SHP Mission and Milestones | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

SHP Mission and Milestones

A. Mission Statement

The mission of the TTUHSC School of Health Professions is to enhance the quality of life of those we serve by delivering exemplary holistic student-centered education and cultivating research opportunities, while championing interprofessional and clinical care partnerships that are innovative and relevant to the communities we serve.

B. Goals

Goal 1: Provide effective and innovative educational experiences to all students.

Goal 2: Advance scholarly activities among faculty and students by providing an infrastructure and an environment that supports knowledge and practice through collaborative research in basic, applied, translational, and implementation sciences.

Goal 3: Promote health and wellness of communities through the provision of care utilizing innovative technologies and services.

Goal 4: Impact the communities served by TTUHSC serves through community collaboration, connections, and outreach.

Goal 5: Foster a strong SHP community that exemplifies our values-based culture, and contributes to team member well-being.

Goal 6: Build and sustain an infrastructure that operates effectively and efficiently to meet the mission of the school and the needs of students, faculty, and staff.

C. SHP Strategic Plan

School of Health Professions 2020 Strategic Plan

D. Milestones

1981:
  • 67th Texas Legislature approved funding for the school.
  • Robert Cornesky, ScD was appointed as Founding Dean of the School of Allied Health (SOAH)
1983:
  • The school accepted nineteen students as part of its first class.

1985:

