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Pulse the Magazine of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Illustration
Winter 2022

presidential
distinguished
alumni

Cyndy Banik Dunlap

DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE

Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
Providence Healthcare Network

School of Nursing
Presidential Distinguished Alumni

Cyndy Dunlap, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, has dedicated 20 years to health care leadership. Her service includes efforts to improve quality and patient safety endeavors and legislative advocacy for hospitals through the Texas Hospital Association. She also served as president of the Texas Organization of Nurse Leaders and on committees of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders. Additionally, Dunlap established the first HIV/AIDS program for a region of Texas.

Dunlap earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing. She also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Texas State University and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Baylor University.

Cyndy Banik Dunlap headshot

presidential
distinguished
alumni

Cyndy Banik Dunlap headshot

Cyndy Banik Dunlap

DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE

Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
Providence Healthcare Network

School of Nursing
Presidential Distinguished Alumni

Cyndy Dunlap, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, has dedicated 20 years to health care leadership. Her service includes efforts to improve quality and patient safety endeavors and legislative advocacy for hospitals through the Texas Hospital Association. She also served as president of the Texas Organization of Nurse Leaders and on committees of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders. Additionally, Dunlap established the first HIV/AIDS program for a region of Texas.

Dunlap earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing. She also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Texas State University and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Baylor University.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Alumni Association Logo
Inside
Volume 32 | Issue 1
The Humans Behind the Heroes
Health care workers have been put to task during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are trying to save everyone while also trying to protect themselves and their families. Not sleeping. Not eating. Feel hopeful that the worst is over, just to be crushed by another unexpected wave. Here are their stories, revealing our heroes are also humans.
Family Prescription
Opening a business as the first COVID-19 case enters the U.S. is intimidating. But not pursuing dreams of serving and loving other people like they’re family is even more inconceivable.
Health Matters A Letter from Our President
Lori Rice-Spearman Headshot
Artie Limmer

Innovation — Will it be a Buzzword or Building Block?

In a recent survey by Pew Research, experts — governmental policy, technology businesses, think tanks, and academics and technology networks — commented on changes they foresee in the next decade for health care. It comes as no surprise they tasked innovation as the change agent.

At TTUHSC, innovation and collaboration are critical pillars for our vision to transform health care. As such, they are also the driving force of our five-year strategic plan. You can learn more on our website at https://bit.ly/34GnhSJ.

More than 30 years ago, TTUHSC conducted its first telemedicine visit (see “Telemedicine’s Perfect Storm” in Pulse Winter 2021). Through innovation, this practice of distance medicine has evolved into one significantly impacting multiple areas of health care.

Feedback

Editor’s Note

The past two years have brought disruption, uncertainty and unease for so many, but none more so than for our health care workers. We call them heroes, but have we forgotten they, too, are human?

In this issue, we are honored to share their stories as our health care heroes reveal their vulnerability and humanity. They openly discuss the fears, frustrations and failures that come as they heroically work to keep us safe and healthy.

Mental health is a conversation that, thankfully, is gaining societal acceptance, and that’s one of the pandemic’s silver linings. We hope the article strengthens and deepens the conversation.

If you are struggling with mental health issues, please know that you are not alone, and help is available. We have shared a list of resources on page 24 in “The Humans Behind the Heroes” article.

The mind and body are not separate. What affects one affects the other.

— Danette Baker, MA
Editor, Pulse

Dear Pulse,

I would appreciate the digital copy only as I have lived in Tajikistan in Central Asia, providing humanitarian eyecare for over seven years now. I am very grateful to TTUHSC for the opportunity they gave me back in 1984 to attend medical school. They saw something in my application that other schools did not see. Today, I am part of an ophthalmology practice in the capital city of Dushanbe, and we have been able to introduce intravitreal eye injections and laser eye surgery to this underserved part of the world. Additionally, before the current unrest in Afghanistan, we could do eye training at two different eye centers there. None of these things would have been possible without my medical school and internal medicine training at TTUHSC before my ophthalmology residency.
­­— Kevin Kummerfeld, MD, (Medicine ‘88)
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist, Solim Med
Tajikistan
Editor’s Note: to request a digital-only subscription, email pulse@ttuhsc.edu.

Dear Pulse,

I liked the variety of content in the last issue. It reflected the many accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff. The human interest component is most appealing with a sense of inclusiveness while also capturing the collaboration and innovation we at TTUHSC value. Thank you for your continuation of excellence in sharing the vital facts and events of TTUHSC.
­­— Kathy Sridaromont, PhD
Associate Professor, TTUHSC School of Nursing
Lubbock, Texas

Dear Pulse,

There were four of us that recently connected to celebrate our 30th year of nursing. Lea Keesee, DNP, RN, and Belinda Gallegos, MSN, RN, teach at TTUHSC School of Nursing. Jennifer Kaska Shahan, MHS, APRN, CRNA, is a nurse practitioner at Parkland in Dallas. I am the director of the Education and Patient Response Center for Paris Regional Medical Center in Paris, Texas. We have been blessed by our nursing careers and would be willing to share what it means to be a TTUHSC nursing graduate.­
­­— Diane Nation, MSN, RN, (Nursing ’91)
Director, Paris REgional medical center
Paris, TExas
Vintage graduation photo
Group of ladies in front of the ocean
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Pulse welcomes thoughts and opinions from our readers via email at pulse@ttuhsc.edu.

