Specifically, for Edling, her degree has enabled her to better approach community members of her nonprofit, Network for Community Ministries, with a big-picture understanding of the situations they face. “Public health is different for everyone because, by definition, public health is very broad.” So, to promote and protect her community members, she observes where they live, where they work and where they play.
See why the Director of Operations for Nemalife calls Lubbock home
The desire to make a difference helped guide Kellen Ketchersid to Texas Tech and along his career path. His education and early job experiences led to a full-time position at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, which eventually led to his return to Lubbock.
“Lubbock is a great fit for us,” said Ketchersid. “It’s a wonderful place to raise a family and we appreciate the values, people and culture of West Texas.”
As Director of Operations at NemaLife — a company that provides data-driven intelligence to accelerate research — Ketchersid wants to ensure people feel valued and wake up excited to come to work and make a difference daily.
“We work with a broad range of industries to screen and test compounds,” said Ketchersid. “Our highly efficient testing and screening service helps streamline research and lab experiments so companies can prioritize and focus on the right studies to continue.
The Texas Tech Innovation Hub at Research Park provides an extraordinary opportunity to work on the leading edge of science and technology.” According to Ketchersid, the future is now, and it’s in Lubbock.
“It’s inspiring to be part of a team of smart, innovative people working together to prevent problems and discover solutions,” said Ketchersid. “We’ve received federal grants to study Alzheimer’s and our technology was launched as far as the International Space Station to test how the neuromuscular system is affected by microgravity.”
As a husband and father of three, he and his wife also make their mark as active volunteers in the community, their church and their kids’ schools.
“It’s a blessing to be able to make a difference at work, raise my family and enjoy life in Lubbock,” said Ketchersid.
Update Catching Up With TTUHSC Alumni & Friends
Christina Chen, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Jessica Gray, MD
Medicine Graduate: 2015/Resident: 2018
WE WANT YOU
Women bring a unique perspective to medicine and are vital in partnering with female patients in their health. A study published during Gray’s residency suggested female physicians may provide a higher quality of care as compared to their male counterparts in part due to their innate nature to listen and connect with their patients. Gray and colleagues were amused by this small study and hoped to prove it right.
“It is important that we as a society challenge young women – starting in elementary and middle school – to strive for careers in STEM fields by showing them there are role models around them in their community,” said Gray.
“(Young girls and women alike), don’t be scared of a future that isn’t already paved out for you, set your own course,” she said.
And when you take that first step, you can bet that Gray will be your biggest fan.
— Alessandra Singh
News & Notes-
Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy
Alexandria Arnett, a second-year pharmacy student, was selected as the Student Pharmacist Board Member of the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists for 2023-2024.
- Hiranmoy Das, PhD, pharmaceutical sciences professor, accepted an invitation to be a member of the editorial board of the Journal Diseases & Research.
- Bonnie Dugie., PharmD, (’00) received the Texas Society of Health System Pharmacists Fellows award.
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School of Medicine
Yaw Adu, third-year medical student, was chosen by the International Myeloma Foundation for the Medical Student Scholars for Health Equity in Myeloma Mentoring program.
- Racquel “Rocky” Bono, MD, (’83) joins Red Cell Partners as a senior advisor.
- David Cummings, MD, (’98) has been reappointed by Gov. Abbott to the Cancer Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee.
- Jessica Gray, MD, (‘15, ‘18) is named the team physician for the Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball team.
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Friends we’ll miss
Steven L. Berk, MD, died May 26, 2023. He was dean of the School of Medicine and executive vice president of clinical affairs.
- Sandra Michelle Hash died January 25, 2023. She was a member of the STaR program through speech and language pathology.
- Steven Williams Eldridge, PhD, (’19) died February 4, 2023. He was a business administrator and professor at TTUHSC.
UpdateNews & Notes
Ross Allen, JD, MS
Health Professions Graduate: 2005
Science and Law Collide
The pivot came toward the end of his master’s program in molecular pathology when he realized that working in a lab wasn’t for him. A faculty member told him about her daughter’s work as a patent lawyer, and a light bulb went off: “I realized that there’s another career path I could pursue — as a lawyer in biotech,” said Allen.
Although Allen started college with no inkling he’d become a lawyer, he’s grateful for how it’s all worked out. “(With a) scientific background, there are a lot of doors that can open.”
— Tina Hay
UpdateNews & Notes
Debra Danforth, DNP, RN, APRN, FAANP
Nursing Graduate: 2019
The first of her kind
“We recorded a session with a standardized patient, made sure it was what we all wanted, and that the faculty were grading it the same way,” she said.
In honor of Danforth becoming the first nurse practitioner to earn tenure at FSU COM, the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network named her Nurse Practitioner of the Year in 2022.
— Kim Catley
UpdateNews & Notes
Brad Youngblood, PhD
Biomedical Sciences Graduate: 2014
Allergies: From Miserable to Manageable
Brad Youngblood, PhD has spent the past seven years at Allakos, an antibody company based in California, developing novel drugs that reduce the effect of allergies and chronic inflammation by targeting certain pathogenic cells. Spreading awareness is key when developing new drug treatments, said Youngblood. Earlier this year, Youngblood and his team presented at American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the largest allergy conference in the United States, over a new drug that will soon be tested on humans called AK006. The drug is able to modulate pathogenic cells to limit the severity of skin reactions from allergies so patients can live normal, allergy-free lives. “That is what gets us out of bed every morning,” said Youngblood. “When we talk to patients about these drugs, we can see it on their face- the impact it has on these people’s lives.”
— Natalie Stanislaus
UpdateNews & Notes
Christine Lucio, MPH
Population and Public Health Graduate: 2018
Don’t Leave it to Data
With this information, Lucio took to the streets to ask the community members why this was. She uncovered the issue: roaming dogs made them feel unsafe, discouraging physical activity such as running, walking and biking. This is the power of public health – listening.
— Alessandra Singh
UpdateNews & Notes
Cody Clark, PharmD
Pharmacy Graduate: 2014
Finding a niche in pharmacy
Though, he knew he needed to find a niche to compete with national pharmacy chains. Talking with a dermatologist friend, he discovered a challenge to filling specialty prescriptions.
- Processing rebate cards for brand-specific medications.
- Dispensing the highly regulated acne medication Accutane.
- Offering compounding services that produce creams and ointments at less than half the cost of average compounding pharmacies.
“Dermatology patients aren’t served well in regular pharmacies,” said Clark. “We pride ourselves on using our expertise to get medications in their hands.”
— Kim Catley
He included this one-time scholarship award for a student of academic merit in his will, naming it for his children, Bradley (GSBS ’06) and Hirsch (Medicine ’08).
“With all the unknowns when a student begins medical school, there ought to be one solid piece of ground to land on,” Hirsch said. “Eliminating the worry on that first part of their debt allows a student to delve deeper into their studies” — and gives them a greater chance to finish strong.
He included this one-time scholarship award for a student of academic merit in his will, naming it for his children, Bradley (GSBS ’06) and Hirsch (Medicine ’08).
“With all the unknowns when a student begins medical school, there ought to be one solid piece of ground to land on,” Hirsch said. “Eliminating the worry on that first part of their debt allows a student to delve deeper into their studies” — and gives them a greater chance to finish strong.
‘Pressure Makes Diamonds’ – Did You Gain More Than a Degree?
