Update
News & Notes
News & Notes-
school of Nursing
- Serena Bumpus, DNP, RN, (’19, ’08, ’06) inducted as a fellow of the American Nursing Academy.
- Christine Cox, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, (’16) appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to serve on the Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke until Feb. 1, 2031. She is a nurse practitioner and
the director of operations for extended care services at Front Line Mobile Health in Aurora,
Texas. - Kyle Johnson, PhD, RN, (’10) admitted as a fellow in the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. He is an assistant professor at TTUHSC and executive director of the university’s Simulation Program.
- Nancy Ochs, DNP, RN, named TTUHSC Dallas School of Nursing regional dean. She previously served as a TTUHSC assistant professor in Abilene, Texas.
- Tabitha D. South, DNP, MSN, RN, (’09, ’11) named senior vice president and chief nursing executive for Medical City Dallas in Dallas, Texas.
- Patricia S. Yoder-Wise, EdD, RN, received the Elizabeth Sjoberg Lifetime Achievement Award, given to an active member of the Texas School Nurses Organization for long-term dedication to the organization. She is dean emerita and a professor at TTUHSC School of Nursing.
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Julia Jones Matthews School of Population and Public Health
- Cathy A. Hudson, DrPH, MPH, (’17) joined the TTUHSC Abilene Julia Jones Matthews School of Population and Public Health faculty, teaching Issues in Rural Health. She also serves as the assistant vice president for community-engaged research in the TTUHSC Division of Rural Affairs and the Office of Research and Innovation.
- Tara Kinslow, MPH, (’26) received the 2026 Texas Association of City & County Health Officials Rising Star Award, which recognizes a public health professional early in their career. She works for Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District.
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School of Medicine
- Poorvanshi Alag, MD, received the William W. “Bill” Richards Rural Psychiatry Award from the American Psychiatric Association. She is an assistant professor and director of Addiction Services in the TTUHSC Lubbock School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry.
- Nimat Alam, MD, (Fellowship ’13, Residency ’12) is chief of staff at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, Texas. She is an associate professor at TTUHSC Odessa School of Medicine.
- Sue S. Bornstein, MD, (’92) received the 2025-2026 Alfred Stengel Memorial Award for Outstanding Service to the American College of Physicians.
- Joseph Caldwell, MD, (’14) joined Garrett Regional Medical Center in Oakland, Maryland, as a urology provider.
- Craig J. Chaya, MD, (Residency ’09) appointed vice chair of community outreach at the University of Utah John A. Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Maj. Tatyana Ellison (’06) returned to military service in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a 60WpPsychiatrist through the Culver City recruiting company.
- Yvonne Fanous, MD, (Residency ’80) received the 2026 Dr. Leonard L. Bailey Outstanding Clinician Award. She is a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in Loma Linda, California.
- Jason D. Hurt, MD, (’o4) appointed chief medical officer for NAYA Therapeutics in Miami, Florida.
- Timothy Inhongbe, MD, a second-year family medicine resident at TTUHSC Odessa, earned first place in the Resident Primary Research category at the 2025 Texas Academy of Family Physicians Research Poster Competition.
- Benjamin Leeah, MD, MPH, (’23, ’00) received the American Board of Family Medicine Certificate of Added Qualifications in Health Care Administration, Leadership and Management in November 2025. He is the regional medical director for Managed Care at TTUHSC Amarillo.
- Joseph E. Lozano, MD, (’98) joined St. Joseph Hospital’s primary care practice in Nashua, New Hampshire.
- Scott Reising, MD, (Fellowship ’11) joined Ascension Saint Thomas River Park in McMinnville, Tennessee.
- Brian D. Schroeder, MD, named regional dean for TTUHSC Odessa School of Medicine.
- Gerad Troutman, MD, (’07) appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services.
- Diane (Schwartz) Wintz, MD, (’06) is co-author of the book “Sassafras Street: Human Connection through the Eyes of Caregivers,” published Dec. 25, 2025, by Pali Friends Publishing.
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Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
- Eric Edwards, MBA, MS, (’15) joined Dark Horse Consulting Group as director of marketing and communications in business development.