Masthead

Pulse logo
Volume 32, Issue 1

Editor

Danette Baker

Managing Editor

Kara Bishop

Design

Jim Nissen

Contributors

Susan Marquardt Blystone, Kim Catley, Carolyn Cruz, Elise Gibson, Tina Hay, Mark Hendricks, Neal Hinkle, Kami Hunt, Artie Limmer, John Mavroudis, Sarah Maxwell, Erin Peterson, Glenys Young

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

development

Chief Advancement Officer

Cyndy Morris

Gift Officers

Kevin Friemel, Smiley Garcia,
Kendalyn Rising, Clifford Wilkes

Alumni Relations

manager

Peyton Sifrit

Contact Us

pulse@ttuhsc.edu
TTUHSC External Relations
3601 Fourth Street STOP 6242
Lubbock, TX 79430-6242

Pulse is published twice a year. Content may be reprinted only wior’s permission. Discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, status as a covered veteran or other legally protected categories, class or characteristics is not tolerated. Pulse is distributed in compliance with the State Depository Law and is available for public use through the Texas State Publications Depository Program. In compliance with HB 423, Pulse is available in electronic format. If you no longer want to receive the printed version, please notify the editor in writing.
the future belongs to text
Programs Offered
Laboratory Sciences & Primary Care
Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science
Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Laboratory Science
Master of Science in Molecular Pathology
Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Rehabilitation Sciences
Master of Athletic Training
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy
Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science
Concentration in Communication Sciences Disorders
Concentration in Movement Sciences Disorders

Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
Doctor of Audiology
Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Healthcare Management & Leadership
Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management
Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Data Analysis
Graduate Certificate in Health Systems Policy and Management
Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Finance and Economics
Graduate Certificate in Health Systems Engineering and Management
Graduate Certificate in Long Term Care Administration

Clinical Counseling & Mental Health
Master of Science in Addiction Counseling
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

the future belongs to text
Health Professionals title
Programs Offered
Laboratory Sciences & Primary Care
Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science
Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Laboratory Science
Master of Science in Molecular Pathology
Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Rehabilitation Sciences
Master of Athletic Training
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy
Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science
Concentration in Communication Sciences Disorders
Concentration in Movement Sciences Disorders

Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
Doctor of Audiology
Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Healthcare Management & Leadership
Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management
Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Data Analysis
Graduate Certificate in Health Systems Policy and Management
Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Finance and Economics
Graduate Certificate in Health Systems Engineering and Management
Graduate Certificate in Long Term Care Administration

Clinical Counseling & Mental Health
Master of Science in Addiction Counseling
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

TTUHSC logo

No Escaping This Lesson

When H.W., an 85-year-old nursing home resident, is taken to the emergency department complaining of pain in his chest, shoulder and jaw, a team of 10 TTUHSC students has 45 minutes to develop and execute a care plan. Full transparency: H.W. isn’t real, the facility is actually a simulation lab in the University Center in Lubbock, and the students’ tools include lockboxes, a Rubik’s cube and a Sudoku puzzle.

The “Escape Room Challenge,” an annual event sponsored by the TTUHSC Office of Interprofessional Education, invites students from multiple disciplines to work together in deciphering clues and completing puzzles to help their virtual patients.

Participants earned IPE credit—a graduation requirement for all degrees—and many came away with greater appreciation for the value that each discipline brings to a given situation.

Neal Hinkle

Students holding up a TTUHSC IPE Escape Room sign
ScopeTTUHSC Together
Vintage photo of a professor teaching a course at TTUHSC
Plexus 1984
TTUHSC in Amarillo hosts an internal medicine grand rounds presentation in 1984.

A Half-Century of Partnership

“The one word that comes to mind when thinking about TTUHSC Amarillo is partnership,” said School of Medicine Regional Dean Richard Jordan, MD. In its 50 years, TTUHSC in Amarillo has collaborated with local universities, brought innovation through SimCentral and the InfantRisk Center, and cared for the underserved communities. TTUHSC’s dedication to the Northern Panhandle is something to celebrate.”

I Heard That!

Snippets voiced across the university
“When I get upset, I take a break and clean my bathrooms. I’m surprised the porcelain in my bathtub is still holding up, but taking a 90-second pause to allow room for the emotions can prevent an emotional reaction that might be harmful.”

– Tanya Fraley, TTUHSC Office of People Development, “Balancing Brain and Heart” webinar.

 
“When you hear and see the presentations, I hope it is through the eyes of a parent. I hope you think about the devastating effects this would have if your child were caught up in this unimaginably horrific nightmare.”

– Richard Jordan, MD, School of Medicine dean in Amarillo, Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health Sex Trafficking Symposium.

 
“We have a loss of language but not intelligence.”

– Leslie “Les” Biffle, Stroke Aphasia Recovery Program member, “Here Comes the Sun,” music video.

 
“Dr. Min Kang has been bringing me up to speed on a large volume of information as it pertains to the Office of Research, so I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to her. She’s shared her cell phone number with me so I will have the opportunity to benefit from her extensive knowledge into the future as well. She’s done an amazing job.”
 

-Lance McMahon, PhD, newly appointed senior vice president of the Office of Research and Innovation, TTUHSC President’s Advisory Board meeting.

TTUHSC in Amarillo Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

As TTUHSC in Amarillo celebrates its 50th anniversary in December 2022, we asked faculty members for one word that represents the campus
Partnership
“The one word that comes to mind when thinking about TTUHSC Amarillo is partnership,” said School of Medicine Regional Dean Richard Jordan, MD. In its 50 years, TTUHSC in Amarillo has collaborated with local universities, brought innovation through SimCentral and the InfantRisk Center, and cared for the underserved communities.
Positive
“My one word for TTUHSC in Amarillo is positive,” said Quentin Smith, PhD, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy dean. “When I first came to Amarillo, I was told getting a grant here was not going to happen, because we weren’t in Lubbock. Today, I’m glad I didn’t listen to that negative voice, as we now contribute a great deal to TTUHSC in grant money.”
Supportive

“I’ve never gone to administration or to my direct report with an idea and just been totally shut down,” said Teresa Baker, MD, professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “We may have to rework the idea but TTUHSC in Amarillo has always supported growth and innovation.”

TTUHSC in Amarillo is willing to partner and collaborate with neighboring institutions as well, said Baker. “We’re not prideful or territorial here, we just want to make a positive difference in the lives of the community members here.”

