Texas Capitol Visit
Texas Legislators Celebrate Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso’s 10th Anniversary
TTUHSC El Paso delegation brings smiles to the Texas Capitol during legislative visit to advocate for health and dental care, education in West Texas
A delegation from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso traveled to the Texas Capitol in Austin on National Dentist’s Day, March 6, to meet with legislators in celebration of TTUHSC El Paso’s 10th anniversary as an independent university within the Texas Tech University System.
The group’s positive energy and enthusiasm were infectious, as they advocated for continued support of the university's mission. They left a trail of smiles in their wake while discussing the vital role TTUHSC El Paso plays in the state's health care system.
Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System, Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., and TTUHSC El Paso President Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., were joined by several students at the event. Georgia Hejny, a second-year dental student who serves as Student Representative on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Hani Annabi, a fourth-year Foster School of Medicine student and Student Regent for the TTU System Board of Regents, were among them. Additionally, Victor Vasquez, a graduate student in the Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and Luis Jabalera, a Hunt School of Nursing student, also attended the event. Three of the four students are El Pasoans. Together, the group delivered promotional items and thank-you’s to the legislators and their staff for their continued support of transforming health care access in our Borderplex region, improving lives and empowering generations.
"During this milestone anniversary, it’s more important than ever to meet with our state lawmakers and advocate for the continued support of our mission,” said Dr. Lange. “Our university has made significant strides in the past decade, but there’s still more work to be done to ensure we continue providing world-class medical education and health care services to our Borderplex community. In 2025, we’ll graduate our first cohort of dentists, another major milestone in our history. By working closely with our state legislators, we can ensure TTUHSC El Paso has the resources and support to make an even greater impact on the health and well-being of our region's residents."
Chancellor Mitchell and President Lange spent time with two members of El Paso’s legislative delegation, State Rep. Mary González and State Sen. César Blanco, to review the legislative agenda. This was followed by a reading of a resolution on the floor of the House of Representatives honoring TTUHSC El Paso for its contributions to education and health care in the 10 years since it was established as a freestanding university.
As Monday, March 6, was National Dentist's Day, joining the delegation to Austin was Hunt School of Dental Medicine dean and former president of the Texas Dental Association, Richard Black, D.D.S., M.S.
The Hunt School of Dental Medicine, which opened in 2021, is the first dental school in Texas to open in over 50 years. Unlike other dental schools, the Hunt School of Dental Medicine’s innovative curriculum has students seeing patients in their first year, providing them with the opportunity to develop their clinical skills from the start.
The dental delegation shared the impressive successes of the dental school, which is only in its second year. While its first cohort of dentists will not receive their diplomas until 2025, students and faculty are already addressing the critical provider shortage in West Texas. Under faculty supervision, students provide care in the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic, where they’ve experienced over 5,000 patient visits and more than 7,100 clinical hours since opening in 2021.
"The Hunt School of Dental Medicine has been a game changer in dental education, providing students with hands-on experience early in their academic journey,” said Dr. Black. “By allowing students to see patients in their first year, rather than waiting until their third year, we’re providing them with an unparalleled learning experience that will prepare them for success in their careers. We’re proud of the impact the Hunt School of Dental Medicine has made in its first two years, and we look forward to continuing to provide our students with the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to become exceptional dental professionals."
Currently, students from West Texas and the Texas border regions, including El Paso County, make up 42% of the Hunt School of Dental Medicine’s student body.
Along with the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, TTUHSC El Paso is comprised of the Foster School of Medicine, Hunt School of Nursing and Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, making the university the only comprehensive health sciences center along the U.S.-Mexico border.
TTUHSC El Paso offers education, research and health care services to historically underserved communities. With an enrollment of 865 medical, dental, nursing and graduate research students, as well as 296 medical residents, the institution is committed to growing our own future health care professionals dedicated to improving health care access.
In the decade since its establishment, TTUHSC El Paso has graduated over 2,000 health care professionals, many of whom choose to remain in the area and serve their communities. Additionally, the university's research initiatives have helped to advance medical knowledge and improve patient care. TTUHSC El Paso contributes $634 million annually to the local economy, creating jobs and supporting businesses in the area.
In El Paso alone, there is a 60% shortage of physicians, 57% shortage of dentists and 20% shortage of registered nurses. In its 10 years since the Texas Legislature established TTUHSC El Paso as an independent university in the Texas Tech University System, it has confronted these health inequities through innovative curricula, accelerated nursing programs and early clinical experiences.
The Foster School of Medicine and the Hunt School of Dental Medicine are unique among medical and dental schools in the nation, with a medical Spanish requirement for students. New census data shows that Hispanic Texans are now the state’s largest demographic group.
Every two years, the Texas legislature plays a crucial role in supporting TTUHSC El Paso's mission to address health disparities in West Texas. Successes over the past decade include increasing the number of physicians and nurses practicing in the region, supporting medical research and providing health care services to the community in its clinics.
For more information about TTUHSC El Paso, please visit our website at ttuhscep.edu. Learn more about the university’s impact on Texas health care at ttuhscepimpact.com.
About Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
TTUHSC El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
TTUHSC El Paso was established to focus on the unique health care and educational needs of our Borderplex community. In 2023, TTUHSC El Paso celebrates its 10th anniversary as an independent university within the Texas Tech University System. In a decade, the university has graduated over 2,000 doctors, nurses and researchers, and will soon add dentists to its alumni.