  • Full accreditation was received for programs in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Medical Technology.
  • Robert Peake, OTR was appointed as the second of the School of Allied Health.
1987:
  • Shirley McManigal, PhD, MT was appointed as the third Dean of the School of Allied Health.
1991:
  • The Emergency Medical Services program was added.
1993:
  • The Department of Communication Disorders was transferred from TTU where it had existed since 1928.
1994:
  • The Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy programs were expanded to Amarillo and Odessa with extensive reliance on HealthNet. The Physical Therapy Program was expanded from B.S. degree to M.P.T.
1998:
  • Paul P. Brooke, Jr., Ph.D., FACHE, was appointed as the fourth Dean of the School of Allied Health.
  • Texas Tech University System (TTUS) Chancellor and Board of Regents identified enrollment growth as a strategic imperative for TTU and TTUHSC.
  • That fall the TTUHSC President challenged the Schools to plan, develop, obtain institutional approval for, and implement strategies that will support overall TTUHSC enrollment growth.
  • SOAH established "The Executive Committee" (TEC) as a permanent planning group for the School
  • Planning began to develop new program concept proposals for a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.), and B.S. in Emergency Medical Systems Management.
1999:
  • The Board of Regents (BOR) approved the SOAH new program concept proposals for the AuD, MOT and BS in Emergency Medical Services Management.
  • The B.S. in Physician Assistant Studies enrolled the first student cohort in temporary facilities on the Midland College campus.
  • A $1.2 million renovation project started on the permanent facility for the SOAH in Odessa.
  • New degree concept proposals were developed for a Master of Vocational Rehabilitation (later changed to Rehabilitation Counseling), Master of Athletic Training (MAT) and a Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) in Physical Therapy.
2000:
  • TTUHSC hosts a THECB-directed site visit with regard to the proposed Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree.
  • Construction began on a $3 million permanent 14,750 sq. ft. facility for the PA Program on the Midland College campus.
  • A new program proposal requesting authority to implement a Master of Physician Assistant Studies and grant the MPAS degree was submitted to THECB.
  • The Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences relocated to a $2.2 million renovated facility at the TTUHSC campus
  • SHP-Odessa is relocated into the completed permanent facility.
  • The Master of Occupational Therapy program is implemented with enrollment of its first cohort of students.
  • Four academic programs (AuD, MVR, MAT, BS-EMSM) were implemented with the first student cohorts for the Fall 2000 semester. Of existing programs, the TTUHSC AuD program was the first of its kind west of the Mississippi.
  • The Board of Regents approved new degree program concept proposals for a Master of Science in Molecular Pathology, Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science, and a BS in Clinical Support Services Management (BS, CSSM; later renamed BS in Clinical Service Management – CSM).
2001:
  • The Board of Regents approved the proposal to establish the Center for Brain Mapping and Cortical Studies within the SOAH. This center was designed to serve as a platform for multidisciplinary research and clinical service.
  • The Center was an essential component of a long-term plan to amass faculty and research capabilities needed to support a planned Ph.D. program in Communication Science and Disorders.
  • $150,000 equipment procurement was completed for the Center for Brain Mapping and Cortical Studies.
  • Authorization was received from the President to implement a post-professional, clinical doctorate in Physical Therapy and grant the ScD, PT.
  • The Physician Assistant Program relocated into a permanent TTUHSC facility on the campus of Midland College.
  • The Master of Physician Assistant Studies program was implemented with the enrollment of its first cohort of students.
  • A new program proposal requesting authority to implement a M.S. in Molecular Pathology and award the M.S., M.P. degree was approved by THECB.
  • A new program proposal requesting authority to implement a B.S. in Clinical Support Service Management and award the B.S., CSSM degree was submitted to THECB.
  • A new program proposal requesting authority to implement an M.S. in Rehabilitation Science and award the M.S., RS degree was submitted to THECB.
2002:
  • The Board of Regents approved the establishment of the Center for Clinical Rehabilitation Assessment within the SOAH, that provides a platform for coordinating the activities of the Gait Analysis, Balance Assessment and Energy Consumption Laboratories and serve to support an expansion of faculty research and research activities that will support a planned Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences.
  • SOAH-Amarillo relocated to a multi-million-dollar permanent facility.
  • THECB approved the proposal for a M.S. in Rehabilitation Science.
  • A $350,000 project to construct and equip a Molecular Pathology Program laboratory was completed.
  • The M.S. in Molecular Pathology program was implemented with the enrollment of its first student cohort for the Summer semester. This was the first program of its kind in the nation.
  • The ScD, PT; MS, RS; and BS, CSSM programs were implemented with the enrollment of their first student cohorts in the Fall 2002 semester.
2003:
  • A new program proposal requesting authority to implement a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and to grant the Ph.D. degree was submitted to THECB.
  • TTUHSC hosted a THECB-directed site visit in regard to the proposed Ph.D. in Communication Science and Disorders.
2004:
  • THECB approved the proposal for a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
  • Final renovations completed for a three-year phased project to construct and equip a $690,000 Rehabilitation Assessment Center with Gait Analysis, Balance Assessment and Cardiopulmonary laboratories.
  • Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders was implemented with the enrollment of the first cohort of four doctoral students that fall.
  • SHP Fall 2004 enrollment totals 774, a 72% increase over the 2000 enrollment of 452.
2005:
  • The Department of Clinic Administration and Rehabilitation Counseling was established. This department was formed by moving the faculty, clerical staff and technical support personnel of the three on-line programs from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. The three academic programs consist of Clinical Practice Management (M.S.), Rehabilitation Counseling (M.S.), and Clinical Service Management (B.S.).
  • Approval of name change for the Center for Clinical Rehabilitation Assessment to the “Center for Rehabilitation Research”.
2007:
  • THECB approval granted for the expansion of Physical Therapy from a masters (MPT) to a clinical entry-level doctorate (DPT) in Fall 2007.
  • CSM program expands to provide a specialty track in Long Term Care Administration with approval from the Texas Department of Aging and Disabilities.
  • The Autism Clinic within the Department of Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences was opened on the third floor of TTUHSC.
2008:
  • The Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) was implemented with enrollment of its first cohort of students in Summer 2008.
2009:
  • Approval and addition of the following programs: the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences, the Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Pathway (DPT) and the Clinical Laboratory Science Second Degree and Certificate Programs.
2010:
  • Physician Assistant Program facility expansion was completed. Enrollment for the program was increased from 45 to 60 students per cohort.
  • First National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant obtained by SHP faculty.
  • Approval of name change for the Center for Center for Brain Mapping and Cortical Studies to the “Center for Speech, Language and Hearing Research”.
2011:
  • Major renovation of clinical research space was completed. The SHP faculty was relocated from to 3C lab and office space.
  • The Health Promotion Research Laboratory was opened on the Amarillo campus.
  • Fall enrollment exceeded 1250.
2012:
  • Robin Satterwhite, MBA, Ed.D., FACHE, was hired as the fifth Dean of the School of Allied Health.
  • Fall enrollment exceeded 1300.
2014:
  • Approval and addition of the following concentration areas Respiratory Care, Medical Imaging, and Emergency Medical Services to the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program.
2015:
  • The Board of Regents approved a school name change from the School of Allied Health Sciences to the School of Health Professions.
  • Approval and addition of the Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Program.
2016:
  • Lori Rice-Spearman, Ph.D., was hired as the sixth Dean of the School of Health Professions.
  • Department name and structural changes from Department of Clinic Administration & Rehabilitation Counseling to the Department of Healthcare Management & Leadership.
  • Program names changed from BS in Health Sciences and the BS in Clinical Services Management to Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and the MS in Clinical Practice Management changed to the Master of Science in Healthcare Administration.
  • Approval and addition of the Department of Clinical Counseling & Mental Health.
2017:
  • Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) broke ground for new buildings bringing additional opportunities for education & research initiatives plus creating a more seamless campus experience for students & visitors.
  • The $85.9 million project consisted of three parts: a north expansion that created two new buildings north of the existing TTUHSC building, a west expansion that added facilities to the existing TTUHSC building, and the creation of a boulevard entrance to campus for accessibility.
  • Approval and addition of the Master of Science in Addiction Counseling program and the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Both programs are housed in the Department of Clinical Counseling & Mental Health.
2018:
  • The Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Rehabilitation Sciences were consolidated into the PhD in Rehabilitation Science with concentrations in Movement Sciences & Disorders and Communication Sciences & Disorders.
  • Approval and addition of the Graduate Certificate Programs within the Department of Healthcare Management & Leadership.
  • 8-Week Terms were added for the Master of Science in Healthcare Administration Program.
2020:
  • Dawndra Sechrist, OTR, PhD was hired as the seventh Dean of the School of Health Professions.
  • A state-of-the-art Molecular Pathology Laboratory was completed in Pod D.
  • The Department of Laboratory Sciences & Primary Care partnered with John T. Montford Regional Medical Facility to oversee the Clinical Laboratory. LSCP team members were relocated to 4D office space.
  • New state of the art analyzers and equipment were acquired for the molecular courses, expanding research capabilities.
  • The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) was implemented with the enrollment of its first cohort of students in the Summer of 2020.
2022:
  • Professor Sherry Sancibrian, was appointed as a Grover E. Murray Professor.
  • Midland's Physician Assistant program facilities underwent a $30M renovation and expansion in May 2022 to include a gross anatomy lab and collaborative learning spaces to enable program expansion for 72 students. 
  • Approval of name change for the Clinical Laboratory Sciences programs to the "Medical Laboratory Sciences."