Valerie Kiper, DNP, RN, (Nursing ’13) newly appointed dean of the School of Nursing in Amarillo, agrees. “Growth and innovation has been a long-time theme of this university in Amarillo. We’ve made our mark in Amarillo in pioneering new clinical programs and treatments, as well as advancing research.”

TTUHSC’s dedication to the Panhandle is something to celebrate.

ScopeFaculty profile

Medicine and Genetics Collide

Vijay Tonk, PhD, DABMGG, FACMGG
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Director, Prenatal Genetic Laboratory
School of Medicine

Vijay Tonk,PhD, DABMGG, FACMGG, works at the place where medicine and genetics meet, focusing on genetic causes of developmental disorders like Down syndrome, birth defects like hydrocephalus, and cancers like childhood and adult leukemias.

If a child had developmental disabilities or autistic behaviors, you’re the one who does the genetic analyses for those problems, right?

Yes, I receive blood samples from pediatricians when their patient is not meeting developmental milestones, has birth defects of the heart or intestine, or has later intellectual disability with autistic behaviors. My laboratory performs chromosome and DNA testing that will find the cause of the child’s problem, like the extra copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21) that causes Down syndrome.

Where does pediatric cancer fit into your work?

I developed a state-of-the art laboratory for pediatric cancer testing, one of only a few labs in the country certified by the national oversight agency of hema-tologist-oncologists called the Children’s Oncology Group. My testing addresses all types of child and adult cancers with important implications for diagnosis and therapy.

You primarily work with physicians and rarely meet the patients themselves. Is that strange for you?

Many physicians are unfamiliar with our new DNA technology and are uncomfortable explaining it to patients. I am happy to explain these complicated results to people, and always tell them: “Why don’t you come visit me? I’m here all the time. Just come.”

Vijay Tonk Standing
Neal Hinkle
Scopefor the record
“The pandemic drove me to pursue a long-time passion for mental health and wellness.”
Carla Haskins, student, School of Health Professions Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
Carla Haskins Headshot
Darrin D’Agostino Headshot
Darrin D’Agostino Headshot
“The growth in our enrollment and success of our students and graduates is amazing.”
— Darrin D’Agostino, DO, MPH, MBA
Provost and chief academic officer
100%
residency placement in the school of medicine and job placement for those seeking employment upon graduation from the School of Health professions in 2021.
Scientist working
One-fourth of all health-related degrees awarded in Texas are from TTUHSC.
Neal Hinkle/Kami Hunt

New Treatment for Depression

Patients diagnosed with depression often have difficulty finding relief. Medication and therapy may help, but these treatments may not work for all patients. TTUHSC has introduced an innovative way to address treatment resistant depression through deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Deep TMS therapy consists of 36 total sessions. Most insurance companies now cover the procedure, including Medicare, and patients are able to self-refer for treatment.

Deep TMS machines are located in both Amarillo and Lubbock Texas Tech Physician Psychiatry clinics.

Neal Hinkle
New Treatment for Depression

1

Once the patient is seated at the machine, the helmet is positioned according to the grid coordinates of a blue cap that is placed on the patient’s head beforehand. Inside the helmet is the H-Coil, which is a novel patented structure designed to maximize electrical stimulation of deep brain regions by using directed electromagnetic fields to stimulate neurons deep inside the brain.

2

The touch screen monitor aids the provider in targeting deep brain regions. Deep TMS alleviates depression by stimulating neurons in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of the brain that may be inactive. Once targeted, magnetic pulses are delivered in intervals — two seconds on, 20 seconds off — for 20 minutes.

VitalsSchool of Medicine

Executive Decision

Graduates from the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Pay It Forward through TTUHSC School of Medicine program, Life Lessons in Leadership
When Jannette Dufour, PhD, needed leadership training, the Hedwig Van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program offered by the Drexel University College of Medicine was the perfect fit. Dufour, associate director of the Texas Tech University Obesity Research Institute and professor in the TTUHSC Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, was associate dean for research at TTUHSC when she applied for the prestigious ELAM program, which was a feat all in itself. “I think I wrote 16 essays detailing my past career experience, goals and why I was interested in leadership,” she added.
Group of ladies posing together
TTUHSC ELAM alumnae: Jannette Dufour, PhD; Patti Patterson, MD, MPH; Betsy Goebel Jones, EdD; Sharmila Dissanaike, MD; Cynthia Jumper, MD, MPH; and Leslie Shen, PhD

Excellent Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment

New Center established for debilitating vascular condition

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is caused by plaque buildup that narrows and restricts blood flow to the body’s outlying arteries, primarily the legs. The condition causes pain, impaired mobility and, in advanced cases, leads to amputation.

To advance treatment for this potentially life-threatening condition that affects more than 200 million people across the globe, TTUHSC established the School of Medicine Center of Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease.

Why establish a center for pad?

“Initially, this disease was not thought to be that severe,” said Mohammad “Mac” Ansari, MD, center director. “However, now the new research shows it’s not only severe and debilitating but also deadly. In the long run, the disease turns into critical limb ischemia (CLI).”

Current data shows patients with CLI — a condition that causes painful ulcers to form on the legs that can become infected and lead to amputation — have a 20% mortality rate and limb loss rate after one year. The mortality rate for those who undergo amputation increases by 48% at one year and 71% at three years.

Team Effort

Multidisciplinary clinicians will collaborate with the center to provide successful screening, treatment and education related to PAD and CLI.

Various practitioners, including interventional and imaging cardiologists, vascular surgeons, wound care specialists and podiatrists, will collaborate with medical specialists who study risk factors and co-morbidities. This team will also work with physicians who may encounter hospitalized PAD patients.

impact

Through the center, the team will use newly developed techniques to improve circulation and address chronic health issues related to PAD, said School of Medicine Dean Steven L. Berk, MD. Issues such as diabetes control, cigarette smoking cessation, wound treatment and methods to preserve limbs and avoid amputation.