- Praneetha Panthagani, PhD, (’25) joined the LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Department of Physiology as a postdoctoral research fellow.
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School of Health Professions
- Tiffany Barrett, DPT, DSc, (’24) appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. She is a clinical associate professor for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
- Kirk Canada, DPT, ScD, (’12) named interim president and CEO of Hendrick Health System in Abilene, Texas. He was the system’s vice president and chief operating officer.
- Christian Carillo was selected for the National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation Minority Fellowship Program. He is currently a clinical mental health counseling learner at TTUHSC.
- Vanessa Delgado, PA-C, (’25) joined Woodlands North Houston Heart Center in The Woodlands, Texas, as a physician assistant in cardiology.
- Spencer Estrella, MHA,( ’20) joined Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas, as its assistant chief financial officer.
- Matt Geddie, PhD, MBA, OTR, (’94) retired from the TTUHSC Lubbock School of Health Professions Occupational Therapy program after serving 23 years, including as program director and assistant professor.
- Clark Houser, CSL, (’04) appointed chairman of the Oklahoma Hospital Association Rural Health Council.
- San Juanita Reed, MEd, CCC-SLP, (’19, ’17) opened Thriving Roots Speech Therapy, in Houston, Texas.
- Christopher Rodriguez, DBA, MSHA, (’22) completed his Doctor of Business Administration in May 2026 at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and had his dissertation published in the Journal of Veterans Studies.
- Erin Smith, OTD, MOT, OTR, (’07) appointed to the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners. She is an occupational therapist with OrthoTexas in Carrollton, Texas.
- Kristi Trammell, DPT, (’12, ’07) is director for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas.
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Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy
- Carlos Alvarez, PharmD, (’04) promoted from associate professor to professor of pharmacy at TTUHSC Dallas Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, effective Sept. 1, 2026.
- Jean Haynes, MEd, retired after 20 years of service to the TTUHSC Amarillo Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, where she served as senior director of Experiential Programs.
- Ashley Higbea, PharmD, inducted as a fellow of the National Academies of Practice Pharmacy Academy. She is an associate professor at the TTUHSC Dallas and director of the Interprofessional Education program.
- Darian Higgins, PharmD, (’26) received the Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award, which recognizes learners who demonstrate high personal motivation and possesses the unique ability to communicate drug information.
- Mary Klein, PharmD, (’03) appointed assistant vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Practice Innovation for the Texas Pharmacy Association. She is an associate professor in the TTUHSC Abilene Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy Department of Pharmacy Practice.
- Molly Minze, PharmD, promoted from associate professor to professor of pharmacy at TTUHSC, effective Sept. 1, 2026.
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Friends We’ll Miss
- Jane Shawver Allison died June 15, 2026. She served as a staff member with the TTUHSC Lubbock School of Medicine from 1971 to 2006.
- David Merle Baldwin died March 13, 2026. He served at TTUHSC Odessa in research leadership from 1999 to 2012, including as the director of research and sponsored programs.
- Bryan Jeffrey Griffin, MD, (Medicine ’82) died Dec. 19, 2025. He served for almost 40 years at CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital in Texarkana, Texas, holding leadership roles, including chief of staff.
- James Joseph Hrachovy died June 30, 2026. He served as faculty for the TTUHSC Lubbock School of Medicine from 1992 to 1995.
- Philip George Samuel Hudkins, MD, died April 3, 2026. He served as a faculty member in the TTUHSC Lubbock School of Medicine from 1984 to 1986.
- Myra Roche Jones died May 12, 2026. She served as the manager of the TTUHSC Lubbock School of Medicine Continuing Medical Education from 1994 to 2020.
- Morris S. Knox, MD, died on Feb. 27, 2026. He served as a clinical assistant professor in the TTUHSC Lubbock School of Medicine from 1980 to 2004 and as a physician for 35 years in Brownfield, Texas.
- Casey Dean Peevy died Jan. 23, 2026. He was a medical simulation technician at TTUHSC from 2007 to 2011 before serving at Brandman University and UC Irvine School of Nursing in Southern California.