One innovative technique to address PAD is the DETOUR procedure, featured in the Winter 2021 issue of Pulse. Ansari performed the procedure, a first for TTUHSC and in Texas.

VitalsSchool of Medicine

Future of Health Care Delivery

Desperately seeking medical help, a teenager in active, obstructed labor risked her life to walk 19 miles from her village in Liberia to a clinic in Monrovia. Fortunately, Andrea Weitz, MD, MPH, TTUHSC emergency medicine resident, was there in 2018 to successfully deliver the baby girl. The experience brought home to Weitz the urgency and extent of the health care delivery problems facing much of Africa, where isolated villages are cut off by impassable roads.

Weitz looked to the sky for a solution. Drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, might not have helped the laboring girl, but because they can fly above rutted, unpaved roads, they could deliver much-needed medications, vaccines and other supplies to remote villages. In Sierra Leone, for instance, where maternal mortality rates are soaring, drones could deliver blood to women experiencing postpartum hemorrhaging as well as drugs to stop the bleeding.

Weitz is passionate about broadening access to health care, whether in African villages or remote towns in the United States. In West Texas alone, she noted, some 450 rural communities are “pharmacy deserts,” meaning they lack nearby pharmacies. Drones, she reasons, could address the problem.

As a business venture, Weitz founded DronesRx. The startup company proposes to use drones to deliver medications, supplies and telehealth opportunities to communities in northwest Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

Plane taking off to the sky
Provided by Zipline
A Zipline fixed-wing drone takes off from a northern California testing facility.

Drones in health care

“My big passion is public health and equal access to health care, making it less out of reach for all patients. Drone technology can help achieve that.”
Andrea Weitz, MD, MPH
TTUHSC Emergency Medicine Resident
VitalsSchool of Health Professions

Collaboration with Community Bridges Gap in Mental Health Care

When a patient visits their primary care provider at Texas Tech Physicians of the Permian Basin, they have the opportunity to see mental health clinicians at the same time. These collaborative visits as they’re coined by Stephanie Moses, PhD, has transformed mental health care delivery in the region.

When Moses began working at TTUHSC in 2008, she was the only clinician in the medical school’s Department of Family and Community Medicine. “I needed help, but more importantly, I needed help from providers who would stay in the community,” said Moses, a licensed psychologist and director of behavioral health for TTUHSC at the Permian Basin.

The community wanted this, too, as they understood the mental health provider shortage’s impact and were willing to partner with Moses through funding and resources support.

VitalsSchool of Health Professions

Skating Her Way to a PA

During her five seasons with the Haydenettes, an elite, synchronized figure skating team, Devin Pao, MS, PA-C, ATC, (Health Professions ’21) lived the value of teamwork. After all, in 2013 and 2016, her 16-member squad won bronze medals at world competitions for its precise routines. However, she found her professional calling in the “team behind the team” — the medical staff that travels with and supports the skaters. Now, in her first job as a physician assistant, Pao’s new team is Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group, which also happens to be the headquarters of the U.S. Figure Skating team. “Everything for me is intermingled,” Pao says, “and it’s all because of skating.”
My ultimate goal is to join the U.S. Figure Skating and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee medical staff, as they compete in international competitions, and ultimately the Winter Olympics. The timing isn’t right for Beijing, but one day I’ll be there!
— Devin Pao, MS, PA-C, ATC, (Health Professions ’21)
Physician Assistant
Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group
Devin Pao Skating
Provided by Devin Pao, MS, PA-C, ATC
VitalsSchool of Nursing

Top 10 Trends

of the Nursing Profession
As the largest profession in health care with more than 4 million registered nurses nationwide, the nursing profession has adapted in innovative ways to address the health care worker shortage and a shift in the health care landscape due in part to COVID-19.
red number 1 typography in white hexagon
black arrow pointing upward

Registered Nurse Specializations Increase

Obtaining state licensure is required for nursing practice, and, while certification is not, the number of certified nurses has increased exponentially over time, according to Tiffani Wise, DNP, CNE, (Nursing ’10, ’08) regional dean for TTUHSC School of Nursing in Dallas, Texas. “Nurses graduate as generalists,” she added. “However, certifications allow you to advance expertise in specific niches of nursing that make you a better, more knowledgeable provider in whatever field you decide to pursue.”
red number 2 typography in white hexagon
black arrow pointing upward

The Nurse Entrepreneur

In 2013, the Dallas Morning News reported 200 nurse-owned practices and clinics in Texas. Though there is no exact number today, the American Academy of Nurse Entrepreneurs, founded by Veronica Pike, MSN, FNP-C, (Nursing ’12, ’09) now boasts more than 3,500 members, most of whom are in Texas.
VitalsGraduate School of Biomedical Sciences

The One with the 411

New students of the graduate school have many questions when they arrive. Where do I get my groceries? Where should I live? Where are the safe places to walk? The answer is commonly, “Dr. Urbatsch can help you.”

Ina Urbatsch, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, and a highly funded researcher. But, it’s her love for students that makes this beloved professor the recent recipient of the Dean’s Outstanding Research and Student Mentor award.

She’s counseled troubled students, gone above and beyond to help new students acclimate to Lubbock, Texas — which is a place she never dreamed of living in as she’s originally from Germany — and even works overtime to ensure students have masks that fit properly. “I’ve done extensive research into the best masks for safety and fit, so students should benefit from the work I’ve already put in to the search.”

Urbatsch loves students, and it shows within five minutes of talking to her. “I just want to connect,” she adds. “Students need connection.”

Teacher and student working together
Provided by Ina Urbatsch, PhD

Gist of Population Health

Two esteemed professors in the Julia Jones Matthews Department of Public Health explain this discipline’s impact on health care.
Theresa Byrd portrait illustration
Theresa Byrd, DrPH
Associate Dean
Lubbock, Texas

What is population health?

Byrd: It is the study of large populations and takes the view that multiple aspects influence one’s health. For example, a person’s health is influenced by social factors (education/income), biology/genetics, environmental factors (where you live, etc.), and behaviors (exercise, eating, smoking, drinking, etc.).

Is policy development involved?

Byrd: Population health policy is why we have clean drinking water and laws against smoking indoors. We also are looking to address inconsistencies in health care across different people groups and identify policies needed to improve health care access across the board.

Julie St. John portrait illustration
Julie St. John, DrPH
Associatie Dean
Abilene, Texas

Does this discipline bridge a gap in health care?

ST. John: Population health allows clinicians and researchers to improve treatment and care of specific groups through promoting better patient outcomes and lowering costs. For example, there are several studies in progress studying the impact of COVID-19 on patients.

What is the research focus?

ST. John: Population health research focuses on the health outcomes of particular groups. For example, workforce population or college students or shared characteristics, such as breast cancer survivors, football players, ethnicity/race, etc. Researchers look at how determinants interact across these groups.

Sarah Maxwell/Folio Art
VitalsJerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy

Novel Approach

A new pharmacy comic book, “Interprofessional Practice in Pharmacy: Featuring Illustrated Case Studies,” aims to show high school and college students the diversity of pharmacy careers while helping medical educators realize the crucial role pharmacists provide to a health care team. Author Joseph Zorek, PharmD, BCGP, (Resident ’13) offers 35 pharmacy case studies for your educational entertainment.
Illustration of a grandma realizing her grandchild is taking her pills
From Accidental: An Illustrated Case Study Story by Jessica M. Bergsbaken & Joseph A. Zorek Illustration by George Folz, Copyright 2020 McGraw-Hill Educationle

Dance Lesson

Independent pharmacy owner/operator provides hands-on student experience

Students in the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy who do an experiential rotation with Brent Dance, PharmD, (Pharmacy ’06) learn firsthand the ins and outs of a small-town independent pharmacy. Dance, pharmacist-in-charge at Hereford Pharmacy in Hereford, Texas, has been a preceptor since 2008 and was named the 2021 Amarillo Adjunct Preceptor of the Year. We asked him to define that role and his interest in it.

Opportunity to Give Back

Becoming a preceptor was a mutual continuation of his relationship with TTUHSC, Dance said. “I appreciated the preceptors I had, and I always thought that once I got my legs under me, it was something I wanted to do.”

a Distinctive Experience

As an independent pharmacist in a rural town, Dance offers students experiences they might not get at a larger retail chain. He and his staff do pharmaceutical compounding, and their clientele includes not only retail customers but also hospices, nursing homes and correctional facilities.

Hands-On From Day One

Dance has students take calls from doctors and nurses, answer patients’ questions and administer COVID-19 vaccines, among other responsibilities. “Of course, there’s always a pharmacist standing next to them for support if they need it.” He makes sure the students learn clinical skills and engage in patient counseling and forming relationships with other practitioners. “I want them to recognize how important a role they play in the patient’s health care.”

Teach the Business

“I own the pharmacy, too, so I try to expose students to the business side. My most recent student just finished her PharmD/MBA, so we studied contracts, dispensing fees and pharmacy financial jargon.”

The Students Teach Me, Too

Dance appreciates the up-to-date knowledge on new drugs and regulations that students bring. Once a week, he and the student will pick a drug and do a deep dive into its mechanism and side effects; the in-depth exploration, he says, offers professional development for student and preceptor alike.
Brittany Simpkins, MSN, RN, (Nursing ’15) a nursing supervisor at the Larry Combest Health and Wellness Center, shares her story on page 25.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m in the middle of the sea with no lifeboat. Even though I know that people are grateful and while many patients say thank you, I still sometimes feel like I’m floating alone.”
Brittany Simpkins, MSN, RN, (Nursing’ 15)
Nursing Supervisor, TTUHSC Larry Combest Community Health and Wellness Center
nurse wearing PPE equipment
Brittany Simpkins, MSN, RN, (Nursing ’15) a nursing supervisor at the Larry Combest Health and Wellness Center, shares her story on page 25.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m in the middle of the sea with no lifeboat. Even though I know that people are grateful and while many patients say thank you, I still sometimes feel like I’m floating alone.”
Brittany Simpkins, MSN, RN, (Nursing’ 15)
Nursing Supervisor, TTUHSC Larry Combest Community Health and Wellness Center

The Humans Behind the Heroes

Health care workers have given their all to patients during the pandemic with courageous hearts and strong wills. But behind the mask is a person who is suffering, too.
plus sign
By Erin Peterson

Photographers Carolyn Cruz and Neal Hinkle
C

overed in layers upon layers of personal protective equipment, Ebtesam Islam, MD, PhD, FCCP, (Resident ’16, ’13; Medicine ’09; Biomedical Sciences ‘05) spends five hours stabilizing one patient. Sweat drips down her back as she does chest compressions, shouting orders so she can be heard through her mask. Up to six people in the room giving medications, stabilizing the airway, starting intravenous fluids, etc. — it’s stressful, but she remains steadfast in the work. “It’s somebody’s life,” she adds. “And you want so bad to save them.”

As a pulmonary and critical care physician in the medical intensive care unit at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, Islam treats the sickest of the sick. But previous patients have not compared to the challenge of caring for a COVID-19 patient. Every hour of every 12-hour shift, she’s pushed to the very limits of her abilities and stamina.

clipart of a Mortar and Pestle

Family Prescription

Lacey Thornhill’s inspiration to open a freestanding pharmacy began with her family. Now it extends to yours.
plus sign
By Glenys Young

Photographer Neal Hinkle
Jared Thornhill, PharmD, (Pharmacy ‘10) and Lacey Thornhill, PharmD (Pharmacy ‘10).
Jared and Lacey Thornhill
Jared Thornhill, PharmD, (Pharmacy ‘10) and Lacey Thornhill, PharmD (Pharmacy ‘10).
clipart of a Mortar and Pestle

Family Prescription

Lacey Thornhill’s inspiration to open a freestanding pharmacy began with her family. Now it extends to yours.
plus sign
By Glenys Young

Photographer Neal Hinkle
L

acey Thornhill, PharmD, (Pharmacy ’10) still finds it difficult to talk about April 2020. She and her husband, Jared Thornhill, PharmD, (Pharmacy ’10) had finally embarked upon Lacey’s lifelong dream of opening her own pharmacy. They gave up the security of her job. They gave up the insurance benefits that came with said job for them and their three young daughters. They gave up the comfort that came with those safety nets. They could not afford to fail.

5 Reasons to Practice text
IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS
As the hub of West Texas, Lubbock boasts a robust healthcare industry that attracts physicians in all fields from across the country. From our unbeatable opportunities to the unmatched quality of life, here are five reasons to practice in Lubbock, Texas.
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HUB OF HEALTHCARE // With a level-1 trauma center that services a 250-mile radius, a Tier One university, and a thriving healthcare industry, the “Hub City” offers the most comprehensive health care services available between Dallas, Phoenix and Oklahoma City. Lubbock’s hospitals and clinics offer state-of-the-art medical technology and services making it possible to receive world-class treatment and care locally.
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OPPORTUNITY AWAITS // With multiple clinics, two hospital systems and an affordable business climate for those looking to open their own practice, the “Hub City” is a no-brainer when considering where to practice.
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ENVIABLE QUALITY OF LIFE // Lubbock’s unparalleled quality of life is truly enviable. When asked what made Lubbock a premier location to practice, almost all physicians mention the work/life balance. Here, a drive to the clinic is no longer than 15 minutes, as traffic is almost non-existent. This allows for more time with family and enjoying hobbies.
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UNMATCHED CULTURE // In West Texas, a culture of hospitality and family envelopes all who cross into our city limits. The pick yourself up by your bootstraps work ethic coupled with the small town feeling and big city resources offers locals what they need to succeed.
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STATE-OF-THE-ART HEALTH EDUCATION // Health professionals across the city are given the opportunity to continue their education in Lubbock, Texas. Programs include the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, which is consistently ranked in the top 120 medical programs in the country and was recently ranked No. 1 medical school in the nation for the quality and affordability.
As an inviting community for all healthcare professionals, Lubbock is an attractive city to live and work with its ideal work/life blend. For more reasons to practice in Lubbock, Texas, visit lubbockeda.org.
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#LUBBOCKLEADS
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Rounds

Connecting with TTUHSC Alumni Rounds

Robert Rees

In the Beginning, There Was Innovation

In 1974, the new School of Medicine built a television studio — along with classrooms, clinics and laboratories. “The faculty didn’t want to just be talking heads at the front of the classroom,” said Robert Rees, the school’s first coordinator of television and cinematography and first director of the studio. “Students would watch procedural situations on the television and could check out videos at the library.”

Since inception, TTUHSC’s foundation was built on innovation. “At the time, we didn’t know of any other medical schools enhancing curriculum in this way,” Rees added. “It was very ambitious, and I’m very proud of the work we accomplished in the early years.”

Provided by Robert Rees
RoundsSERVING THE SERVICE

Health Care Comes Full Circle

Cameron Studzinski heard his mom talk for years about the doctor that delivered him. In August, Studzinski met that doctor, Kamlesh Varma, MD, — at the white coat ceremony. “My mom still remembers the care she received from Dr. Varma. I’m excited to start my journey in patient care.”
Cameron Studzinski, a first-year medical student, with Kamlesh Varma, MD, the obstetrician who delivered him  in 1999.
Neal Hinkle
Cameron Studzinski, a first-year medical student, with Kamlesh Varma, MD, the obstetrician who delivered him
in 1999.

Ceremonial Numbers

Aspiring audiologists, pharmacists, physicians and physical therapists began their journey into health care by receiving their white coats from TTUHSC in August 2021, a symbol of their future careers.
581
Students received white coats in 2021 from Schools of Heath Professions, Medicine and Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy.
>2K
Students have graduated from the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy since 2000.
93%
Of graduates in the School of Health Professions Doctor of Audiology program find jobs within one year of graduation.
99%
Of graduates in the School of Health Professions Doctor of Physical Therapy program pass the licensure exam the first time.
51%
Of graduates from the School of Medicine have remained in Texas to complete residency training over the past five years. One-fifth of School of Medicine graduates have remained in a TTUHSC program for residency training.
RoundsResearch Corner

From Patient to Advocate
to Research Scientist

Beth Daugherity seeks better outcomes for patients like her

i had to be my own advocate

I was the only person I knew that had shortness of breath as a premenstrual symptom — and it had been happening for 15 years. I was never taken seriously.
We were investigating my symptoms, and none of them fit the diagnoses presented to me. In 2015, my lung collapsed nine times. After the second collapse, I had surgery and a biopsy was conducted that the medical team sent to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, to one of the premier lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) experts in pathology. It was confirmed I had LAM — a disease caused by abnormal growth of smooth muscle cells that leads to holes or cysts forming in the lungs.

We’re pioneering new science

I started my PhD in 2019 and joined the team working for Magdalena Karbowniczek, MD, PhD, at the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy in Abilene. The best part of being in the program at TTUHSC has been the collaborative spirit.
I have sporadic LAM, so naturally, that’s my curiosity. For my dissertation, I also plan to study different hormonal pathways. We know estrogen is a driving factor, but I suspect that there are other hormones.

It’s Not just about my own outcomes

I’m part of a NIH research trial studying LAM, which is incredible.
It is the most empowering thing as a patient to participate in research trials and promote a better life, better understanding or better treatments for those who come after us. As a researcher, I need to promote patient advocacy and tailor treatments in line with their life goals.
Beth Daugherity Standing
White’s Photography
RoundsHEALTH SCENE

Acts of Service

Peter Grant, MD, (Medicine ‘82) visits his alma mater to speak with students about physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Two nurses working on a patient with a tree limb piercing her abdomen
TTUHSC Doctor of Physical Therapy students assist the South Plains Food Bank in cleaning up the organization’s property.
London, a service dog and official employee of TTUHSC, visits students as they prepare for exams.
TTUHSC in Amarillo hosts a bone marrow registry drive to benefit children like Logan.
Logan Winkleman, PhD, LPC, program director in the Department of Clinical Counseling and Mental Health leads a quilling class for students to relieve stress.
1| Peter Grant, MD, (Medicine ‘82) visits his alma mater to speak with students about physical medicine and rehabilitation.

2| TTUHSC in Amarillo hosts a bone marrow registry drive to benefit children like Logan.

3| TTUHSC Doctor of Physical Therapy students assist the South Plains Food Bank in cleaning up the organization’s property.

4| London, a service dog and official employee of TTUHSC, visits students as they prepare for exams.

5| Logan Winkleman, PhD, LPC, program director in the Department of Clinical Counseling and Mental Health, leads a quilling class for students to relieve stress.

Update Catching Up With TTUHSC Alumni & Friends

Tiffany Torres, MS

Tiffany Torres, MS

epidemiologist
City of Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas

Biomedical Sciences Graduate: 2018
Health Professions Graduate: 2014, 2013

data driven

When Tiffany Torres, MS, started studying epidemiology, she had her sights set on foodborne and waterborne illnesses. However, after landing her first job in public health, Torres found salmonella and E. coli too predictable.

“I remember doing foodborne investigations and thinking, ‘This is very dry and clear-cut,’” she said. “It came from that chicken or that potato salad; but respiratory and hospital infections are so broad — they can go in any direction.”

COVID-19 has provided the kind of challenge Torres sought. Seven months into her role as an epidemiologist for the city of Lubbock, she was alerted to a new novel coronavirus identified in China. Almost immediately, her office joined weekly calls with the state health department and met internally to develop a plan should the virus reach Texas.

Now, Torres is responsible for producing daily case counts for the public. Most recently, she has been analyzing raw data comparing last year’s COVID-19 case counts with current data. That data helps assess what populations are most affected and how to target the response. Her graphs and datasets offer a big-picture view of the virus in Lubbock and help the city determine the next steps to keep its residents safe. — Kim Catley

Neal Hinkle
UpdateNews & Notes
Karl M. Trippe standing by the reception counter and smiling
Provided by Karl M. Trippe, MD

Karl M. Trippe, MD

Physician/owner
Waco Primary Care, Waco, Texas

Medicine Graduate: 1996

independent streak

As owner and sole physician of Waco Primary Care, Karl M. Trippe, MD, will occasionally ask another physician to cover for him, but otherwise, he says, “I’ve had my phone on for 10 years.” He even answered a call right before walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding – although, he he did say he’d have to call them back.

Trippe recognizes that the always-on-call lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but he values the autonomy — the ability to take as much time with a patient as he wants, for instance, and to make referrals without in-house corporate pressure.

The result, he says, is a strong personal relationship with his patients. “I don’t think I’ve bought a carton of eggs in I don’t know how long,” he says with a chuckle.

Trippe does hope to add a partner in the next year, with a goal of someone taking over the practice in 15 or 20 years. He would like nothing better, he says, than to identify a like-minded physician to continue the independent path he’s forged. — Tina Hay

UpdateNews & Notes

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Matthew Grisham, PhD, (’82)
will retire August 31, 2022, after serving since 2012 as chair of the TTUHSC Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology.

Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy

Levi Campbell, PharmD, (’16)
was named the 2021 TTUHSC Faculty Preceptor of the Year for the Amarillo campus.

Brent Dance, PharmD, (’06)
was named the 2021 TTUHSC Amarillo Adjunct Preceptor of the Year.

Lee Ann Hampton, PharmD, (’02)
was named the 2021 Texas Pharmacy Association Texas Pharmacist of the Year.

Mary Klein, PharmD, (’07)
received the 2021 Texas Pharmacy Association Distinguished Service Award.

Robert Martinez, second-year student,
was one of only 40 Texas pharmacy school students selected for Houston Methodist Hospital’s Power Week, a student observation program.

UpdateNews & Notes

Katherine ‘Katie’ Carden, AT

Assistant athletic trainer – football
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

Health Professions Graduate: 2017

back in the (TTU) game

Katie Carden, AT, had two requirements for her graduate program in athletic training: a top notch program and solid football team. TTUHSC, sister university to Texas Tech University (TTU) football team, was one of the few universities with a training program that fit the bill.

Carden discovered her interest in working with football athletes during an athletic training internship as an undergraduate student at the University of Massachusetts. She appreciated the team dynamic among the trainers, as well as the fast pace and variety of injuries among the athletes.

Katherine ‘Katie’ Carden standing in the stadium and smiling
Neal Hinkle

Working with the TTU football team as a graduate student provided further confirmation she was on the right track. The school’s aggressive approach to rehabilitation created a robust environment with athletes involved in preventive exercises, recovering from surgery and everything in between.

Carden recently returned to TTU as an assistant athletic trainer after finishing an internship with the San Francisco 49ers. — Kim Catley

UpdateNews & Notes

Timothy Weigle, PharmD

Senior Program Manager, Air Force Medical Manpower and Personnel
Air Force Medical Readiness Agency, Falls Church, Virginia

Pharmacy Graduate: 2010

In The Trenches As A Military Pharmacist

Tim Weigle, PharmD, grasps the irony of anticipating a pharmaceutical career would be a boring choice, given he carried a weapon while prepping medications for critically injured troops at a military base.
“I saw horrible wounds,” he said of his deployment in 2017 to the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. “It was exhausting working a minimum of 12-hour days, seven days a week.” The assignment was just one of myriad challenging opportunities for Weigle since joining the Air Force after working 10 months with an independent pharmacy.
Square portrait photograph of Timothy Weigle, PharmD smiling in his United States Air Force outfit while posing in front of the American flag
Provided by Timothy Weigle, PharmD
“I wanted adventure,” he said, “and with the military, there is the opportunity for advancement.” Since graduating, he has achieved the rank of major while completting various assignments in four states. In March, he will be promoted to lieutenant colonel. — Susan Marquardt Blystone

UpdateNews & Notes | Friends We’ll Miss

Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN, FAAN

Chief Nursing Officer
Vocera Communications, Georgetown, Texas

Nursing Graduate: 2018, 1997

Communication That Flows

You’re a nurse on a hospital COVID unit. You’re shrouded in cumbersome personal protective equipment. Your hands are occupied, but you urgently need to reach the cardiologist on call. You speak into a badge clipped to your collar, and in seconds the badge’s sophisticated software identifies and connects you to the specialist. Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN, FAAN, paints that portrait to explain one use for the technology she’s been representing for the past seven years.
Transitioning from her previous role as a labor and delivery nurse into the private sector was not without challenges, but Collins grew to love engaging with nurses around the world.
Square portrait photograph of Rhonda Collins , DNP, RN, FAAN smiling in her red button-up shirt while she poses
Provided by Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN, FAAN
In her leadership role at Vocera, Collins brings the needs of nurses directly to the company’s production team to ensure the Vocera device helps resolve communication errors, a leading cause of patient harm. “Our primary goal is to create a seamless communication flow,” she adds, “giving patients a safer passage through the hospital.” — Elise Gibson
UpdateDONOR PROFILE
Square portrait photograph of donors Robert and Jan Taylor smiling as they pose together

Return on Investment

Keeping Communities Healthy Gets A Professional and Personal Commitment

As The United Family’s retired CEO and president and current senior advisor, healthy communities is a concept Robert Taylor fully grasps and champions.

For almost 25 years, The United Family’s gifts have supported scholarships for pharmacy students at TTUHSC, and their generosity has most certainly come full circle. More than 80 TTUHSC graduates currently work in The United Family’s 40 Texas pharmacies. Throughout the pandemic, United Supermarkets pharmacies also have been a valued community partner for TTUHSC in health education and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. These are just two examples of the company’s many gifts impacting the missions of TTUHSC and Texas Tech University.

“We give where we think it might have the most impact in the areas we serve,” said Taylor. He points to TTUHSC and The United Family’s congruous footprints, serving the western half of Texas across to the DFW Metroplex and into eastern New Mexico.

“You always want the best return on your investment, and we feel like we’ve gotten a huge return both on our personal investments and for United,” said Taylor. He and his wife, Jan, also give personally to the universities. “There’s no doubt that Texas Tech and the (Texas Tech University) Health Sciences Center are universally good – but more importantly, they’re good for this region and the entire state.”

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New Year, New Gear!

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Planned Gift Helps Ensure Scholarships for Future Nursing Students

For several years, Bill Tilley (TTU Business Administration ’93) and Donna Scott-Tilley, PhD, (Nursing ’97, ’91), had discussed including a charitable gift in their estate planning. Their goal was to support scholarships at their alma maters. Someday, the couple thought, we’ll make the gift official by completing the paperwork.

The Friday after Thanksgiving 2017, Bill’s heart stopped beating.

Within minutes, and with no prior warning, Bill experienced sudden cardiac death. It’s a condition caused by a malfunction of the heart’s electrical system. Without intervention, the survival rate is less than 1%.

Donna’s training through the TTUHSC School of Nursing sent her immediately into nurse mode, performing CPR on her husband until EMS arrived. Bill beat the odds after a few days in the hospital and being fitted with a medical device to correct future arrhythmias.

With a renewed urgency, the Tilleys did what they had always planned to do. Their Gift of Impact names TTUHSC School of Nursing as one of their insurance beneficiaries so nursing students, like Donna, have the opportunity to learn life-saving skills. Their gift also benefits the Texas Tech University School of Music.

Interested in making your GIFT OF IMPACT? Contact Nathan Rice, CFRE, at giftplanning@ttu.edu or 806.742.1781.

Planned Gift Helps Ensure Scholarships for Future Nursing Students

For several years, Bill Tilley (TTU Business Administration ’93) and Donna Scott-Tilley, PhD, (Nursing ’97, ’91), had discussed including a charitable gift in their estate planning. Their goal was to support scholarships at their alma maters. Someday, the couple thought, we’ll make the gift official by completing the paperwork.

The Friday after Thanksgiving 2017, Bill’s heart stopped beating.

Within minutes, and with no prior warning, Bill experienced sudden cardiac death. It’s a condition caused by a malfunction of the heart’s electrical system. Without intervention, the survival rate is less than 1%.

Donna’s training through the TTUHSC School of Nursing sent her immediately into nurse mode, performing CPR on her husband until EMS arrived. Bill beat the odds after a few days in the hospital and being fitted with a medical device to correct future arrhythmias.

With a renewed urgency, the Tilleys did what they had always planned to do. Their Gift of Impact names TTUHSC School of Nursing as one of their insurance beneficiaries so nursing students, like Donna, have the opportunity to learn life-saving skills. Their gift also benefits the Texas Tech University School of Music.

Interested in making your GIFT OF IMPACT? Contact Nathan Rice, CFRE, at giftplanning@ttu.edu or 806.742.1781.

a young woman smiles wearing a Texas Tech University, School of Nursing uniform
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